Early entries into the Whitewater area Top Pet photo contest are in and indications are that dogs may no longer be “man’s best friend.”

Only a little over half of the 30 early entrants included just a dog photo. The top vote recipient is a cat; the second highest is a bird and the winner of a random drawing to award a $100 Walmart gift card to encourage participation was the above photo of a rabbit.

A mini horse, currently ranked #4, has also been entered in the competition to be one of 12 pets prominently featured on a page of a 2027 keepsake calendar.

The contest is being conducted to raise funds for the Whitewater Kiwanis Club’s efforts to improve the lives of children. A special focus this year for the non-profit community service organization is a project to replace porta potties with actual restrooms at an eastside soccer complex that regularly draws nearly 100 kids and family members several times each week.

The competition that features prizes valued at over $1000 for participants is scheduled to run till late October. Information is available at gogophotocontest.com/Whitewater.

Contest organizers have announced a drawing for a $50 gift card from Pet Supplies Plus as an incentive for the next 25 photo entries.

Other prizes range in value from $300 to no less than $50. The list includes a UW Warhawk Football season ticket package with parking, a $250 reduced price on a Wisconsin lake Airbnb stay, a cat and a dog wellness checkup with distemper treatment from the Animal Medical Center, a month-long family membership at the Whitewater Aquatic Center, a free round of golf with four carts at Willowbrook Golf Course, malts and burgers for four at the Brain Freeze Malt Shop, gift cards from Floral Villa and The Fuzzy Pig and a six-pack of donuts every week for an entire month from Dunkin’ in Whitewater.