SPCA Calendar Contest Opens May 3

The McKean County SPCA will open its annual calendar contest with a special event at the Bradford Area Public Library from 10:30 to 1 on May 3. The “Day with the SPCA” will feature a variety of pet-related activities for children and adults. Pet-owners are invited to bring small pets on leashes or in cages to the library, where photographers will take pictures of the animals. For a $5 fee, the picture will be entered into the contest. People may also enter their own pictures of their pets by registering any time during May and paying the $5 entry fee. The pictures will be circulated throughout the county during June and July, and people will “vote” for the winners by contributing money for their favorite animals. The top 12 money-winners will be featured on the 2009 calendar, in pictures taken by a professional photographer. The 24 entries with the next highest final votes will be pictured on the “Honorable Mention” page at the back of the calendar. “Most people think of this as a dog and cat contest, but it’s more than that,” says Dick Gorton, President of the SPCA’s Board of Directors. “If people have larger animals they want to enter, or animals they can’t bring in to the library, they can pick up entry forms at the shelter on Glenwood Avenue or at the library.” Gorton also explained that one of the rules of the contest is that the photos must be of the animals alone, with no humans in the picture. “So if people have pets that are skittish or will not stand or lie by themselves, it might be best to bring a photo from home rather then try to have one taken at the library, where there will be many people and animals.” Co-sponsored by the SPCA and the Library, the “Day with the SPCA” will include a visit from the shelter’s mascot, a small human in a dog costume. Children will be invited to name the mascot “dog.” Refreshments will also be provided.