With America voting for their favorite pups, a former Bowmanstown resident’s dog is leading the pack in its group.

Mickey Disney, a 3-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, is first in its group for America’s Favorite Pet. Mickey is owned by TJ Engle, a part-time sportswriter for the Times News.

Engle has owned Mickey since he was 3 months old, and named him after his parents’ dog, Mickie.

“I’ve always wanted a Sheltie of my own, since we had a purebred ‘Sheltie’ when I was a youngster,” Engle said. “Buddy meant a lot to me as a child, and now, I have my very own version of Engle’s Buddy Boy 30-something years later.”

Mickey won Engle’s heart pretty quickly, and has also captured the affection of many in the community where they live.

“Mickey, or also know as the ‘Mayor’ in my development, loves to greet everyone — human or his own kind — with a friendly hello as he’s wagging his tail and quick to approach to say ‘please pet me.’ ”

He has helped Engle settle into his life in North Carolina.

“I’d like nothing more to see my furry child on the front cover of the Modern Dog Magazine,” Engle said. “I want America to know that he was God sent when we crossed paths here in Morrisville back in 2022 and give him every bit the recognition he deserves with his sweet face on their front cover one day.”

America’s Favorite Pet is a nationwide contest sponsored by Colossal as a way to raise funds and awareness of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society.

There are multiple groups the pups are in, with online voting taking place weekly.

The groups have now made it to the Top 10 round of voting.

Voting rounds conclude March 12 and a grand champion is announced around March 27.

For more information on Mickey, visit https://americasfavpet.com/2026/mickey-2150.