HolyMoly! A great finish to a great contest.

Picture a group of rowdy, enthusiastic pit bulls wrestling for primo spots on a too-small sofa. That's what the last hour of the photo contest felt like yesterday as last minute votes poured in, pushing images up and out and back in again to the final twelve calendar slots. I know we weren't the only ones howling as favorite images moved in and other favorites lost their seats. It was crazy!

Congratulations to EVERYone who played. You brought over 320 images and stories of pit bulls as family members to the public eye and helped educate and delight thousands who visited the contest every day. You also helped raise 20K for BR's rescue fund - which we use to help dogs in crisis get back on their feet. This ding-dong boy is in Ohio right now after surviving a large scale cruelty case. We can't wait to get him here to CA - and he has you to thank when he does!

We're currently reviewing the photos that made the top twelve slots to ensure that they're large enough to print in the 2011 My Dog is Family Calendar, and are going through the tortuous process of choosing a cover shot from the hundreds of fabulous images that were entered. (Heeeeelp!) The Photos

Thanks again to everyone who made this such a success! Below: Laura Rogers' boy Truman is coming to a wall near you.