Owner remembers Mochi, the senior dog who really loved chilling in the pool

From a shelter dog and man choosing each other in a heartwarming clip to a kitten's death-defying leap from a second-floor railing, we have started the year with plenty of heartwarming and fun pet stories at Newsweek.

As well as viral clips and stories, we have been loving our readers' pictures and videos of their pets for our Newsweek Pet of the Week lineup.

If you want your pet to be featured next week, follow the instructions at the end of the story to submit your animal's pictures and videos.

Winner

This week's Pet of the Week is Mochi, a 14-year-old German shorthaired pointer with tons of personality who recently passed away from cancer.

Owner Christine Del Sordo shared a video of senior pup Mochi whom she described as a "beautiful, lovable" companion who had a special love for water and swimming with both human and canine companions.

In a heartwarming video, Mochi was captured enjoying the water before swimming across to the edge and climbing out of the pool.

"She was a hunting dog through and through and always loved the water and swimming with the family," Del Sordo said.

Finalists

Our first finalist this week is Integral, a kitten first found crying in a garage and now living her best life with owner Erin Priest.

"She was found in a friend's garage last summer, crying," Priest told Newsweek. "Because I didn't know how long she had gone without food and water, she slept in a playpen near me for months."

Over time, Integral not only regained her strength but also developed a playful love for water, stemming from the many baths needed to clean her fur.

Now, in their new home, Integral still uses the bathtub for games, and now lives with feline friend Honey—who doesn't like water at all.

Our next finalist this week is Levi, blue merle mini Aussie who is full of love.

Owner Sherri Robertson shared how Levi came into her life in 2024 after being rescued from the roadside with his siblings. "As soon as I saw him, my heart melted, and I knew he was the one," Robertson told Newsweek. Levi became her perfect angel, helping her heal after the loss of her beloved Spanky seven years earlier.

Life brought another twist when Robertson's son-in-law, with stage 4 sarcoma cancer, asked her to care for Lil Miss, a tiny Chihuahua. Despite her own health challenges, Robertson welcomed Lil Miss, and Levi instantly bonded with her.

Since coming together, the pair have become best friends. "They are constant reminders of the joy and sacrifices that make life special," Robertson said.

Last but not least this week is Gabby, a kitten who has brought comfort and joy to a family during a difficult time.

In August 2022, Kylene Kleine's mother was placed in Hospice Home Health. One day, as they sat outside, a kitten appeared and curled up in her mother's lap. "When I opened the door, she went inside and directly to our cat litter box," Kleine said. "Then she came back outside, back to Mom's lap."

Kleine's mother, a lifelong cat lover, pleaded to keep the kitten. "How does one turn down the request of a loved one nearing the end of their life?" Kleine said. They named her Gabby, and she quickly became queen of the house, ruling over their two male cats and sleeping beside Kleine's mother every night.

When her mother passed away five months later, Gabby the cat shared her love with her owner. "She's become a love of my life," Kleine said.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.