The year 2014 is the Year of the Dog. At least, here in Pike County.

For the first time in six years, a dog has won the Humane Society of Pike County’s Pet Photo Contest and is featured on the cover of the humane society’s 2014 Pet Photo Calendar.

Lisa Howard, chair of the Pet Photo Contest, said the 2014 calendars have arrived and are on sale at various locations in Troy and Brundidge.

“The calendar is much larger this year so the photographs are larger and we really like that,” Howard said. “Everyone seems to also appreciate the large spaces for writing so this calendar should be very useful as well as colorful. All of the photographs are great. I think everyone will be pleased.”

Ziggy, the dog of Mallory Hughes, won the annual Pet Photo Contest and is now a Cover Girl.

Ziggy found her forever home five years ago when she stumbled upon Hughes’ parents’ house. She was covered in graffiti and wearing a homemade collar.

Hughes said there was no way that she could let Ziggly lead less than a fabulous life.

Ziggy has a crooked little smile that melts hearts. She loves glitter, lying in the sun, chasing squirrels and she gets along just fine with cats. This year, the Pet Photo contest raised $24,000 that will be dedicated to the Humane Society of Pike County’s spay and neuter program.

“That is the most money that we have raised and I think it was the competition between dog and cat owners that generated so much interest and raised so much money,” Howard said.

Howard said that each pet that participated in the contest is a winner.

“The funds that were raised will greatly reduce the number of abused and neglected dogs and cats in the county through the humane society’s spay and neuter program and its feral cat program.”

Howard said the humane society has historically offered the spay and neuter program twice a year.

“But we’re changing that,” she said.

“The spay and neuter program will be on-going, on an on-need basis. The reason is that, when a stray dog or feral cat is found, the one who found it doesn’t want to wait around until we offer the clinic, so the procedure is usually not done.”

With the on-need spay and neuter program, the procedures can be done at any time.

“All pet owners have to do to participate in the spay and neuter program is go to a local veterinarian’s office and say that you want to participate in the Humane Society of Pike County’s spay and neuter program and they will make the arrangements.”

The humane society will pay $50 of the cost of the procedure.

The funds raised through the sale of the Pet Photo calendars will also fund the spay and neuter program.