I never thought I’d be one of those people who whipped out a photo of her pet to show people. It always seemed odd to me — until I adopted my dog, Miyagi, that is.

Now I understand that living with a pup like Miyagi — or any pet for that matter — means having ample opportunities for taking hilarious and cute pictures. And I’ve taken quite a few of those myself. There’s the one of him sitting primly on top of my husband while he sleds down a snow-covered hill at my mom’s house — he was too lazy to pull the sled himself. I’ve got plenty of him sleeping in the most awkward positions imaginable while managing to balance on the edge of the bed or couch. And I can’t even pretend to estimate the number of snapshots I’ve taken of him in midair as he leaps for the ball during his incredibly acrobatic fetch sessions.

It’s only natural that I would want to show these entertaining shots to coworkers, family and friends — or even strangers in the pet shop or at the grocery store. And I’m not the only crazed pet owner who can’t wait for an excuse to show off his or her furry family member to anyone that will look.

If you found yourself agreeing with anything I’ve said so far, then we’ve got an opportunity for you.

The Suffolk News-Herald is partnering with our favorite animal lovers, the Suffolk Humane Society, to sponsor a Priceless Pets Photography Contest in advance of and in support of the Humane Society’s 2013 Mutt Strut.

No longer do you have to hide your love of photographing your pet and showing off those shots. Instead, we want to feature your precious pooches and furry felines in a special section. But to fill the pages of the March 31 special edition, we need your submissions.

For $15, you can submit a photo of your furry loved one to the Top Dog contest. If you’ve got a pet with particularly fantastic hair or a snazzy outfit, you can enter special categories for another $10 each. The categories are Senior (10 and over), Cutest Couple (two pets), Best Dressed, Best Hair and A Face Only My Person Could Love. A portion of all proceeds will go to the Suffolk Humane Society.

Pet owners who wish to participate in the Mutt Strut can get a special deal: Register for the event and enter the Top Dog photo contest for a special price of $25.

The News-Herald has always been a strong supporter of the Humane Society, and this is an excellent opportunity to help it raise more money as it approaches its biggest fundraiser of the year — Mutt Strut 2013.

See Page 3 of today’s edition for an entry form. For more information on the contest, call the News-Herald at 539-3437. For more information about Mutt Strut 2013, call the Suffolk Humane Society at 538-3030.