DALLAS – The votes are in, and two patriotic pets have taken top honors.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service announced the grand-prize winners of the Patriot Pet Just Say “Treat” Photo contest, with a presidential cat and a patriotic dog fetching a $500 Exchange gift card.
Olive, a 9-year-old cat belonging to Dominick Denicoa, a Marine Corps Veteran, was dressed up in presidential attire and posed on a chair resembling the Lincoln Memorial.
“Olive is really the heart of our family,” said Robin, Dominick’s spouse. “She brings an immense amount of joy to our home, as well as nonstop fun and laughs. When we have had hard days and hard times, she always makes things better.”
The second grand-prize winner, Johnathan Moreno, a Navy Veteran, was practicing his photography when he captured the winning shot of his dog Hunter sitting stoically beneath a billowing flag.
“I was surprised,” he said. “I didn’t expect to win. It was a confidence booster for my photography.”
Eligible shoppers submitted photos of their pets decked out in patriotic style for a chance to win a share of $3,000 in Exchange gift cards.
Eight runners-up each received a $250 Exchange gift card:
- Karleen Paulin, Fort Polk, Kansas
- Meagan Childers, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
- Franchot Goforth, Travis Air Force Base, California
- Maria Carrascal, Baumholder, Germany
- Krystin Bartelt, Aviano Air Base, Italy
- Amy Veglucci, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Maria Tyson, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
- Mitchell Mahaffey, USAG Humphreys, South Korea
Facebook-friendly version: The results are in! Olive and Hunter just took home top honors and $500 in Exchange gift cards during the Exchange’s Patriot Pet Just Say “Treat” Photo Contest. Read more: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-3ii
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 60th-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In FY 2025, the Exchange generated $307 million for military Quality-of-Life programs. In the last 10 years, the Exchange has generated $2.4 billion in dividends to Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a nonappropriated fund entity of the Department of War and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on X at https://x.com/shopmyexchange.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact TSgt Marco Gomez, 214-312-3830 or [email protected].
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