Grand Strand Magazine’s pet photo contest voters have made their decision: Charlie, the adorable yellow Lab seen celebrating his birthday in our June-July edition, page 105, has been chosen as the 2025 Cutest Pet Contest Winner!

Each year, readers submit engaging pics of their pets for Grand Strand Magazine’s Cutest Pet Contest, which is sponsored by Camp Bow Wow, a top-notch dog boarding and grooming facility in Myrtle Beach that also has pet first-aid and CPR-certified camp counselors. 

In addition to bragging rights, Charlie receives an extremely nice, swag-filled gift basket from contributing sponsor Very Important Pooch, a boutique shop in Grande Dunes.

JJ and Glen Fickenworth are Charlie’s proud parents. 

“My husband, Glen, and I are so excited Charlie has been selected to be the Cutest Pet for the Grand Strand in 2025,” says delighted doggie mom JJ. 

She and Glen moved to the Grand Strand in 2016 from Greenville, S.C. In 2019, they adopted Charlie from a rescue organization. 

“He was being fostered up in Greenville and moved to Myrtle Beach on his ‘Gotcha Day!”’ They believe Charlie is about 11 years old.

“Charlie is affectionate and loves to be near us. He’ll lay on your feet, lean against you, and of course he follows us around whenever we get up,” JJ laughs. “He also loves to say hello to little dogs and people when we're on our walks.”

The Fickenworths give their big boy a birthday party every year on March 31.

“He loves opening gifts! He loves it so much that now we let him help us open all the gifts and any packages that come in the mail, too,” she laughs. “He is so darn cute! That face, those eyes, the uneven ears!”

On a more somber note, Charlie was recently diagnosed with an enlarged heart by a vet cardiologist near Charleston. He’s under treatment now, and JJ and Glen are doing a “quality of life” plan for him, so Charlie being voted the Cutest Pet is an especially heartfelt win.

“He’s my baby,” JJ says. “We really rallied the troops (to vote) for him.Thank you to everyone who voted for Charlie!”