Rehoboth dog in running for World’s Cutest Rescue Dog

The first thing that stands out about Skye is the eyes.

They are the piercing blue eyes of a Siberian husky, and in the daylight, the pupils become the color of the sky, which is how her owner, Carlene Harper, gave her the name.

Harper is a retiree who moved permanently to Rehoboth Beach two years ago after spending most of her professional career in Bucks County, Pa. Just getting to Delaware was an accomplishment for Skye, who Harper said had been found in a dumpster as a puppy and taken to a high-kill shelter in Alabama before she was brought to the First State to Fur-Ever Paws Rescue group. 

Harper said Skye had only been with a foster through Fur-Ever Paws for about five days when she first went to see her. Harper had no intention of bringing her home at the time, but when she first sat in a room with Skye, the dog came right over and sat on her lap. When she learned that another family was coming to look at Skye the next day, Harper moved quickly and adopted Skye and brought her home.

Now 8 months old, Skye is both mature for her age – she stands surprisingly still for photographs and is a good sleeper – and still a puppy, playful and feisty, chewing on her leash. Harper said she did DNA testing on Skye and came up with 15 different breeds, the most prominent being 40% Siberian husky.

“She’s a lot of fun,” Harper said. “I’m a retiree and needed a purpose in life, and now I have one.”

A subscriber to People Magazine, Harper saw there was a contest for the World’s Cutest Rescue Dog, and, on a whim, she entered Skye. In August, Skye was named a semifinalist. Later that month, Skye made the top 10, and was featured with the other contestants in the Sept. 4 issue. Voting for the winner has already begun and will continue until Friday, Sept. 22. 

The contest is co-sponsored by People and Pedigree Petfoods, with judging by representatives from those two organizations along with country music star Miranda Lambert. The winner will get a year’s supply of Pedigree food, a spread in People and $1,000 to be donated to the pet charity of their choice. Harper said if Skye were to win, she would donate her monetary winnings to Fur-Ever Paws.

To vote in the contest, go to people.com/worlds-cutest-rescue-dog-contest-2023-7547114.