Welcome to the 2026 Pooch Playoffs!
The ONLY Ulti-Mutt Competition for
the Cutest Canine or Feline in Butte County!
VOTE below for your favorite furry contender starting Monday, April 13th
thru Saturday, April 18th
What is Pooch Playoffs?
Pooch Playoffs™ is a fun, March-Madness-style competition… but for pets. 🐕🐈
Your dog or cat gets their own
portrait session with Erin Lackey Photography.
Erin creates an epic portrait experience and features them in the Pooch Playoffs bracket. Friends, family and the community can vote to help them advance round by round until we crown the Top Dog or Cat for 2026!
A.k.a the Ulti-mutt Cutest Canine or Feline in Butte County.
Along the way, we’re also raising money for the Northwest SPCA, a local organization helping animals in our community.
Meet This Year's Contestants!
32 Pets were Photographed in Erin's Studio for the opportunity to compete for the Ulti-Mutt Cutie in Butte County!
Here they are in alphabetical order:
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS!
The following pet-loving businesses have helped make this year's Pooch Playoff's possible! From their monetary sponsorships or their contribution to the contestant sWAG bags, every contribution helps to make this event so amazing for our community.
Thank you for all you do!
Why the Northwest SPCA?
Erin started this friendly furry competition in honor of her late sister, Shanin, who passed in 2017. She was an animal-lover and adopted her cat, Boomer, from the Northwest SPCA. Head to the NWSPCA's Cat Room and see a plaque dedicated in her honor.
Her cat, Boomer, has become the Pooch Playoffs mascot as seen here.
"Doing this event every year for the NWSPCA helps me feel connected to Shanin. I think she would have loved to see what its become. " Erin said.
You can help support the efforts of the Northwest SPCA by heading HERE or you can learn more about about them by watching this Hearts of Gold Podcast interview on YouTube.
HOW TO VOTE
Cast your vote by voting for every match-up!
You may vote one time per day! Spread the word by encouraging friends and family to vote at www.erinlackey.com/poochplayoffs
Voting Schedule:
Opening Round : April 13th-14th
Sweet Sixteen: April 15th
Elite Eight: April 16th
Final Four: April 17th
Championship Round: April 18th
Pooch Playoffs Finale Event: April 19th 1:00-3:00 at Union Restaurant (Ulti-mutt Champion announced at 2:00pm)
Previous Pooch Playoffs Champs!
2025 - Mocha
2024 - Trixie
2023 - Timber
2022 - Olive
Happy Clients!
Danielle
Erin Took my very shy pup in for some photos and Erin was lovely (as usual). She gave him space, was encouraging, and worked with what he was willing to give during the shoot. Her new studio is lovely, too! Always a great experience with Erin.
Jennifer
Everyone if you are looking for a photographer that is patient and kind and just the sweetest to be around well don't look no further Erin is amazing and she made my experience so wonderful 😊😊. She was so patient with my Thackery Binx it was wonderful!
Madisen
Erin was wonderful to work with and was incredibly patient with our pups!
Meet Erin.
Erin's goal as a photographer became clear after the passing of her sister 8 years ago: to celebrate families, children and pets at every milestone in their lives and to reveal their authentic personalities. She does this through beautiful timeless images with highly personal artwork to help your house feel more like a home.
She loves partnering with the Northwest SPCA because that is where her late sister adopted her cat, Boomer. Erin wanted a way to give back to the shelter while using her gifts and skills as a pet portrait photographer.
"I wanted so badly to create something that wouldn’t just live on a link or hard drive, but instead could become part of your daily lives. Something that will feed into your life daily. I envision these portraits I create as being something that is displayed in a prominent place in your home to affirm the joy and love you have as a family."
Pooch Playoffs in the Media
Click each photo to watch the news segment!
