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Comedy Pet Photo Awards announce 2023 winners

Michel Zoghzoghi’s ‘A life changing experience’ is overall winner.

 

Overall Winner and Best Cat Category Winner: A life-changing experience (C) Michel Zoghzoghi/Comedy Pets

 
The Comedy Pet Photography Awards has announced that Michel Zoghzoghi has been awarded the title of Comedy Pet Photographer of the Year for his photograph ‘A life-changing experience’.

The competition, now in its fourth year, encourages entrants to send in funny images and videos for a chance to win in various categories. It was created by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam to highlight the vital role that pets have in people’s lives.

Michel Zoghzoghi’s entry, which features his rescue kittens Max and Alex, was also picked up in the Best Cat Category.

Mr Zoghzoghi, a professional wildlife photographer from Beirut, Lebanon, received a cash prize of £500, a camera bag and a trophy.

He said: “Max and Alex form a lethally cute duo. I had more fun and surprises taking photos of these two characters, than during my most adventurous wildlife photography trips.

“As a wildlife photographer I never really considered sending photos to a pet competition until I discovered Comedy Pets. It’s witty, it’s fun and the photos are hilarious.

“I am extremely happy and proud to have won it as all the finalists were really outstanding and some of them made me laugh to tears."


Best Dog Category Winner: Barking (C) Chris Porsz/Comedy Pet Awards

UK amateur street photographer Chris Porsz’s entry ‘Barking’ took first place in the Best Dog Category, as well as being selected for the People’s Choice Award.

He said: “It is a great privilege to have been awarded this prestigious accolade amongst so many other great pictures. Thank you to the judges and to all those who voted in the people’s choice.”

 

Best All Other Creatures Category Winner: A First Outdoor Walk (C) Darya Zelentsova/Comedy Pets

 

The winner in the All Other Creatures category was Darya Zelentsova, originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, whose ferret Boudicca is pictured in her entry ‘The First Outdoor Walk'.

She said: “I’m so happy to see my lovely Boudicca among the winners. Ferrets almost never win anything in major international photo contests, and I’m glad to promote them as amazing pets and models.”

Tom Sullam, co-founder of the Comedy Pet Photo Awards said: “This is still a very young competition in the whole scheme of things, but within a few short years we are already receiving some of the most uplifting, life-affirming hilarious images of pets in the world! We couldn’t be more excited to share these with you all. 

“Pets have played a fundamental role during the covid years, and to be able to laugh out loud with these loveable creatures is the reason this competition exists!"

The competition will be open for 2024 entries next year on their website.

Scroll down to view more of the competition winners:

Junior Category Winner: Is it a seal or dog (C) Monyque Macedo Dos Santos/Comedy Pets


Pets who look like Owners Category Winner: The three Greys (C) Klaus Peter Selzer/Comedy Pets


Highly Commended: Keep your eye on the ball (C) Gill Woodcock/Comedy Pets


Highly Commended: Football free kick (C) Kenichi Morinaga/Comedy Pets


Highly Commended: The big Boss (C) Kenichi Morinaga/Comedy Pets

 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.