{"id":12666,"date":"2026-09-01T09:24:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=12666"},"modified":"2026-09-01T09:24:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:24:21","slug":"paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/09\/01\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Paws, Patriotism and Prizes: Exchange Reveals Patriot Pet Contest Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>The votes are in, and two patriotic pets have taken top honors.<\/p>\n<p>The Army &amp; Air Force Exchange Service announced the grand-prize winners of the <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2syyvnj\">Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo contest<\/a>, with a presidential cat and a patriotic dog fetching a $500 Exchange gift card.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOlive is really the heart of our family,\u201d said Robin, Dominick\u2019s spouse. \u201cShe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was surprised,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to win. It was a confidence booster for my photography.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Eight runners-up each received a $250 Exchange gift card:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Karleen Paulin, Fort Polk, Kansas<\/li>\n<li>Meagan Childers, Fort Belvoir, Virginia<\/li>\n<li>Franchot Goforth, Travis Air Force Base, California<\/li>\n<li>Maria Carrascal, Baumholder, Germany<\/li>\n<li>Krystin Bartelt, Aviano Air Base, Italy<\/li>\n<li>Amy Veglucci, Fort Bragg, North Carolina<\/li>\n<li>Maria Tyson, Ramstein Air Base, Germany<\/li>\n<li>Mitchell Mahaffey, USAG Humphreys, South Korea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Facebook-friendly version: <\/strong>The results are in! Olive and Hunter just took home top honors and $500 in Exchange gift cards during the Exchange\u2019s Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest. Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-3ii\">https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-3ii<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">&#8212; 30 &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>Since 1895, the Army &amp; 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">###<\/p>\n<p><strong>Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact TSgt Marco Gomez, 214-312-3830 or gomezmarco@aafes.com.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n<p>Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/p>\n<p>Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/p>\n<p>Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DALLAS \u2013 The votes are in, and two patriotic pets have taken top honors. The Army &amp; Air Force Exchange Service announced the grand-prize winners of the Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":12668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[25,313],"tags":[160,174,106,35,256,773,33,57,182],"class_list":["post-12666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","category-sweepstakes","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-army-and-air-force-exchange-service","tag-military","tag-patriot-pet","tag-pet-contest","tag-press-release","tag-sweepstakes","tag-winners"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/09\/01\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Paws, Patriotism and Prizes: Exchange Reveals Patriot Pet Contest Winners","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/09\/01\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/09\/01\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/GP2-Dominick-D.-Patrick-SFB.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/GP2-Dominick-D.-Patrick-SFB.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TSgt Marco A. Gomez"}],"creator":["TSgt Marco A. Gomez"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army &amp; air force exchange service","army and air force exchange service","military","patriot pet","pet contest","press release","sweepstakes","winners"],"dateCreated":"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z","datePublished":"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z","dateModified":"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Paws, Patriotism and Prizes: Exchange Reveals Patriot Pet Contest Winners\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/publicaffairs-sme.com\\\/ExchangePost\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/01\\\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/publicaffairs-sme.com\\\/ExchangePost\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/01\\\/paws-patriotism-and-prizes-exchange-reveals-patriot-pet-contest-winners\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/publicaffairs-sme.com\\\/ExchangePost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/GP2-Dominick-D.-Patrick-SFB.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/publicaffairs-sme.com\\\/ExchangePost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/GP2-Dominick-D.-Patrick-SFB.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Press Releases\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"TSgt Marco A. Gomez\"}],\"creator\":[\"TSgt Marco A. Gomez\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Exchange Newsroom\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"aafes\",\"army &amp; air force exchange service\",\"army and air force exchange service\",\"military\",\"patriot pet\",\"pet contest\",\"press release\",\"sweepstakes\",\"winners\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-01T14:24:21Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11294,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/04\/29\/have-a-photogenic-fur-baby-exchange-to-give-away-3000-in-gift-cards-for-pet-photo-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":0},"title":"Have a Photogenic Fur Baby? Exchange to Give Away $3,000 in Gift Cards for Pet Photo Contest","author":"Karrington Bradley","date":"April 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 Military shoppers can deck their furry companions out in their finest red, white and blue and enter for a chance to win a share of $3,000 in prizes in the Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Hills Pet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Press Releases&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Press Releases","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/categories\/press_releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-29-113902-1-e1745945705463.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9213,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/05\/04\/calling-all-patriotic-pets-exchanges-photo-contest-giving-away-3000-in-gift-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":1},"title":"Calling All Patriotic Pets! Exchange\u2019s Photo Contest Giving Away $3,000 in Gift Cards","author":"TSgt. Eli Smith","date":"May 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 Military shoppers whose furry friends have the purr-fect patriotic look can win a share of $3,000 in prizes in the Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Royal Canin. From May 1 through May 31, eligible Exchange shoppers 18\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Press Releases&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Press Releases","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/categories\/press_releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/99647_-2023-Patriot-Pet_Poster25-1-e1683227920739.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/99647_-2023-Patriot-Pet_Poster25-1-e1683227920739.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/99647_-2023-Patriot-Pet_Poster25-1-e1683227920739.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/99647_-2023-Patriot-Pet_Poster25-1-e1683227920739.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12346,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/04\/28\/stars-and-stripes-fur-ever-3000-in-gift-cards-up-for-grabs-in-exchange-pet-photo-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":2},"title":"Stars and Stripes Fur-ever: $3,000 in Gift Cards Up for Grabs in Exchange Pet Photo Contest","author":"Karrington Bradley","date":"April 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 Attention, military shoppers. It\u2019s time to showcase those patriotic pets. The Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest, from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Hills Pet Nutrition, offers participants the opportunity to win a share of the $3,000 in Exchange gift cards. From May 1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Press Releases&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Press Releases","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/categories\/press_releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/PA-PatriotPet.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7979,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2022\/05\/02\/salute-the-cute-exchanges-photo-contest-gives-pets-a-chance-to-fetch-3000-in-gift-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":3},"title":"Salute the Cute! Exchange\u2019s Photo Contest Gives Pets a Chance to Fetch $3,000 in Gift Cards","author":"Keiana Holleman","date":"May 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 America\u2019s furriest heroes can take their purr-ific patriotic looks all the way to the bank. Military pets can fetch a share of $3,000 in Exchange gift cards for their humans when they show off their American pride in the Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest presented by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;MD&quot;","block_context":{"text":"MD","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/directorates\/md\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/98218_-2022-Patriot-Pet_Poster-1-e1651504039127.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/98218_-2022-Patriot-Pet_Poster-1-e1651504039127.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/98218_-2022-Patriot-Pet_Poster-1-e1651504039127.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/98218_-2022-Patriot-Pet_Poster-1-e1651504039127.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3737,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2019\/05\/02\/army-air-force-exchange-service-salutes-cutest-military-pets-with-patriot-pet-photo-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":4},"title":"Army &#038; Air Force Exchange Service Salutes Cutest Military Pets with Patriot Pet Photo Contest","author":"Marisa Conner","date":"May 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 Smile big and show off your canines\u2014or felines, rabbits, birds or any pet! The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, along with Blue Buffalo pet food, is once again hosting the Patriot Pet Just Say \u201cTreat\u201d Photo Contest. From May 1 to May 31, military shoppers can submit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Press Releases&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Press Releases","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/categories\/press_releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Flyer with rules for entering the Exchange Patriot Pet Photo Contest","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/Patriot-Pet-1-e1556822791273.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5200,"url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/04\/30\/four-legged-friends-can-help-military-shoppers-win-3000-in-exchange-gift-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":12666,"position":5},"title":"Four-Legged Friends Can Help Military Shoppers Win $3,000 in Exchange Gift Cards","author":"Marisa Conner","date":"April 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"DALLAS \u2013 Pets make great companions for those long weeks spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This May, they\u2019ll even fetch 10 lucky military shoppers a combined $3,000 in Army & Air Force Exchange Service gift cards\u2014without having to set paw outside the house. From May 1 through May\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Press Releases&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Press Releases","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/category\/categories\/press_releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/2019-Winner-Stephanie-Chung_Randolph-e1588271953212.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/2019-Winner-Stephanie-Chung_Randolph-e1588271953212.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/2019-Winner-Stephanie-Chung_Randolph-e1588271953212.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/2019-Winner-Stephanie-Chung_Randolph-e1588271953212.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-3ii","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/GP2-Dominick-D.-Patrick-SFB.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12666"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12669,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12666\/revisions\/12669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}