Voting officially begins today for The Sampson Independent’s Cutest Pet Contest.

Submissions for the yearly contest have been coming in since Feb. 7, but can continued to be submitted through the end of the contest, March 6. However, according to Shannon Best, the Independent’s media director, the earlier you enter, the better chance you have at winning.

“We always get excited about the Cutest Pets Contest,” Best said. “I think of my dog Blaze as my child and I know there are tons of people in the county that feel the same.”

The contest officially began in early February, but voting began today. But don’t worry, if you haven’t submitted your cute animal yet, folks with pets can continue to submit their photos online by visiting The Sampson Independent website (www.clintonnc.com) and clicking on the contest logo on the right side of the page. A valid email address is required for contestants to participate.

Entries will be accepted through March 6. The overall winner receives $100, and $50 will be given to the second, third, fourth and fifth place winners.

Prizes will be awarded to winners, thanks to the generosity of merchants such as Badcock Home Furniture & More of Elizabethtown, Perrine, Wiley & Potts Orthodontics, Clinton Drug Company, Show Rooms Furniture and Tram Road Animal Hospital.

Sherry Matthews, publisher and editor for The Sampson Independent, offered thanks for all five contest sponsors for their willingness to participate.

“We couldn’t do these contests without our partner sponsors,” Matthews said. “We hope animal-lovers will enter their pets in the contest and we hope they will frequent our sponsors, being sure to thank them for helping make this contest possible.”

The Cutest Pets, Matthews said, was one of the Independent’s most popular contests.

“It is a reader favorite for certain. People absolutely love their pets and want to show them off. We are providing them the venue to do just that, so we urge everyone to visit the website, click on the contest logo and enter their pet. And when the time comes, we urge everyone to participate in voting.”

Voting and registration has been as simple as possible, and that starts by visiting www.clintonnc.com and clicking on the Cutest Pets icon. Then just follow the instructions to get an animal into the competition or to begin voting, or both.

Voting and entering is completely free. All one has to have is a valid email address and the desire to have a little fun to either enter or cast your votes.

Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.

By Kristy D. Carter

[email protected]

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