It's time to primp your pooch, fluff your feline and brush your bunny because the Lee County Humane Society is accepting photo entries for the 2011 Best Friends Calendar.
Entries, accepted April first through May 28 for $10 each, will be voted on during the summer to see which pet can capture the most votes and become the 2011 "Cover Pet."
"We have people enter pictures of their pet and take a small entry fee," said Stacee Strength, public relations director of Lee County Humane Society. "Over the course of the summer, we accept votes for $1 and the winner will be featured on the cover of the calendar."
The money raised will benefit the shelter's welfare fund, which is used to purchase medical tests, vaccinations, enrichment needs and preventative treatments for more than 6,000 animals each year.
This year, Strength said they are changing it up by adding a "Best in Show" category which will be chosen for its artistic merits, as well as offering an alternative $20 entry fee that will garner the contestant 15 extra votes.
Strength said entries can be of any pet, not just shelter-adopted animals, and can even be entered in memory of a pet.
"The only thing we ask is that there are no people in the photo and no advertisement," Strength said. "We really want to keep the calendar just about pets."
Strength said that some people strategize to ensure their photo will win.
"The people who had the most votes last year really encouraged all their friends to take advantage of the online voting," Strength said. "Also, it's better to choose just one picture to enter that has your pet or all of your pets in it and concentrate on that one picture rather than having three or four."
To enter, forms can be picked up at the shelter or at leecountyhumane.org and can be submitted in person, through mail or through e-mail.
Submitted photos should be a 4x6, high-resolution digital photo.
Last year, the contest had over 75 entries and raised approximately $8,500. Strength said they hope to have even more entries and raise even more money with this year's contest.
Voting on this year's submissions will begin June 21 and end Sept. 11 at the shelter's Woofstock celebration.
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