Dog Days are upon us and don’t think the dogs don’t know it.

All the dog talk going around is about the Humane Society of Pike County’s 2015 Pet Photo Contest and how it’s dog dynasty time.

In 2014, Ziggy, the best friend of Mallory Hughes, was the first dog to make the cover of the Pet Photo Contest calendar. Ziggy won going away and it appears the dethroning of the feline dynasty has turned the cats into scaredy-cats.

“The dogs are far and away leading the entries in the 2015 Pet Photo Contest,” said Lisa Howard, contest chair. “But, we expect the cats to bow up and make a comeback.”

And, when that happens, it will be a dog/cat fight to the finish, Howard said.

The deadline for entry in the 2015 Pet Photo Contest is Sept. 2 and that’s right around the corner.

“This is our 7th annual Pet Photo Contest and fundraiser and every dime raised will go to support the Humane Society of Pike County’s spay and neuter program,” Howard said. “I can’t say how important this program is in reducing the number of abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats in Pike County.”

Howard several cities in the region are having serious problems handing all the stray dogs and cats at their animal shelters. The shelters are getting more animals than they can accommodate. The shelters are then faced with putting the animals down if homes cannot be found for them.

“Spay and neuter programs are the answer to controlling the problem of abandoned dogs and cats,” Howard said. “If we don’t spay and neuter dogs and cats, we can’t build shelters large enough to hold them all.”

Howard said the Pet Photo Contest has been very successful each year as a fun and fundraising event.

To enter, drop an 8×10 pet photo, an entry form with the owner’s name, address and phone number and the pet’s name and a $10 donation to the Humane Society of Pike County at The Little Framery, Troy Antiques or Guynn’s Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services in Troy or Hillside Antiques on Highway 231 South.

Entries may be mailed to Pet Photo Contest, P.O. Box 296, Troy, AL 36081, or entered online at www.pikehumane.org.

Howard said online entries may pay with a credit card or payment may be mailed to the above address.

“Some owners are submitting photos of their pets online without realizing the submission is not complete until the entry fee is received,” she said. “We want to make sure everyone’s entry is completed so their pet will be entered in the 2015 Pet Photo Contest. So, those who are submitting online are reminded to put the $10 entry fee on their credit card or send a check in the mail.”