WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Mozart is trying to win a million dollars for New Orleans recovery efforts . But the charitable effort by the 6-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel may be derailed by a dog named after the satirical TV anchorman Stephen Colbert . Mozart 's owner says if he wins , all the prize money will go to charities aiding New Orleans . Both canines are contestants in a dog beauty pageant -- but only one pup can take home the big money . The first round is under way , with a hairy finalist selected each week by the number of fan votes . Mozart , or MoMo as friends and family know him , came in second last week in the Cutest Dog Competition with 2,780 votes . This week he is running neck and neck with a new challenger , Stephen Colbert el dos , a Pomeranian Chihuahua mixed-breed puppy from Atlanta , Georgia . MoMo 's owner is crying foul . `` It 's just coming out of nowhere , '' Cara McCool said . `` It 's just unfortunate . MoMo is named after a famous person too , but he 's dead . '' The Cutest Dog Competition is run by All American Pet Brands . Over 60,000 people have uploaded photos of their adorable dogs to the contest 's Web site . The final 12 pooches will get to compete for the grand prize , a cool million in cash . `` It 's a fraternity or sorority with people who do n't just have pets , these are their family members , their best friends , '' said All American Pet Brands CEO Barry Schwartz . `` He 's my furry child , '' said McCool , a New Orleans piano teacher who named her dog Mozart after her favorite composer . `` Sometimes I pull up chairs for him to sit next to me when I play or teach . He has been known to jump on the bench and actually has put his paws on the keys . '' McCool has been active with several nonprofits working in New Orleans . If Mozart wins she said all the money will got to several charities : Redeemer Presbyterian Disaster Relief , Desire Street Ministries , Louisiana Teachers Save Our Students fund , Cavalier Rescue USA , Musical Arts Society of New Orleans , the Louisiana SPCA , and Teach for America . `` I already support them , but I ca n't afford that much because I 'm a piano teacher , '' she said . If Mozart wins , all that could change . Colbert el dos ' owners did not want to be identified . They told CNN they have only mentioned the contest to a few friends and family members . However , they did post a note about the doggie competition on a Colbert fan site . The owners have not heard from the show but one of the fan sites says Colbert el dos will appear on `` The Colbert Report '' if he makes the top 12 . Renata Luczak , a spokesperson for Comedy Central , could not confirm or deny the pet 's booking , saying , `` 'The Colbert Report ' refrains from commenting on upcoming guests appearing on the show . '' Even without a television appearance , Colbert el dos appears to be benefiting from the famous Colbert name bump . Colbert has wreaked havoc in other online competitions -- from a Hungarian bridge-naming contest to a NASA competition to name a room in the International Space Station . In both cases Colbert won the popular vote . However , NASA pushed back and instead of naming the room in his honor , the agency sent a treadmill to space with the Colbert honorific . In both of those contests , the competitions received heavy promotion during the show , with Colbert urging his viewers to participate . However , in this dog photo fight , Colbert is having an impact without any direct participation . Schwartz said the competition recognizes the outside influence of the Colbert bump . `` If there are those Colbert-named dogs that can get those thousands of votes , we do n't want to leave anyone out , so we added a new daily contest . '' The voting for this week ends at midnight on Saturday . Schwartz said the grand prize winner will be named on Thanksgiving Day .
` ` Stephen Colbert El ##f '' is in some snapping over cute dog competition . The dog , named after the satirical news anchorman , is in Cutest Dog Competition . Mozart , a 6-year - old Cavalier King Charles spaniel , had been winning . Mozart 's owner says Colbert came out of nowhere and ` ` it 's unfortunate ''