PET owners are being encouraged to enter a competition to see their beloved pooch named best dog of the year.

Entries have already started coming in for The Northern Echo’s Love Your Dog competition, which was launched last week.

Dog owners can send in their snaps of their favourite pets to be in with the chance of winning a year’s worth of raw dog food, supplied by Durham Animal Feeds, based in Ferryhill, County Durham.

Dogs will also be featured in Durham Animal Feed's calendar for next year.

Among the early entries for this year's competition is Holly, who was rescued after being subjected to animal cruelty.

Now with a new family, she has gone from being unable to stand or walk to a loving girl, who loves to strut her stuff at dog shows and cuddling on the sofa.

Another entrance is Fergus, who is a therapy dog to help a six-year-old girl with a sensory processing disorder.

The star pooch, who is just five months old, helps her when she is having a sensory meltdown, and can sit, give a paw and he rings his training bells when we wants to go outside.

To enter, send us a photo and tell us why your pet deserves to be dog of the year.

Twelve finalists will be selected to star in the Durham Animal Feeds 2021 calendar.

The prize for the overall winner will be voted for by readers and will win a year's supply of dog food.

People have until Friday, March 13 to enter.

Visit www.northernecho.co.uk/loveyourdog to enter.