A local dog has found fame as the face of a new line of dog food.

Barry Peters, the owner of Pet Valu here in Steinbach, says the major dog food brand Performatrin was coming out with a new product and put out a contest. He notes he entered his Papillon, Kato.

“They put out a contest wanting a cover, a model for the new dog food coming out, so I figured I got pretty much the best looking dog there is. I got my sons buddy Kendall, he's a photographer, he came by, took a photo, sent it in and a few months later I got word that my Kato got selected to be on a bag.”

Peters says he was thrilled to get the news that Kato had won the contest, noting 200 dogs were entered. He notes at eleven years old, Kato found fame late in life. He adds the dog food will be sold across North America.

Peters says they are holding a bit of a celebration for Kato at their dog adoption day on October 14th.

“We always have national adoption days where we support the local rescues. We do donations for them and they can bring some of their animals that are up for adoption. We are going to do a barbeque this time, partly in celebration of Kato because it is a pretty big thing and all of the proceeds will be going toward the local rescues.

Peters says they support Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue as well as Manitoba Great Pyrenees in New Bothwell.