Wouldn’t you know? With Dog Days just around the bend, a dog was bound to move into the lead in the Humane Society of Pike County’s 2020 Pet Photo Contest.

Joette Booker’s Maggie has moved into the lead over a couple of determined cats, Jo Ann Echols’ Cali and Nancy Powell’s J.T. And, nipping at the heels of the second- and third-place cats is a trio of dogs, Peaches, Jesse and Piper.

So, Donna Brockmann, HSPC president, said the contest is shaping up to be a “photo finish.”

If variety is the spice of life, then a couple of horses will certainly add spice to the 2020 Pet Photo Contest. Vicki Bishop’s Autumn and Beau are picture perfect “ponies” and are expected to make a “run for the cover.”

Lovey, a Pike Animal Shelter kitty, would make a “Purr”fect cover for the 2020 Pet Photo Calendar. Sadly, she only has 2 votes but she’s not giving up hopes, even against competition like Cali Cat, a former calendar girl.

Brockmann said there is still ample time to enter a pet in the HSPC 2020 Pet Photo Contest. The entry fee is a $10 donation to the Humane Society of Pike County. The deadline to enter is midnight August 3. The deadline for voting is 5 p.m. September 1.

For online entry, voting and viewing go to www.pikehumane.org. Entries and votes may also be dropped off at Guynn’s Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services, The Little Framery, Three Notch Antiques all in Troy and Jinright’s Hillside Antiques on Highway 231 south of Troy.

All pets entered in HSPC Pet Photo Contest will be featured on the humane society’s 2020 Pet Photo Calendar.

Brockmann said the winning pet will be the cover pet for the 2020 calendar.

“Additionally, there will be 13 monthly winners and 52 weekly winners. Honorable mentions will be on the back cover so every pet will be honored,” she said. “This is our annual fundraiser and all proceeds from the Pet Photo Contest and Pet Photo Calendar support our county-wide spay/neuter program, our feral cat program and Families-in-Need program.”

Brockmann said everybody is a winner in the annual Pet Photo Contest because the funds raised greatly reduce the number of abused, neglected and abandoned dogs and cats in Pike County.

“We encourage everyone to support these programs by entering a pet and/or voting on a pet of your choice,” she said.