Louie’s family members were jumping up and down Friday night when they found out their dog was the 2025 Pet March Madness Champion.
Louie, a mini golden doodle puppy, just joined the Curtis family at the end of January.
He’s full of puppy energy and brings excitement – and a little bit of chaos to their family, Claire Curtis said.
Curtis described him as a goofball, and more of a snuggler than any of the other puppies they’ve had.
Every night Louie sleeps with the kids.
“He does not like being without them,” Curtis said.
Seven-year-old Harper always wanted a puppy, and she wasn’t picky about what kind. She loves Louie for his loyalty, and the way he runs and jumps.
Harper said she loved getting to watch the competition and was excited and happy to find out he was the winner. She loves how Louie runs and jumps in her lap.
Harper had a feeling he had a chance at winning the competition, she said.
Five-year-old Henry loves to play soccer with Louie.
The kids asked their mom throughout the day if it looked like Louie would continue on to the next round, and as it turns out, he just kept moving on.
Last year, they watched the competition, but this year with their new family member they knew it was time to enter the race themselves.
Second-place winner Oz is named as a nod to the Wizard of Oz and a tribute to the family’s roots in Kansas. He’s an extra social Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who spreads happiness everywhere he goes, his owner Carla Henne said.
The Henne family got Oz from a cavalier breeder because they knew this was a perfect breed for a family dog.
He has become a big part of their family and goes everywhere with them: to the playground, soccer practices and even to work with Henne to see her co-workers. Henne said you might see him on the streets of Eudora during walks through their neighborhood.
“He loves interacting with people, and he is one that can draw a crowd wherever he goes,” Henne said. “It’s just so easy for him to spread happiness to everyone.”
Henne and her family didn’t know what to expect out of the competition, but were proud of Oz for making it to the final round.
Henne’s kids enjoyed seeing the other cute pets, picking their favorites and cheering on their best friend Oz, she said.
Eve, a 2-year-old tabby cat, placed third. This is the first time a cat has ever made it to the final round of a Pet Madness competition.
Julian Meier adopted Eve in 2023 and describes her as being in her feisty teenage years.
When he went to the KC Pet Project to look at kittens, he found her instead. She had just been spayed and was acting a little wobbly due to the medications. He knew she was the one.
“I’ve loved her ever since,” Meier said.
Meier found a brand-new looking cat tree by a dumpster. He brought it home, shampooed it, and now it’s a big part of Eve’s daily routine. Sleeping and looking out the window from her tree are her biggest pastimes, but she also loves messing with her older cat sibling.
Meier was shocked to see her make it to the final round, especially when she was up against so many dogs throughout the competition. He did have friends vote for her to get her some more support, but he did not expect her to take third place.
He said he just entered because he wanted to share his cat with everyone.
Pet March Madness is an annual event sponsored by The Eudora Times and Eudora Animal Hospital. Over 50 pets entered the 2025 competition.
