With the 2017 summer season underway, probably few if any Pike Countians are looking toward the coming of 2018.

However, the Humane Society of Pike County has its sights set on the New Year and is gearing up for it.

Donna Brockmann, humane society president, said the HSPC’s 2018 Pet Photo Contest is already out of the gate and heading down the stretch to July 31, which is the last day to enter a pet in the 10th Annual Pet Photo Contest.

The theme of this year’s Pet Photo Contest is “Hang Ten” and is an encouragement to all Pike Countians to enter their pets in the contest and “go all out” to reduce the number of abused, neglected and abandoned animals in the county.

“The Pet Photo Contest is a fundraiser that supports the HSPC’s spay/neuter program,” Brockmann said. “We have a fantastic animal shelter here in Pike County and they are doing an incredible job of taking in unwanted dogs and cats but spaying and neutering is the only way to solve the problem of abandoned dogs and cats.”

Brockmann said the funds raised through the Pet Photo Contest make it possible to spay/neuter up to 400 animals each year.

The spay/neuter program is currently active and funded up to $20,000.

“Not only does the Pet Photo Contest help with the unwanted animal population, it’s a lot of fun,” Brockmann said. “The entry fee is a $10 donation and, when the voting begins, votes are only one dollar each. So round up those photos of your beloved pets, all species, and enter them in our contest.”

The contest rules are simple. Just submit an 8×10 photo with the owner’s name, address and telephone number and the pet’s name and comments if desired.

Brockmann said the contest is not limited to one pet photo but each photo requires a $10 donation.

“There will be a total of 66 winners in the 2018 Pet Photo Contest,” Brockmann said. “The pet with the most votes will appear on the cover of the 2018 calendar and there will be 13 monthly winners and 52 weekly winners.”

Photo entries may be made on line at www.pikehumane.org or mailed to HSPC, P.O. Box 296 Troy, AL 38081. Entries may also be dropped off at The Little Framery, Troy Antiques, Guynn’s Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services, Jinrights Hillside Antiques and EZZTEC in Brundidge.

The calendars will be available for purchase in October.