Kanine Cleanup Crew

03/22/2026

A True Champion of the Heart! Meet Chorizo. 🌭🏀🐾

The Pooch Playoffs are all about celebrating the unique spirit of every dog, and today we have a story that will truly inspire you! Meet Chorizo, a courageous Dachshund who happens to have three legs—but he doesn't let that stop him for a single second.

Chorizo is a beloved member of the team at Cottonwood Pet Resort, one of our wonderful sponsors for this year's competition! 🏛️✨ He "goes to work" every day and loves running alongside all the other dogs in the resort. While he might be a little slower than the rest of the pack, he always keeps up and never misses out on the fun.

It was such an honor to have Chorizo in the studio at Once Upon A Time Photography. Capturing his professional portrait is our way of highlighting the incredible resilience of our furry friends, all while raising money for our local animal rescue here in Alamogordo. Every vote for Chorizo is a vote for the "underdog" in all of us!

How you can support Chorizo: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for Chorizo to show this brave boy some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see the rest of the amazing dogs in our bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We can’t wait to see if Chorizo’s big heart can lead him all the way to the gold!

Have you seen Chorizo "at work" at Cottonwood Pet Resort? Tell us in the comments! 🐶👇

03/22/2026

Is This the Year of the Poodle? Meet River! 🐩🏀✨

The Pooch Playoffs are all about family, and River is taking that very seriously! Last year, his sisters participated and did a fantastic job, but this year River is stepping up to the plate (or the court!) to try and bring home the win for his family.

River is a lovable Poodle who is a little bit shy when he first meets you, but once he’s comfortable, he is a total ball of energy! ⚡️ It was such a joy to have him in the studio for his official Pooch Playoffs portrait. We’re shooting these "portrait style" to give our favorite furry family members the professional headshot they deserve—all while raising money for our local animal rescue here in Alamogordo.

How you can support River’s redemption journey: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for River to show him some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see all the competitors in this year's bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We are so proud of all our Otero County participants, and we can’t wait to see who makes it to the Final Four!

Do you have a "shy but energetic" dog at home, or are they 100% wild all the time? 😂🐶

03/22/2026

A Local Business Leader Joins the Bracket! Meet Sydney. 🚐🐸🐾

The Pooch Playoffs are all about celebrating the dogs who make our community special, and today we have a true Alamogordo icon! Meet Sydney, the beautiful girl who helps her mom, Sandy, manage our local RV park.

Sydney is a familiar face to many of us in Otero County. Whether she’s rocking one of her signature bandanas or helping Sandy coordinate local events, she is always at the heart of the action! 🎀 Most recently, Sydney and Sandy were instrumental in hosting a community Shop Hop with local businesses—you might have even spotted some of those fun plastic frogs around town! 🐸✨

It was such an honor to have Sydney in the studio at Once Upon A Time Photography. Capturing her beautiful spirit in a professional portrait is our way of saying "thank you" for everything she does for our town, all while raising money for our local animal rescue. Every vote for Sydney is a vote for our hardworking local business community!

How you can support Sydney: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for Sydney to show this local leader some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see the rest of the amazing dogs in our bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We can’t wait to see if Sydney’s community spirit can lead her all the way to the Final Four!

Did you participate in the Shop Hop and find a frog? Tell us in the comments! 🐸👇

03/22/2026

Come join us on 4/11/2026 for our first ever Pet-Palooza adoption event! With vendors, jumping balloons for the kids! We are having a pup cup station! And more! Come meet your fury best friend at this event!

03/19/2026

03/19/2026

The Cottonwood Crew is Growing! Meet Dexter. 🏛️🏀🐾

The Pooch Playoffs are all about community, and today we’re highlighting another wonderful member of the Cottonwood Pet Resort family! Meet Dexter, a cute-as-can-be pup whose mom works right alongside Chorizo and the rest of the team at the resort.

Dexter came into the studio at Once Upon A Time Photography with the best attitude an athlete can have—he was just happy to be there for the belly rubs and the treats! 😂 He is the definition of a "happy-go-lucky" dog, and his portrait captures that joyful spirit perfectly. It’s so much fun to see the staff from our local sponsors getting involved with their own furry family members!

We are having a blast celebrating these unique personalities while raising money for our local animal rescue here in Alamogordo. Every vote for Dexter helps a pet in need find their own "forever home" for belly rubs!

How you can support Dexter: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for Dexter to show this sweet boy some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see the rest of the amazing dogs in our bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We can’t wait to see if Dexter’s "treat-winning" smile can lead him all the way to the Final Four!

Do you have a "treat-motivated" athlete at home like Dexter? Tell us in the comments! 🦴👇

03/19/2026

A Seasoned Professional Returns! Meet Bentley. 👔🐕🏀🐾

The Pooch Playoffs are heating up, and today we are welcoming back a true veteran of the competition! Meet Bentley, a handsome German Shepherd who is joining us for his second year at Once Upon A Time Photography. 🏛️✨

Bentley is one of the most photogenic dogs we’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. He truly knows how to hit his angles and always comes prepared with a fresh bow tie for his "game day" look! 🎀📸 His mom works over at Cottonwood Pet Resort, one of our wonderful sponsors, so Bentley is a familiar face to many of us here in Alamogordo.

It’s so much fun to see our returning participants grow and change from year to year. Capturing these professional portraits is our way of celebrating the dogs who protect our homes and fill our hearts, all while raising money for our local animal rescue in Otero County. Every vote for Bentley helps a pet in need find their own "forever home" for bow ties and belly rubs!

How you can support Bentley: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for Bentley to show this dapper boy some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see the rest of the amazing dogs in our bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We can’t wait to see if Bentley’s "model-perfect" look can lead him all the way to the Final Four!

Does your dog have a "signature look" like Bentley’s bow ties? Tell us in the comments! 🐶👔👇

03/19/2026

Turn Up the Volume! Meet Bonnie. 📻🎸🏀🐾

The Pooch Playoffs just got a whole lot louder! We are so thrilled to introduce Bonnie, a dog who is absolutely bursting with fun and silliness. Bonnie belongs to John from Rock 97.9, and we are so grateful that they jumped in at the last minute to be part of the competition and support our local animal rescue! 🏛️✨

If you’ve ever listened to John on the radio, you know he’s all about the community, and Bonnie is no different. She brought her signature "silly girl" energy to her session at Once Upon A Time Photography, and her portrait is a total showstopper! 📸❤️ It’s so much fun to see our local sponsors getting involved not just with their businesses, but with their own furry family members too.

Every vote for Bonnie helps us raise money for pets in need here in Alamogordo. Let’s show our local rock station some love!

How you can support Bonnie: 🐾 Drop a 🐾 for Bonnie to show this silly girl some love! 📱 Follow Once Upon A Time Photography to see the rest of the amazing dogs in our bracket. 🗳️ Get Ready to Vote! Mark your calendars for March 21st. You can see the full lineup and cast your vote here: onceuponatimephotography.net/vote-pooch-playoffs

We can’t wait to see if Bonnie’s rock-and-roll spirit can lead her all the way to the Final Four!

Do you listen to Rock 97.9 in the mornings? Tell us your favorite Bonnie-approved song! 🎸👇