HILARIOUS pictures from the first Comedy Pet Photography Awards have been revealed.
Entries have been sent in from more than 66 countries worldwide, and there’s still time to submit a comical snap of your furry friend before the end of the month.
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Peter Fonkert snapped his sister's dog making this face while he was eating in 'Nahla's Smile' in Sheldon, United States, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Nando Harmsen snapped their horse prancing through a field in 'Look At Me' in Helmond, Netherlands, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Grace Markarian snaps her kitten Basil reaching for the remote in 'Binge' in Columbia, United States, 2015Credit: Barcroft Media
After founding The Comedy Wildlife Awards in 2015, wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and African landscape photographer Tom Sullam decided to create a new competition just for the escapades of animals at home.
Tom Sullam said: “The response we received from the Comedy Wildlife competition was so incredible, and so much bigger than we anticipated, that we realised we could reach thousands of people through the competition.
“Comedy Pets made total sense as a follow up, reaching a slightly different crowd but with the same message of animal conservation, and conservation in general - using humour as the trigger.”
Jaroslaw Brzezinski captures his dog sleepily checking up on him in 'Anyone Said Lunch?' in Okuniew, Poland, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
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Isabelle Marozzo snaps her dog after a thorough play in the snow in 'The Snow Thing' in Norland, Canada, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
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Claire Stott snapped this playful tabby cat in 'Happy Tabby' in Aberystwyth, United Kingdom, 2015Credit: Barcroft Media
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Patrik Junior Vanin de Vargas captures his dog eyeing up a treat in 'Food's Looking' in Joinville, Brazil, 2015Credit: Barcroft Media
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Connie Fore snapped a collie astounded by a bubble in 'Bubble Surprise' in Columbus, United States, 2014Credit: Barcroft Media
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Sarah Dyke snaps her cat Milo posing in 'Put 'em Up' in Calgary, Canada, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
The judges are looking for quirky pets from across the globe captured with creativity, fun and photographic excellence.
However, as keen animal lovers, the team will not accept any images of pets wearing clothes or using props that are not naturally in their lives.
Tom added: “The single difference is that Comedy Wildlife is images of wild animals in the wild - no zoos, no refuge centres, no cages, and no domesticated animals.
“Comedy Pets is domesticated animals, who have an owner/owners, but are not caged, endangered or badly bred.
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Theresa Rudnicki caught her dog drying off after a swim in the sea in 'Shake Your Body' in Bottrop, Germany, 2015Credit: Barcroft Media
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Gabriel Constantin Marian captured his neighbours cat poking its head above a wall in 'Curiosity' in Suceava, Romania, 2011Credit: Barcroft Media
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Raquel Marques snaps her labrador shaking off his shower in 'Troy's Shower' in Taubat, Brazil, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Isabelle Marozzo captures her horses having a bad hair day in 'Bad Hair Day' in Norland, Canada, 2012Credit: Barcroft Media
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Sue Carroll snaps her labradoodle Luna catching a tennis ball in 'That's a Mouthful' in Livingston, United States, 2015Credit: Barcroft Media
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Heather Ross snaps her shetland pony Bob smiling for the camera while doing his Presidential impression in 'Smile' in Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
“We have a list on our terms and conditions which highlights those pets that historically have been through poorly developed breeding programs, resulting in suffering to those animals.
“Any animal on that list is excluded from the competition. We have a professional vet that helps us with judging - Emma Milne, of 'Vets in Practice’ fame.
“She provides guidance on those images that we should exclude due to misbreeding or suffering.”
While the spirit of the competition is all fun and games, the team want to use the opportunity to remind people of the importance of preserving animal welfare.
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Katie Tipton snaps her cat Jem snuggling in warm clothes fresh out of the dryer in "Jem's Basket!" in Calgary, Canada, 2011Credit: Barcroft Media
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Lance Bellers snaps his dog Sadie preparing to set off for a drive in 'Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre' in Brighton, United Kingdom, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Claire Stott snapped this white and ginger kitten sticking out its tongue in 'Rude Kitten' in Aberystwyth, United Kingdom, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Arman Zhenikeyev captures Dzhina the dog hiding behind a wall in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2010Credit: Barcroft Media
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Simon DeKnock captures his dog Maui the minpin chilling on the way back from the shops in 'Chilling' in Cheltenham, United Kingdom, 2014Credit: Barcroft Media
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Morgan Rymerson caught their 80lb german shepherd/siberian husky mix attempting to squeeze through the cat door in 'Not quite through the looking glass' in Surrey, Canada, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
Tom said: “We love our pets. All of us involved in this competition are totally in love with our animals.
"With this in mind we are really keen that when we enjoy loads of wonderful funny pet photos, we also use this superb opportunity to encourage us all to be better ‘owners’ if you can call us that, ‘parents’ perhaps, to the creatures in our care.”
A panel of expert judges will pick out the most eccentric pets of the lot - the team includes Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE, Tom Sullam, TV wildlife presenter Kate Humble and longtime publisher of photography magazines Adam Scorey.
Veterinary surgeon Emma Milne, photographer Simon Pollock and Michelle Riley, Director of Photography at The Humane Society of the United States, complete the line-up.
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Annette Edgar captures her six month old Siamese curled up doing his yoga practice in 'Tippi In A Bowl' in Cherry Willingham, United Kingdom, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Marie V Vollmer captured her aunt's dog Elliott peeking out through the cat flat in 'Peek-a-Boo' in Lunel, France, 2013Credit: Barcroft Media
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Heather Ross snaps her Shetland pony bob having a roll around in 'I Whip My Hair Back And Forth' in Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
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Josef Hinterleitner captures his dog sniffing out a toy rival in 'Wuff' in Sierning, Austria, 2016Credit: Barcroft Media
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Patricia Taylor snaps her cat Archie looking up at her in 'Archie' in New York, United States 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
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Alice van Kempen caught this silhouette of her two dogs in 'Riding Along' in Rockanje, Netherlands, 2014Credit: Barcroft Media
So far the competition has seen entrants from over 66 countries and 1700+ entries from over 900 entrants. The deadline for entry is May 31 2017.
The awards are split into five categories: overall competition winner, junior photographer (15 and under), the ancients (70 and over), pets who look like their owners and “Gone to the Dogs” - which is just for man’s best friend.
The overall winner of the Comedy Pet Photography Awards 2017 will win £2,000, a trophy handmade by disabled men and women in Tanzania by the Wonder Workship, an Urban Approach 5 camera bag from the THINK TANK people and a £100 gift voucher from WEX Photographic.
Each category winner will win the wonderful THINK TANK Urban Approach 5 camera bag and a £100 gift voucher from WEX Photographic, as well as a certificate to mount on your wall.
To be in with a chance of winning enter for free at:
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Gabriel Constantin Marian captured a cat sat outside his office trying to push the shutter button itself in 'Cat Selfie' in Suceava, Romania, 2017Credit: Barcroft Media
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Ika Peiler catches her dog in an awkward handstand in 'Rog' in Bailymote, Ireland, 2011Credit: Barcroft Media
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Bill Armstrong snaps his cat taking an uncomfortable looking nap in 'It's Nap Time' in Golden, United States, 2006Credit: Barcroft Media
