The deadline for entry in the 2020 Pet Photo Contest is midnight Saturday, August 3, and already the competition is heating up.

Donna Brockmann, president of the sponsoring Humane Society of Pike County, said, already, there are 83 entries in the contest with three former Pet Photo Contest winners vying for the early lead.

“A dog, Maggie Malone, is back in the lead with two cats, Brandy Grace, a two-time winner a close second, and Cali, a not-too-distant third,” Brockmann said. “But, we have a long way to go until the voting closes at 5 p.m. September 1. The lead will change many times before we have a winner and a cover pet for the 2020 Pet Photo Calendar.”

Rocky a fine-looking dog is holding onto fourth place and Chip and Dale, two goslings, are in fifth place.

“We’ve had ducks entered before but Chip and Dale are the first goslings,” Brockmann said. “The contest is shaping up to be very interesting.”

Brockmann said the 2020 Pet Photo Contest has a larger than usual number of memorial entries and an amazing number of shelter animals.

“Seventeen animals from the Pike Animal Shelter have been entered,” Brockmann said. “Lovey, a beautiful shelter cat, was actually the first entry in the contest and she has already been adopted. She only has two votes in the contest but she now has a forever home and that is so wonderful.”

Brockmann said her hopes are that all shelter animals in the 2020 Pet Photo Contest will be adopted.

“What I would say to those who vote solely in support of the humane society, ‘vote for a shelter animal,’” she said. “They are wonderful animals who need lots of love.”

Those who have not entered their pets in the 2020 Pet Photo Contest are encouraged to do so.

“The proceeds from the 2020 Pet Photo Contest and the sale of the 2020 Pet Photo Calendars support our annual spay/neuter program which is available to pet owners in Pike County and students at Troy University,” she said. “During the spay/neuter program, the Humane Society of Pike County will pay $50 toward each procedure as long as funds are available. All Pike County veterinarians participate.”
Brockmann said the most effective way to control the abandoned and abused animal population in Pike County through spaying and neutering.

The entry fee in the 2020 Pet Photo Contest is a $10 donation to the Humane Society of Pike County.

“You may enter as many photos as you would like,” Brockmann   said. “However, each photo requires a separate entry form with a $10 donation.”

Entries may be mailed to Pet Photo Contest, P.O. Box 296, Troy, AL 36081. Mailed entries must to postmarked no later than Saturday, August 3 to be counted. Online entry and voting and viewing are available at www.pikehumane.org.

Entries may also be dropped off at Guynn’s Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services, Jinright’s Hillside Antiques, The Little Framery and Three Notch Antiques.

“Of course, the winning pet will be on the calendar cover,” Brockmann said. “Additionally, there will be 13 monthly winners and 52 weekly winners. Honorable mentions will be on the back cover, so every pet entered will be featured on the calendar.”