Dog lovers unite!

The Philadelphia Water Department is looking for Philly Water’s Best Friend. Want to help pick its furry spokesperson? Vote for your favorite pooch over at Philly Watersheds! You have until July 31^st, a.k.a National Mutt Day, to cast your vote.

The top dogs will compete in two pageants in the fall. The winning duo will get to represent the Philadelphia Water Department in its various neighborhoods. They will also each be awarded $200 in prizes and the title of Philly Water’s Best Friend!

Last year’s winners, including a beagle named Josie and her owner Anna Fineberg, enjoyed the opportunity to spend a morning with a pack of furry hopefuls and their adoring owners while competing in the pageant.

The Spokesdog contest is part of the Pennsylvania Water Department’s programs to foster greener city living and keep the city’s rivers and streams clean. Pet waste is a particular problem for polluting Philly’s water, as rain washes it into storm drains and reaches the waterways.

Spokesdog winners will take part in the program by attending events and sharing information and supplies. Philly Water’s Best Friends will help to encourage pet owners to properly take care of their furry companions’ messes, making the water safer for people to enjoy.

Take a minute to check out the aspiring spokesdogs and cast your vote! You can vote in each neighborhood poll once per hour.

array(2) {
  [0]=>
  object(WP_Term)#9191 (10) {
    ["term_id"]=>
    int(1786)
    ["name"]=>
    string(29) "Philadelphia Water Department"
    ["slug"]=>
    string(29) "philadelphia-water-department"
    ["term_group"]=>
    int(0)
    ["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
    int(1796)
    ["taxonomy"]=>
    string(8) "post_tag"
    ["description"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["parent"]=>
    int(0)
    ["count"]=>
    int(37)
    ["filter"]=>
    string(3) "raw"
  }
  [1]=>
  object(WP_Term)#9188 (10) {
    ["term_id"]=>
    int(2744)
    ["name"]=>
    string(9) "spokesdog"
    ["slug"]=>
    string(9) "spokesdog"
    ["term_group"]=>
    int(0)
    ["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
    int(2757)
    ["taxonomy"]=>
    string(8) "post_tag"
    ["description"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["parent"]=>
    int(0)
    ["count"]=>
    int(3)
    ["filter"]=>
    string(3) "raw"
  }
}

Linh studies Architectural Technologies at Philadelphia University and spent a previous semester studying Sustainability in Copenhagen, Denmark. These experiences home and abroad inspired her to take a closer look at her personal impact on the environment and ways to lessen it. Whether she's reminding others to recycle or supporting local farmers markets, she knows those small steps can add up to a greater positive change. View all posts by Linh Kostiuk