The expression “stubborn as an ol’ mule” just might apply to the 2016 Pet Photo Contest if Pete and Ginny are stubborn about relinquishing their title as the 2015 Pet Photo Contest Calendar Cover Pets.

Pete and Ginny were the first mules to enter the Humane Society of Pike County’s Annual Pet Photo Contest and the matched-pair plowed its way through the competition and stood as winners at the end of a long, hard row.

Donna Brockmann, a contest co-coordinator, said the Pet Photo Contest is open to all pets, and Pete and Ginny are prime examples that the contest is not just going to the cats and the dogs.

“This will be the Humane Society of Pike County’s eighth annual Pet Photo Contest, and cats have ruled but we’ve had dogs to win and mules,” she said. “We are looking for another fun and exciting contest this year.

“There will be a total of 66 winners in the 2016 Pet Photo Contest. The pet with the most votes will be featured on the cover of the 2016 Pet Photo Calendar. There will be 13 monthly winners and 52 weekly winners.

Brockman said the Pet Photo Contest is the humane society’s largest fundraiser of the year and supports its spay and neuter, feral cat and families-in-need programs. It’s a simple contest to enter. Just submit an 8×10 photo of your pet (no people included), a completed entry form and a $10 donation to the Humane Society of Pike County at P.O. Box 296, Troy, AL 36081 or enter online at www.pikehumane.org. Online entries should be filed at the highest resolution possible.

Entries may also be dropped off at The Little Framery, Troy Antiques, Guynn’s Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services in Troy and Jinright’s Hillside Antiques on Highway 231 South.

Those who drop off their photo entries at one of the specified locations should include their name, address, phone number, e-mail address, the pet’s name and brief comments about the pet or the photo.

Photo entries will be accepted through Thursday, Sept. 10.

“The earlier you enter your pet in the photo contest, the sooner people can begin voting on your pet, so please don’t wait until the last minute to enter,” Brockmann said.

By entering the contest, a person grants the Humane Society of Pike County permission to use the photograph for any purpose. Professional photographs must include signed permission from the photographer.

Votes in the 2016 Pet Photo Contest will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Online voting and viewing are available at www.pikehumane.org. Voting may also be done at the drop-off sites.