No matter how it’s figured, the Dog Days of summer are over.

But don’t tell that to the four dogs that are nipping at the heels of Cali the Cat.

Cats have been the perennial winners of the Humane Society of Pike County’s annual Pet Photo Contest. And Cali is making a run for back-to-back titles. Heading into the final stretch, she’s in the lead. Votes are $1 each and the pet with the most votes is the winner.

Voting in the Humane Society of Pike County’s 2014 Pet Photo Contest ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and dogs are proving to be strong challengers. The front-running contenders of the canine persuasion, Ziggy Johnson, Mary James Drinkard, Charlie and Daisy, could take this year’s photo contest down to the wire. And, then, Brandi Grace, the 2012 winner, and other cats like Hallie and Earnie could factor into the winner’s circle as well as about 14 other pets that are up and in the running.

Lisa Howard, contest chair, said entries in the 2014 contest were down slightly from last year.

“We have 76 entries this year, down from 82 last year, but the voting is strong and it will continue to pick up, especially the last few days,” Howard said. “We expect a fast finish.”

A pet also will be featured as the Pet of the Month throughout the year, as will a pet of the week.

“Every pet that entered the contest will be included on the calendar. The number of votes will determine where,” Howard said. “We encourage everyone to vote for their favorite pet. It might be a family pet, a friend’s pet or just a pet that captured your heart with its photo on our website, www.pikehumane.org.”

Votes may be cast at Guynn’s Tax Service, The Little Framery and Troy Antiques in Troy and Hilltop Antiques on U.S. Highway 231 south of Troy. Votes may also be mailed to Pet Photo Contest, P.O. Box 296 Troy, AL 36081 but must be postmarked Sept. 30, 2013.

The Pet Photo Contest is the Humane Society of Pike County’s largest fund-raiser. The money is used primarily for the Society’s spay and neuter program. In the spring of 2013, nearly 500 procedures were performed on dogs and cats through the program. Spaying and neutering reduces the number of abandoned and neglected dogs and cats in the Pike County area.