People’s Race for World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Is Down to 3 Very Good Dogs

Three dogs who once faced hunger, injury, and uncertainty are now standing in the national spotlight for a much happier reason. Bean, Tiberius, and Champ have been named the final three contenders in the 2026 World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest, each carrying a story that reaches far beyond an adorable face. One was discovered desperately searching for food, another survived life on the streets without sight, and the third lost a leg after suffering a serious injury. Today, all three are surrounded by people who love them, proving just how dramatically life can change for a rescue dog given another chance. Now in its ninth year, the contest celebrates adopted dogs and the families who gave them a place to belong. Thousands of votes helped narrow this year’s group of 10 finalists to Bean, Tiberius, and Champ. The three dogs are now competing for the grand prize, with the overall winner scheduled to be announced on October 19. Three Rescue Stories With Remarkable New Chapters Bean’s journey began under heartbreaking circumstances in Nogales, Mexico. The Pug was found severely underweight and living as a stray, searching through trash at a gas station just to find something to eat. Life...