Adventurous corgi crowned the cutest dog in Tri-Cities. Meet Maple

After two rounds of voting, Tri-Citians have crowned the cutest dog in the area.

Maple, a 2-year-old Welsh corgi from Kennewick, claimed the top spot in the Tri-City Herald’s 2025 pet photo contest.

More than 1,800 votes were cast in the final round of voting, with nearly 1,000 for the most fetching pup.

Who is the cutest dog in Tri-Cities?

Pet owner Sophie Sather said she adopted Maple as a 4-month-old puppy in spring 2024 — and instantly knew they were going to be best friends.

“She came into my life shortly after my grandmother passed away, and she helped me through the grieving process immensely,” Sather said. “We immediately connected and have been inseparable ever since.”

Maple is an adventurous dog, according to her owner, Sophie Sather.

Sather said she and her “soul dog” are attached at the hip, with the corgi following along anywhere she goes.

The duo work on cars, go fishing, take kayak trips with life jackets and travel together.

“She’s really a do-everything dog and has no fear when it comes to adventure — no fear really at all,” Sather said.

Maple loves swimming, according to Sather, and considers herself a lifeguard when she’s in the water. The corgi will try to protect anyone else in the pool and herd beach balls into the water.

Herding is in her nature, and she’ll even try to herd the vacuum at times, Sather said.

What is Kennewick corgi like?

Sather says Maple’s personality is super bubbly, sometimes sassy and “never fails to make you laugh.”

She called the corgi her once-in-a lifetime best friend.

Who are the cutest cat and dog in the US?

Cutest cat and dog contests are taking place at more than 20 McClatchy newspapers across the United States.

Maple will now be entered into a second contest to determine the cutest dog in the country across more than 20 McClatchy newspapers, launching Monday, Nov. 10.