The dog days of summer are here, thankfully.
Yes, we know, it took long enough. Frankly, we were inundated with cute photos. We asked for your best Good Pets pics celebrating the season, and you responded with more than 700 submissions in all. In the galleries ahead, you’ll see we did our best to complete an impossible task – reflect as many wonderful photos as we can showing our four-legged (and feathered) friends enjoying the summer season.
So get ready for cuteness galore with some of the best dog, cat, goat, chicken and horse photos you’ve seen.
And thanks to all of you for the tremendous choices.
Pet: Ara / Human: Tayler Kellum / Hattiesburg, Mississippi / 1-year-old Ara is enjoying her first summer with her humans. She especially loves road trips in the car.
Pet: Niklaus / Human: Gloria Moskal / Gainesville, Florida / It’s pool time! And Niklaus leads the way with his friends on a summer day.
Pet: Dottie / Human: Cindy Bullard / Somerville, Tennessee / This 4-year-old Chiweenie loves the pool life.
Pet: Rollie Pollie / Human: Katana McCoy / Nashville, Tennessee / She loves car rides, beautiful parks and a day of sunshine at Centennial Park’s The Parthenon.
Pet: Gilligan / Human: Sandi Cox / Ft. Myers, Florida / This African Grey Parrot loves to pilot his boat, aptly named “Gilligan’s Island.” This is no normal three-hour tour.
Pet: Belle / Human: Vicki Faucett / Trussville, Alabama / When it comes to summer cool, Belle sets the standard.
Pet: Oreo / Human: Elizabeth Montgomery / Lake Village, Arkansas / This goat with the bewitching gaze loves summer because it means fresh grass for dinner.
Pet: Radley / Human: Taylor Bennett / Birmingham, Alabama / Boo! Radley’s first summer has been a flurry of activity learning how to swim and catch tennis balls.
Pet: Teddi and Holly / Human: Sharon Rogers / Gardendale, Alabama / On Wet Nose Wednesday at Regions Field, Teddi and Holly are ready to catch a home run.
Pets: Barley and Peyton / Human: Christy Funchess / Birmingham, Alabama / Bailey (the Goldendoodle on the left) and Peyton headed home from Pensacola Beach wet, sandy and full of beach memories.
Pet: Lexi / Human: Natalie Meeks / Ackworth, Georgia / Rescued 11 years ago from Mostly Mutts, Lexi is a pit mix and the sweetest dog you’ll ever meet.
Pet: Sweet Maria / Human: Karena Schneider / Springfield, Tennessee / Sweet Maria, the loudest egg layer in the county.
Pets: Gino and Bella / Human: Carolyn Lacey / Hermitage, Tennessee / Gino (in the back) and Bella love walks in the neighborhood, playing ball or just chilling with mom and dad on the patio.
Pet: Bo / Human: Wesley Bailey / Hoover, Alabama / The sartorially splendid dachsund likes to show his urbane side before taking to the lake for a swim.
Pet: Furrgus / Human: James Cubbage / Punta Gorda, Florida / Furrgus plans on creating fear in the neighborhood, but we’re not buying. He’s too cute.
Pet: Boudreaux / Human: Kay Goke / Birmingham, Alabama / The neighborhood kids love to play with Bou, and he’s always ready to go have fun.
Pet: Jack and Jill / Human: Kim Gaya / Rockledge, Florida / This pair is always ready for a trip to the beach.
Pet: Shera / Human: Santiago Favela / Houston, Texas / Shera is ready for a summer safari. Dr. Livingstone, I presume?
Pet: Duke / Human: JoAnna McClellan / Hoover, Alabama / A rescue, Duke is definitely one of the cool kids now.
Pet: Mia Musette / Human: Raluca Kotowski / Bay Harbor Islands, Florida / This baby shark loves being on the water.
Pet: Annabelle / Human: Ashley Cross / Indian Springs, Alabama / This Imperial Shih Tzu is full grown at a whopping 5 pounds and loves Jeep rides with the wind in her fur.
Pet: Bentley / Human: Sarah Solbertg / Fort Walton Beach, Florida / It may be summer, but Bentley is ready for two-a-days as an aspiring quarterback.
Pets: Loki and Sugar / Human: Holly Bagby / Cumming, Georgia / Sugar (the white Maltese) and Blue Heeler Loki love a day on the boat.
Pet: Wrinkles / Human: Amanda Bonne / Birmingham, Alabama / Wrinkles loves getting some sun – especially on the water.
Pet: Levi and Blaze / Human: Teresa Baston / Wrens, Georgia / There’s no horsing around for these two. They are committed to summer fun.
Pet: Lady / Human: Candice Dunn / Birmingham, Alabama / Lady loves to cool off by hiding in the monkey grass after a game of fetch or chase the squirrel.
Pet: Rollie Pollie / Human: Katana McCoy / Nashville, Tennessee / She loves car rides, beautiful parks and a day of sunshine at Centennial Park’s The Parthenon.
Pet: Sophie Marie / Human: Dennis Cook / Granite City, Illinois / A 4-year-old Pomeranian, Sophie Marie is a diva. And summertime is her favorite fashion season.
Pet: Kali / Human: Maria Zarzalejo / Fort Lauderdale, Florida / Kali isn’t your typical rescue. She came from Puerto Rico, post hurricane, and now loves soaking up sun and chasing seagulls.
Pet: Clio Thunder / Human: Christie Camacho / Orlando, Florida / Clio T is quite the helper every avocado season, and stays in shape fetching tennis balls.
Pets: Cooper and Tundra / Human: Aryn Henson / Demopolis, Alabama / Cooper (left) and Tundra love fetch, rolling in fresh-cut grass and swimming in the pond, but their favorite summer activity is watching dad grill out – and eating whatever drops to the ground.
Pet: Romeo / Human: Marilyn Murray / Kingsport, Tennessee / Summertime always brings a smile to the face of Romeo, a pet mini donkey.
Pet: Levi / Human: Stephanie Boone / Fairview Heights, Illinois / Who’s ready to play fetch? Levi, of course.
Pet: Wrigley / Human: Christine Waller / Mandeville, Louisiana / Wrigley knows how to beat the heat with his new family.
Pet: Bumble / Human: Wendy Ten Eyck / Birmingham, Alabama / Bumble keeps an eye on the neighborhood squirrels and birds from his favorite window.
Pet: Jack / Human: Penne Hebert / Slidell, Louisiana / Jack loves walking at the Chalmette National Battlefield, collecting driftwood and checking on the Mississippi River.
Pet: Turner / Human: Macy Edwards / Rome, Georgia / Just shy of his first birthday, Turner loves playing in the creek and being in the water.
Pet: Gilligan / Human: Sandi Cox / Ft. Myers, Florida / This African Grey Parrot loves to pilot his boat, aptly named “Gilligan’s Island.” This is no normal three-hour tour.
Pet: Ara / Human: Tayler Kellum / Hattiesburg, Mississippi / 1-year-old Ara is enjoying her first summer with her humans. She especially loves road trips in the car.
Pet: Dottie / Human: Cindy Bullard / Somerville, Tennessee / This 4-year-old Chiweenie loves the pool life.
Pet: Radley / Human: Taylor Bennett / Birmingham, Alabama / Boo! Radley’s first summer has been a flurry of activity learning how to swim and catch tennis balls.
Pet: Lulu / Human: Brad Sturk / Panama City, Florida / Lulu lives where other dogs dream of going on vacation. Every day is a day at the beach.
Pet: Creeper / Human: Amy Hatcher / Munford, Tennessee / Creeper loves catching rays, days at the pool and playing Frisbee.
Pet: Teddi and Holly / Human: Sharon Rogers / Gardendale, Alabama / On Wet Nose Wednesday at Regions Field, Teddi and Holly are ready to catch a home run.
Pet: Baxter / Human: Kimberly Duncan / Meridian, Mississippi / Baxter cools off during the dog days relaxing on a float in the pool.
Pet: Cash / Human: Lauren Scott / Hoover, Alabama / A YorkiPoo, Cash loves to be outside. Even better, he loves to take a dognap in the shade of the porch.
Pet: Romeo / Human: Kristen Hill / Birmingham, Alabama / Give Romeo monkey grass to play peek-a-boo, and he’s in paradise.
Pet: Calvin / Human: MaLou Swindall / Springville, Alabama / Whether it’s hunting, fishing, swimming or rock surfing at a waterfall, this miniature Schnauzer knows how to have fun.
Pet: Finley / Human: Zach Eaves / Bessemer, Alabama / Zach loves hanging at the lake and spending summer playing with his cousin, Millie.
Pet: Neyland / Human: Cody Jeffries / Knoxville, Tennessee / This year-old Golden doodle loves taking rides on the boat and spending weekdays with his pals at doggie daycare.
Pet: Francesca / Human: Jennifer Capo / Tampa, Florida / It’s all about staying hydrated, and Fran does just that while cruising the Gulf.
Pet: Apollo / Human: Paul Roppolo / Baton Rouge, Louisiana / Long summer car rides and cool treats – that’s how Apollo rolls.
Pet: Luke / Human: Brooke Rogers / Decatur, Alabama / Rolling in the grass, playing with human sister Olivia in the sprinklers and diving in the pool – typical summer day for this Irish Doodle.
Pet: Ollie / Human: Gretchen Pokrant / Birmingham, Alabama / Ollie is just as home on a boat out of Port St. Joe as he is hiking the Colorado Rockies.
Pet: Arnie / Human: Amanda Saint / Birmingham, Alabama / Arnie just celebrated a birthday of his own. Happy Birthday, big fella!
Pets: Barley and Peyton / Human: Christy Funchess / Birmingham, Alabama / Bailey (the Goldendoodle on the left) and Peyton headed home from Pensacola Beach wet, sandy and full of beach memories.
Bella / Human: Natasha Willard / Northport, Alabama / Bella has been with the family since she was a pup. Now 6, this pit/lab mix loves splashing around all types of water.
Pet: Mozart / Human: Allen Lewis / Houston, Texas / Dressed splendidly in his LifeGreen bowtie, Mozart is ready for some time in the Texas sun.
Pet: Joey / Human: Katherine Eddleman / Birmingham, Alabama Joey loves supporting the Birmingham Barons and will take a selfie when Babe Ruff requests one.
Pet: Bumi / Human: Jessica Barbee / Monroe, Louisiana / Bumi loves to go on fishing trips to the lake.
Pet: Emma Grace / Human: Tracey Snell / Jonesboro, Arkansas / Certainly, Emma Grace loves summer. But this rescue is also a therapy dog, volunteering at St. Bernards Medical Center and bringing comfort to patients and staff.
Pets: Finn and Jenkins / Human: Lamar Jeffries / Birmingham, Alabama / This dynamic duo loves to go camping, and they’ve done so from Florida to Maine. But each good trip starts with a shopping excursion.
Pet: Kitsune / Human: Christina Lambert / Tyler, Texas / Seen recently at 4 months old, this red Shiba Inu can’t stop smiling at the pool.
Pet: Bailey / Human: Teresa Baston / Wrens, Georgia / Myrtle Beach beckons Bailey every summer.
Pet: Honcho / Human: Carly Dassenko / Hot Springs, Arkansas / “To the dog park we go!”
Pet: Buddy / Human: Carol Slattery / Hoover, Alabama / Buddy’s favorite things: Chasing balls and playing in the water.
Pet: Teddy / Human: Charles Hodges / Chattanooga, Tennessee / Believe it or not, this was Teddy’s first trip to the beach. He nailed the experience.
Pet: Dexter / Human: Melonie Booth / Birmingham, Alabama / Dexter’s favorite summer activity is staying cool in the water. He also loves splashing in the creek or lake.
Pet: Oreo / Human: Elizabeth Montgomery / Lake Village, Arkansas / This goat with the bewitching gaze loves summer because it means fresh grass for dinner.
Pet: Niklaus / Human: Gloria Moskal / Gainesville, Florida / It’s pool time! And Niklaus leads the way with his friends on a summer day.
Pet: Kimber / Human: Kodi Danielle Spain / Tiptonville, Tennessee / Red foxes love watermelon, and Kimber got primed for the season with her first taste fresh off the vine in the garden.
Pet: Hank / Human: Lucie Blahackova / Sarasota, Florida / When he’s not running or destroying things, Hank loves cooling off in the water.
Pet: Piggy / Human: David Smitherman / Birmingham, Alabama / Piggy’s so excited – and he just can’t hide it. Time for a boat ride!
Pet: Paisley / Human: Charity Johnson / Columbia, Tennessee / Paisley is ready for a fun day swimming in the Natchez Trace waterfalls.
Pet: Fitz / Human: Heather Coleman / Birmingham, Alabama / Fitz loves summer days with his ears in the wind on Smith Lake.
Pet: Belle / Human: Vicki Faucett / Trussville, Alabama / When it comes to summer cool, Belle sets the standard.
Pet: Molly Mae / Human: Theresa Minor / Birmingham, Alabama / For Molly Mae, summer means swimming, boat riding and relaxing on the dock.
Pet: Nova Jane / Human: Ryan Burk / Centre, Alabama / This sunshine-loving Great Dane knows it’s always a good time to stop and smell the flowers.
Pet: Hannah / Human: Scott Stuart / Greenville, South Carolina / An 11-year-old border terrier, Hannah loves hiking, exploring and “supervising” human yard work.
Pet: Wallace / Human: Marc McNeese/ Vincennes, Indiana / The 2-year-old Golden Doodle keeps the leash ready for a trip outside 24/7.