Voting is underway to select the next Michigan Gas Utilities (MGU) “ambassadog” for the company’s safe digging campaign. The winner will help promote an important safety message: Doggone it! Call 811 at least three days before you dig.

MGU customers across southern and western Michigan submitted pictures of their canine candidates to be the company’s next ambassadog. The playful pups were picked, and it’s now down to the top nine dogs.

The candidates are:

Buckley

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with golden brown hair. On the left the dog is laying on a couch, and is digging in the sand on the right.

Buckley is a 5-year-old dog from Nunica who loves to roam the great outdoors. His family says he loves going on hikes, swimming and playing in the snow when he’s not digging.

Cedar

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with golden brown hair. On the left, the dog is smiling for a photo, and is digging a hole in the grass on the right.

This 8-year-old Coopersville resident is described by her owners as “sassy.” Her favorite activities include being outdoors, going for walks and cuddling with her human mom and dad.

Charlie

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with brown and white hair. The dog is standing in dirt on the left and digging a hole in the sand on the right.

Charlie is an 8-year-old dog who lives in Stevensville near the shores of Lake Michigan. He’s described as “spunky” by his family.

Frankie

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with cream-colored hair. The dog is standing over a hole on the left, and digging a hole in the grass on the right.

A 2-year-old pup from Dundee, Frankie is a friendly face who loves to meet new people and dogs. Along with digging, Frankie enjoys swimming in northern Michigan’s lakes.

Hazel

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with brown and white hair. The dog is standing on a dirt area on the left, and laying in a hole in dirt on the right.

Hazel is a 6-year-old dog who lives with her family in Monroe. On warm days, Hazel often can be found digging holes so she can grab some shade and cool off. She also enjoys going for long walks and lounging around outside.

Kilo

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with black and white hair. The dog is standing near a chair on the left, and digging a hole in snow on the right.

A 12-year-old dog, Kilo often proves to his owners that age is just a number. Kilo loves to chase his family’s chickens around their home in Grand Haven, and isn’t shy about visiting everyone in his neighborhood. His owners say the best word to describe him is “chaos.”

Lucy

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with brown hair. The dog is sitting on grass on the left, and laying on a dirt digging area on the right.

Lucy is a 10-year-old dog from Plainwell who loves to play, take walks to the dog park, and of course, dig. Her favorite digging area is underneath a chainlink fence so she can visit her family’s next-door neighbors.

Monty

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with white, brown and black hair. The dog is lying on grass with a blue rope toy on the left, and digging in a rocky area on the right.

A native of Dundee, Monty is usually on the go — his family says he lives to chase squirrels and rodents around his yard. When he’s not running or digging, Monty enjoys playing fetch or tug-of-war with his family.

Pooka

Two photos side-by-side of a dog with white hair. The dog is running in a grass field on the left, and digging a hole in a sandy area on the right.

Pooka is a 9-year-old dog who has been a foster sibling to numerous puppies and kittens. She’s also a friend to all she meets, playing with a variety of animals including tortoises and pigs. Her family describes her as “adorable.”

Now, MGU customers and dog lovers everywhere have the paw-some responsibility of voting for the ulti-mutt winner. Vote now at michigangasutilities.com.

MGU’s next ambassadog will be announced before the end of April, National Safe Digging Month. The winner will be featured in MGU’s safe digging campaign on social media all year long.

About 811

Digging can be dangerous if you don’t call 811 at least three days in advance. Whether you’re planting a garden or installing a fence, it’s important to have the location of underground utilities marked to keep you and your family safe. Notifying MISS DIG 811 is easy, it’s free and it’s the law.