Last year, with competition from hamsters, goldfish, dogs and cats, a boxer named Petey took top honors as The Selma Times-Journal’s Pet Idol.

This year, the competition will open up once again to see which pet takes top honors.

Proceeds from the 2011 campaign helped put more than 32,400 newspapers in local classrooms and provided aid to the Selma-Dallas County animal shelter, which Petey’s owner Jennifer Ford said only added to the experience.

“We thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. “We had a great time. Our daughters raised money through school and other places and it was for a great cause. I think it’s something we would definitely do again.”

The response from last year’s Pet Idol was more than he could have ever expected, Times-Journal circulation director Shane Gaut said.
“The Pet Idol contest exceeded expectations last year, which enabled us to put thousands of newspapers in students’ hands all across the county during the 2011-2012 school year and even donate $1,000 to the Selma Animal Shelter,” he said. “It’s a fun and engaging fundraiser for the community to get involved with and I believe this year’s results will be even better. People were already asking me how to enter their pets before Christmas.”

Qualifying entries for the 2012 Pet Idol will appear in The Selma Times-Journal Sunday, Feb. 15. Votes, which are 25-cents each will be collected through Friday, Feb. 17. All money raised will be donated to the Newspapers in Education program.

After qualifying, there will be two more rounds of competition. Round two will see photos of the top 50 percent printed in the Sunday, Feb. 19 version of The Selma Times-Journal and votes will again open through Friday, March 2.

In the final round, photos of the top finalists will be printed Sunday, March 4 before the final round of voting ends Friday, March 16.

First, second and third place winners will be recognized in the Times-Journal on Wednesday, March 21.

First place will take home a pet-friendly gift basket from local sponsors.

To enter a pet, fill out an entry form and deliver it to The Selma Times-Journal office by 5 p.m. Feb. 1 along with a photo of the pet.

The form should include the pet’s name along with your address, phone number and a $10 donation to the Newspapers in Education program. Checks can be made out to The Selma Times-Journal NIE. Photos will not be returned.

Digital photos can be e-mailed to petidol@selmatimesjournal.com.

All businesses, organizations and individuals who donate $300 or more to the NIE program will secure a spot on the sponsor page of each of the five rounds of the Pet Idol contest.

Donations can be mailed to the NIE program at P.O. Box 2080, Selma, Al., 36702, or brought to the Selma Times-Journal’s 1018 Water Ave. office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For questions, call 875-2110.