Dog With Own Bell To Let Owner Know It's Outdoor Time Wins Pet of the Week

From a golden retriever insisting on helping out a plumber who was fixing a sink to a cat who won't let her owner fall back to sleep after her alarm, we've seen lots of adorable and hilarious pet videos this week. As well as viral videos, Newsweek is always looking for pets to feature in the weekly Newsweek Pet of the Week line-up. If you think your pet could be next week's Pet of the Week, follow the instructions at the end of this story to get involved.

Winner

This week's Pet of the Week winner is Chiquita, a six-year-old pitbull mix with an impressive talent—she rings a bell to go outside. Adopted at four years old after living in a shelter and overcoming heartworm, she has flourished in her loving home. In a heartwarming video shared by her owner Lovey Bagga, Chiquita rings a bell by the door, indicating that she is ready to go out. "For the first few days, I would say 'bell' and would ring the bell myself before opening the door," Bagga told Newsweek, recounting the training process. "Then, she started standing next to the bell, looking at the bell or trying to sniff it every time she wanted to go out. I would still say things like 'bell' or 'paw' right before opening the door. Then she started trying to touch the bell with her paw, but missed the aim. I would secretly hit the bell myself and say 'good job' every time." Before long, Chiquita mastered the trick and now confidently rings the bell on her own to let her owner know what she wants. Beyond her doorbell trick, Chiquita is a testament to resilience and joy. Despite a difficult start in life, she is now enjoying all of the creature comforts she enjoys with her loving owner. "One thing that has always stayed on is her priceless smile," Bagga said.

Finalists

The first finalist this week is Zak, a two-year-old American Mastiff who is the definition of "gentle giant." "Zak loves people and always likes to be petted. He thinks he can sit on your lap and tries whenever he can," owner Vicky Davis told Newsweek. He also has a playful personality, something that shines through in little habits, like carrying his food bowl around when he's hungry—a charming way of letting his family know it's mealtime.

Next up this week is Araya, a playful chocolate Labrador who recently brought joy and mischief to the Tompkins County Board of Elections, where she accompanied her owner, Beth Morano, to work. As a senior voting machine technician, Morano was preparing supplies for polling sites when Araya decided to make things more interesting. With perfect timing, Araya grabbed the end of a roll of "I Voted" stickers and took off, turning the workplace into a playful chase. "I chased after her and grabbed the stickers. She kept a few in her mouth and looked at me saying 'I dare you to take these,'" Morano told Newsweek.

Last but not least this week is sleek black cat Max, who stole owner Doreen Piazza's heart the moment she saw him at the local Pet Supermarket. "I asked to hold him and that is all it took. He is so loving, always holding his tail up high," Piazza told Newsweek. Max has a playful side too, and owns an impressive collection of 50 catnip toys. His favorite pastime is watching birds from the balcony, and when Piazza tells him the birds are looking for him, he instinctively glances up at the sky, as if ready to greet them. 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.