THE region has demonstrated its love for its animals this month – whether they be canine companions or feathered friends.

The Northern Echo’s Love Your Pet photograph competition, launched earlier this month, was inundated with entries and our judges were hard-pressed to chose the overall winner.

But it was a photograph of dalmatians Prince and Obie, sent in by owner Rebekah Hunter from West Witton, near Leyburn, that really caught the judges’ attention.

The Northern Echo chief photographer Sarah Caldecott said: “Vicki Robertson, owner of The Designer Dog Company, which is based in Darlington, and I chose the winner.

"It was a hard but we love the photograph of Prince and Obie, as it was so cute.”

Mrs Hunter said she was delighted to hear her dogs had taken first prize in the competition.

She said: “Prince is our first dog and is five-and-a-half now. He is the most loving dog and such a character.

"Dalmatians are very cheeky and headstrong so we have to have firm with him and he does need enough exercise but he can also be really placid.

“Obie is 15 months now but in the picture he is just a few months old.

"We do get a lot of attention with both of them, especially from children who have seen 101 Dalmatians.”

Second prize went to Baxter the cockerpoo from Richmond, owned by the Morton family. Abbie Morton, 21, said Baxter was a very loyal and playful family dog for her and parents David and Kirstie, and brothers Max, 19, and Jacob, 16.

She said: “He thinks he is still a puppy, he is so full of energy.

“He just loves everyone in the family.”

Third place went to rabbit Dizzie, owned by Katie Owens in Spennymoor, and fourth place to Pumpkin the cat, owned by Kathy Mabbett of Gilling West.