"This image is just terrific, and Harney looks like s/he's really enjoying the trip." -- Mark G.

Harney, a goldendoodle from Pensacola, Florida, partying with mom and dad on the boat near St. George Island, Florida. Contributed by whitneyj

"The lighting in this photo is beautiful. It makes the playful moment fit for a painting!" -- Camila D.

Contributed by dshopkins

"This photograph feels like a self-portrait." -- Jenn W.

Contributed by dancingnuns

"I love the colors in this photo, and how those big eyes are reflected in the wrapping paper's pattern." -- Mark G.

Lola, a tabby from Bellingham, Washington, is all wrapped up for her birthday. "Why is the wrapping always more exciting than the gift?" wonders ashleykate.

"I just love this type of dog, and he looks so sporty sitting there like he is -- very cute." -- Jenn A.

Pugsley, a pug from Winnipeg, Manitoba. "I love to snowshoe with my parents in my warm booties and sweater. Maybe one day they will make dog snowshoes and I can go in the deep snow without getting stuck."

Contributed by PugsleyWafflesMom

"Great dog, great photo, great expression." -- Jenn A.

Otto, a dog from Beavercreek, Ohio. "I flew from Ohio down to South Carolina to pick up Otto when he was four months old. He was dropped off at a vet's office by a breeder who was not making any money off of him and his brothers. The vet contacted a rescue in South Carolina who took in Otto and his two brothers. He was so sick when we got him that our vet called him a walking pharmacy. He is just over a year old now and a very happy and healthy boy!"

Contributed by w103kcg

"This is really what life is all about." -- Mark G.

Kylie and Rosco, golden retrievers from Canton, Massachusetts. "At times, it seems Rosco thinks his role in life is to terrorize Kylie. But at the end of the day, as sleeping dogs lie, he is always by her side," writes KTINE429.

"This cat looks very elegant, and the photo is perfectly framed." -- Camila D.

Skylar, a cat from Studio City, California, loves to go under the sheets and peek his head out, says carenrose.

"This photo truly captures unconditional love, which is what pets do best." -- Alexis T.

"The expression on Scout's face is priceless, and it's so amazing that Oscar is completely nonchalant and accepting of this tiny new housemate." -- Mark G.

"Scout was rescued when she was about a week old from my grandmother's garage. She and her siblings were deserted by their Mama. A kind neighbor had taken them in and was feeding them with bottles. When she was about a month old, we brought her home, and she instantly fit right in. Our big Weimaraner, Oscar, took over as her protector, and they have been inseparable ever since. We named her Scout from 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and she has lived up to her namesake -- full of spirit and love! This photo was taken on her very first night in her new home."

Contributed by meghamilton

"There are two French bulldogs -- need I say more?" -- Jenn A.

Bubble, a French bulldog from San Diego, California, used her big brother Jimeny to "snuggle" in before her nap. Contributed by bryguy

"I really like the colors in this photograph; it looks very crisp." -- Jenn W.

Conner, a cocker spaniel from Benton, Arkansas. "I shot this the very first time Conner looked up and saw snow. He was amazed at all the white stuff!" Contributed by cbbuie

"Zonked, but still clutching her piggy! This is just too cute." -- Mark G.

Roxy, a domestic medium-hair from Olathe, Kansas, sleeping with her piggy. Contributed by jbell8502

"I love images where cats look particularly evil. Notice the red eyes..." -- Mark G.

Rosco, a cat from Los Angeles. "I work evenings, and when I get home we have to have a game in the kitchen or Rosco runs from room to room like a crazy cat," writes larene. "He thunders through the house so loudly, I'm sure he wakes up the neighbors. I know he can run quietly, so I think he likes the sound of his thumps on the hardwood floors. He especially loves fetching paper balls."

"Beautiful colors and composition." -- Mark G.

Fafi, a seal-mitted ragdoll cat from Pensacola, Florida, is seen here during her first trip to the beach. "She enjoyed the sunset!" writes FloridaBrooke.

"You can't get much cuter than a father and his son. This photo is precious." -- Jenn A.

Contributed by Nancykbee

"Festus looks like he's had a difficult life, with the scars to prove it, but he soldiers on, bringing his good humor to others as a therapy dog. Go, Festus!" -- Mark G.

"Festus is a very special three-legged therapy dog. I first saw a picture of him on petswithdisabilities.org, and then I adopted him from a shelter in Newark, New Jersey. He had been trapped under some debris while still a stray puppy of just three months and injured his leg trying to free himself. Today, he is four years old, and he is a trained therapy dog. We volunteer at several hospitals every week to inspire and cheer patients. He is a big favorite at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)! Festus is a hero -- proving that we all can survive adversity and that we must make the most of what we have."

Contributed by dominick

"This photo is just so perfect that it's difficult imagining a ferret *not* dressed as a barnstormer!" -- Mark G.

Tank the ferret is ready for takeoff in his fighter pilot costume.

"Babies, in my opinion, are the cutest when they're sleeping, and I feel the same with this picture." -- Jenn A.

Lucy, a golden retriever from Jacksonville, North Carolina, now ten months old, was six weeks old in this photo. "She was making herself comfortable on my lap," says Samberg. "Wish she could still fit!"

"Gino really seems to be relishing his role." -- Mark G.

Gino, a chinchilla from Sunnyvale, California. "Gino is ready for treats but is willing to play tricks to get them!" Contributed by meegus

"I really like how the close-up of the face fills the frame. Plus: adorable!" -- Mark G.

Contributed by trufflepig

"I love the motion captured in this image." -- Jenn W.

Gyro, a cocker spaniel/dachshund from Warren, Pennsylvania. "Fun run in the snow." Contributed by BoogieBear911

"These delicate kittens (so tiny and brave-looking) bring out my maternal instincts. I just want to scoop them up and keep them safe." -- Nancy H.

Teddy, Wesster, Freddy, and Ollie, domestic short-haired kittens from Phoenix, celebrate their cat-loving Aunt Tiffany's birthday by spelling out her nickname on their hats.

"I love the composition and expression in this photo." -- Jenn W.

Congratulations to our winner, Brooke Jacobs, from Brooklyn, and her domestic shorthair, Barc! Brooke is a photographer from Brooklyn who often works with shelter animals. "The beautiful patriotic kitten in this shot was a foster cat I was caring for," she writes. "He was taken from his mother too early, so I had to bottle-feed him. Modeling is the price a foster cat in my home has to pay for a bathroom full of treats and toys, face cleanings and a warm blanket to sleep on. While I was hoping to capture an elegant portrait, this kitty just wanted to be held, loved, and cuddled on and off the set -- and was demanding just that!"

"This is amazing! I love how huge the dog looks. S/he really makes a great horse substitute." -- Camila D.

Newfy's rottweiler/chocolate lab mix, Bob, is dressed as Daredevil, the Headless Horseman's steed. Bob's costume is made of PVC, fiberfill, and kids' clothes, and weighs only about five pounds. He loves being fitted for his costumes and enjoys dressing up every Halloween.

"And just to prove last year's win was no fluke, here's the 2009 entry." -- Mark G.

The winner of last year's contest comes through with another elaborate costume. Watch out for Pilgrims bearing hatchets. Contributed by newfy

"I love this because she has a real Barbara Bush air about her even without the pearls." -- Mark G.

Mia, a Chihuahua from Miami. "So elegant in my pearl necklace at my first birthday party. My grandma gave them to me!" Contributed by chilovesme

"Guido looks like a fun cat to have around, and he's not kidding about that present!" -- Mark G.

Guido, an "Italian kitty" from San Francisco, celebrates his first birthday. "Apparently Guido gave four paws up to this gift," says MeowsterMom. He hosted 42 guests, served 100 cupcakes, and received all kinds of presents, including the new jungle jacket he's wearing. "Hey, doesn't everybody have a fantasticat FURst birthday?" MeowsterMom says.

"Love Kiko's expression and just overall look: very fluffy and looks very friendly!" -- Jenn A.

"This Samoyed is truly in his element: snow!" -- Alexis T.

Kiko, a Samoyed from Berkley, Michigan. "Fun in the snow." Contributed by bcme

"This is too cute for words. The bunny ears look so natural against his white furry coat!" -- Tiffany S.

Sophie Grace, an Old English sheepdog from Plymouth, Indiana, is "being a silly lazy girl and not wanting her picture taken with bunny ears. So she lay down, and it was so cute I did it anyway," says fuzzykidsmom. "Sophie is a rescue, and she is deaf. We communicate with hand and facial signals. She lives with her two-year-old English sheepdog brothers and two standard poodle brothers, as well as the occasional foster dog."

"All I can say is, 'wow.'" -- Mark G.

Zipper, a dog from Torrance, California. "No Photoshop here! I did some research and found a dye that wasn't going to hurt my dog, and I dyed him green. This costume is from build-a-bear." Contributed by sarajordan

"Another great expression! This is a happy, happy boy.'" -- Jenn A.

Dexter, a dog from Memphis. "A rare moment of rest. Little Dexter was a stray roaming the harsh streets of Memphis until he was picked up and delivered to a local animal hospital. I'm a high school biology teacher, but I work summers at a local no-kill shelter. He came to our shelter, and I fell in love! He now lives with me, my husband, and our two other furry children, Ernie and Gunner. My husband and I often just look at each other and say, 'What were we thinking?' and laugh. Dexter is SO full of energy, but we wouldn't trade him for anything!" Contributed by cmgillespie

"Anyone can wear glasses, but a fire helmet, too? (It looks ceramic??) This is unforgettable." -- Mark G.

Trigger, an English bulldog from Anchorage, Alaska. "Trigger is playing dress-up. He wants to be a firefighter like his Uncle Elliott!" Contributed by laceylee

"So sweet! Who wouldn't want to adopt Lucy? You just can't help but love that sweet expression." -- Jenn A.

Lucy, a dog from Cedar Falls, Alabama. "If I only had one sentence in which to say something about our girl, Lucy, I would simply say, 'She is a good dog.'" Contributed by cedarshake

"This costume looks so well made!" -- Jenn W.

RaindropSJ's dog, Meatloaf, could pass for an Ewok on any "Star Wars" set.

"The beautiful lighting of this photo creates a mood that perfectly matches Moeby's expression." -- Alison S.

Moeby, a great Dane-hound mix from Kirkland, Washington, is a shelter pup with his own website. Contributed by vivid

"It looks to me like Molly is saying, 'Wait! I haven't finished talking to you yet." -- Judith G.

Raspurr and Molly, cats from Layton, Utah. "Molly is making sure Raspurr's fur is perfect for his photo shoot," writes HoMaid.

"They may look like the Odd Couple now, but I think Riot is going to have a long, happy life with faithful Dane Daisy." -- Mark G.

"Hi, my name is Riot, and this is my first dog Daisy! I was two months when this was taken. She is so gentle with me and makes me smile. Daisy was running down a busy highway when mom and gramma jumped out of the SUV and called her. Daisy was dodging logging trucks and semi trucks. She was wild-eyed and scared but jumped into our SUV. The vet said she had just weened pups. No one claimed her, so she became our Daisy. It was our second Dane rescue." Contributed by Piratte

"I love all the different shades of brown in this photo." -- Jenn W.

Cleo and Junior, mix-breed cats from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, have their naptime interrupted by a human with a camera. Contributed by Firestorm51

"I like the composition of this image." -- Jenn W.

Owen, an Australian cattle dog mix from Minneapolis. "Owen, enjoying the brand-new snowflakes!" Contributed by hetherandike

"This is one of the funniest things I've seen a cat do." -- Mark G.

Penne, a cat from Richmond, Virginia, "sometimes pretends to be a bat," writes dena519.

"This expression is what I like to call 'dignifried' -- all doggy dignity, but a little silly at the same time." -- Mark G.

Contributed by SassyFrassy

"You can tell from this photo that Benjamin Tatertot took his role in the wedding very seriously." -- Alison S.

Benjamin Tatertot Kelley-Bell, a pug from North Little Rock, Arkansas. "Benjamin Tatertot was escorted throughout the wedding day by my lovely stepdaughter, Riley," writes our grand prize winner Amy Bell of her March 2008 nuptials. "They are the best of friends, and the series of photos we have of the two of them are probably my favorites from the entire day. He was the perfect gentleman and really enjoyed the festivities -- and he was the perfect date for Riley!"

"I like how this dog is looking just away from the camera so the photo appears to be candid, despite the reindeer headband!" -- Camila D.

Rusty, a dog from St. Petersburg, Florida. "I could be Rudolph any day!" writes cammie3385.

"Some pets are perfect matches for their costumes. Logan is just such a match. And what an expression!" -- Mark G.

Logan, a dog from Orlando. "Okay, Santa. I'm ready to help," writes myshoppingconnection.

"I like the colors in this photograph." -- Jenn W.

Shelby, an Aussie from Franklin, Tennessee. "Can't wait for her to start agility classes!" writes dezinrgrl.

"I love that there are two dogs in this photo and you can tell they have very different but lovable personalities." -- Jenn A.

Honey and Buddy, golden retrievers from Pennington, New Jersey. "This is Honey and Buddy. They are three-month-old golden retriever puppies. They had lots of fun frolicking through the snow for the first time. They are NATURALS!" Contributed by nikkdiss116

"I think that Lazy Pets was my favorite contest as far as the images that people sent in." -- Mark G.

Just another lazy day for Starbuck and Boomer, domestic shorthairs from Reading, Pennsylvania. Contributed by bma70

"This looks completely uncomfortable, but the dog seems to be enjoying himself just fine. Again, I can't get enough of those French bulldogs." -- Jenn A.

Stitch, a French bulldog from Davis, California, snoozes on his chaise lounge. Contributed by CathieV

"I love that he is lazy and just lying there within the lights. I also like the original caption, below." -- Jenn A.

Edie, a dog from Sherman Oaks, California. "We couldn't afford a tree this year, so we decorated the dog," writes Bliss08.

"Teencis is the perfect model and looks like the epitome of the perfect family pet." -- Nancy H.

Teence, a domestic longhair from Laurel, Mississippi, models a beautiful blue cotton Easter shrug against a complementary bouquet of fresh spring flowers. Contributed by eachen

"I like the textures in this photograph." -- Jenn W.

Miss Switzerland, a cat from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. "Miss Switzerland loves the sparkle of the Christmas lights, especially on this feather tree we bought to match her fur," writes eighthheavensembrace.

"This little guy looks like he's training for the X Games and just downed a Red Bull! I love that fearless spirit that animals seem to have." -- Caitlin L.

"I'm jealous of this pup and wish I could be doing the same thing...right now!" -- Alexis T.

Contributed by divamidge

"This photo is really funny!" -- Jenn W.

This feline just exudes bloodsucking menace. Contributed by KelleyRose

"I like the depth of field in this photo." -- Jenn W.

Moose, a dog from Barrie, Ontario, Canada. "Moose posed with his lovely Christmas necklace while waiting for Santa to arrive :)" writes JamieIrving

"I LOVE beagles -- they're one of my faves. I had one growing up." -- Jenn A.

Trudi, a dog from Princeton, New Jersey. "Trudi, ever the beagle, always enjoys being included in family activities. Here she sits patiently waiting for the Fourth of July parade to pass by her front yard. Trudi has a new lease on life ever since being rescued from a puppy mill in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she was used for breeding. She was cared for by a rescue organization in New Jersey and by Kathy W. before being adopted by her forever parents, who found her on Petfinder.com. Trudi's other favorite activities include: scent-filled walks, tummy massages, rides in the car, attending BBQs, all meal times, helping mommy in the kitchen, and playing tag." Contributed by teagirl30

"All I can imagine is that Witchie took one look in the mirror and frightened herself!" -- Mark G.

"You can't tell where his face starts and ends -- super cute. And I love that his name is Wrinkles... definitely fitting." -- Jenn A.

"This dog might have more wrinkles than me, but he's certainly cuter!" -- Alexis T.

Wrinkles, a dog from Franklinton, Louisiana. "I don't think an explanation is needed as to why his name is Wrinkles," writes Sandstonekennels. "He didn't like the Santa hat, so he closed his eyes and wouldn't move."

"This face says it all: 'I am freezing my little tush off in this cute-yet-ridiculous get-up. Please stop taking pictures and snuggle me instead!'" -- Caitlin L.

Arizona, or "Zona," a Boston terrier from Lynchburg, Virginia. "There's nothing like the taste of the first good snow!!!" Contributed by ksdteach