A huge thank you to everyone who submitted a photo to the GazeboNews/Pasquesi Home & Gardens “Best Pet Photo” contest! We received more than 130 photos between Monday, Feb. 20 and Friday, Feb. 24, when the International Kennel Club Show opened in Chicago.

Most of the photos are of dogs–but there are several cats, a few birds, a guinea pig with a crooked head, a rabbit and even a rat who likes to munch on Fruit Loops. Many of the pet owners shared stories of how they found (or were found by) their pets–I loved reading these and will write a story about them this week.

Now the hard work begins. How do we pick a “winner” out of this group of amazing animals? How do we decide which is the Best Pet Photo when each one of them qualifies as a Best Pet?

Well, the operative word for the Best Pet Photo contest is “Photo”–as in photography. We’re working on a list of finalists of what we consider the best photographs, and then we’ll put the list out to the GazeboNews readers to vote.

With this in mind, GazeboNews chief photographer Cyn Sansing Mycoskie and other GazeboNews advisory board members have been charged with the task of reviewing all of the photos with a totally objective eye for composition/artistry/arresting image, etc. Cyn said her Top Picks have nothing to do with cuteness or emotion– she’s not even reading the captions so as to keep focussed on Best Photograph, and not Best Pet.

Because they are all Best Pets!

We’ll post the finalist list in a day or two–so please come back soon …

– Adrienne Fawcett