For the first time, a dog has won the Humane Society of Pike County’s Pet Photo Contest.

Ziggy is now a cover girl.

Ziggy, the best friend of Mallory Hughes of Troy, amassed a whopping 2,851 votes to win the contest but had last year’s winner, Cali Cat, pushing her to the wire with 2,111 votes.

“It was a close race with Stan and Jo Ann Echols’ Cali making a strong challenge to repeat as our Pet Photo Contest winner,” said Lisa Howard, Society contest chair. “This year’s Pet Photo Contest raised more than $20,000 and that’s almost unbelievable. It’s incredible.

“The Humane Society of Pike County is so appreciative of all of those who entered their pets in the contest, those who voted and the businesses that accepted entries and votes. It took everyone working together.

“We are so excited. Now, we will be able to expand our spay and neuter program and further reduce the number of abused and neglected dogs and cats in Pike County.”

Howard said it was the “battle” that made the 2014 Pet Photo Contest such a success.

The contest shaped up to be a dog and cat fight to the finish, with dogs finishing in nine of the top 13 spots.

“Dog owners seemed determined to have a dog win the contest,” Howard said. “The battle caught the interest of a lot of people. It was exciting and a lot of fun.”

Ziggy will be featured on the cover of the 2014 Pet Photo Calendar.

“Our calendar goes from January to January so we have 13 pets of the month along with our pets of the week,” Howard said. “Every pet that was entered in the contest will be pictured on the calendar.”

In addition to Ziggy and Cali, the top finishers in the 2014 Pet Photo Contests were Charlie, the dog of Carolyn Brantley and Eloise Murphree, 1161 votes; Panzer, the cat of Scott and Emily Maddox, 1111 votes; Beviet and Maggie Mae, the cats of Mary Ciaffa, 1101 votes; Hattie and Earnie, the cats of Eloise Murphree, 1081votes; Chloe, the dog of Beth Maddox, 1011 votes; Buddy, the dog of Bill Grafton, 986 votes; Tippy the dog memorial, Chelsey Kendrick, 900 votes; Pippen, the duck of Steve and Cheryl Parks, 896 votes; Cowboy, the dog of Wyatt Owens, 801 votes; Addyson, the dog of Jill McLaney, 771 votes; Chloe, the dog of Janice Castleberry, 631 votes; and Tippy the dog of Melissa and Bo Smilie, 611 votes.

Howard said the number of entries in the 2014 Pet Photo Contest was down slightly.

“But this contest was the most successful so far,” she said. “The battle between the dogs and cats had much to do with it.”

Howard said that the dogs did dominate 2014 contest but she expects the cats to come scratching back in 2015.

The 2014 Pet Photo Calendars will be available for pickup in mid-November at a cost of $10 each. The calendars will be available at business locations around the county. A few ad spaces are available by calling (334) 735-5567.