PetNet, the UK’s busiest social community for dog and cat owners, has announced that the new PetNet Celebrity Pet Owner Awards are open for nominations. 
With two categories, these inaugural Awards are looking for the UK’s favourite celebrity dog owner and celebrity cat owner. The two winning celebrities will each receive £2,000 prize money to be donated to their chosen animal welfare charities – in addition to a Venture photoshoot with their pets to help raise awareness of their chosen charity.
Working with judges including tv vet Dr Scott Miller, pet charity National Pet Month, showbiz journalist Dan Wootton, celebrity pet trainer Karen Wild plus Venture Photography’s Rachel Agnew, PetNet is asking the public to visit www.celebritypetowner.co.uk and nominate their favourite celebrity dog and cat owners. Celebrity owners will need to have communicated the importance of responsible pet ownership through their involvement with animals and the media. Perhaps they have helped raise money for a re-homing centre, raised awareness of a charity’s plight or simply shown huge love for their pet!
The Awards are open to the public for nominations until 22 June. Everyone who nominates will be entered into a prize draw and 10 from each category will win Venture photoshoot experience with their pet worth £295 each. On 25 June, judges will announce the final shortlists of six celebrities for each category and the public will be invited to cast their votes with the Celebrity Dog Owner and Celebrity Cat Owner of 2012 announced week commencing 9 July. 
Dr Scott Miller confirms: “I am delighted to support PetNet’s campaign to find the UK’s favourite dog and cat owning celebrities. Working with the other judges, we look to promote responsible pet care by highlighting celebrity role models who have loving and healthy relationships with their four legged friends. Dog and cat owners can check out the PetNet website for top tips on responsible ownership, which will help them cast their vote!”
The Judges
PetNet is home to Park Bench and Scratching Post – busy communities for dog and cat lovers also on Facebook. There are over 65,000 owners who enjoy sharing the highs and lows of dog and cat ownership and they also visit the website for expert advice on all aspects of ownership. PetNet is supported by the British Veterinary Association and numerous other pet organisations. Lisa Robb, Head of Digital and owner of Springer Spaniel Holly, will represent PetNet on our panel of judges.
Venture Photography, the UK’s largest family and pet photography business, will be represented by broadcaster Rachel Agnew. In addition to regularly reviewing the newspapers on Sky News and on ITV’s This Morning and appearing on the BBC sofa or Loose Women, Rachel is Head of Marketing at Venture. Venture takes over 7 million photographs each year and not only specialises in family portraits but loves photographing pets – from dogs and cats, to rabbits and even ponies! See their website for more information.
Dan Wootton is the British showbiz reporter of the year and one of the most prominent television and radio authorities on pop culture, celebrity and royalty in the UK. He is the showbiz presenter on ITV’s top-rating morning show Lorraine, bringing all the gossip in his popular segments including the Friday Five. He is also a columnist for the Daily Mail and Now Magazine. Dan regularly travels the world to interview the biggest stars in showbiz including Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue. He is also the proud owner of a gorgeous British Shorthair cat called Dirk. He tweets @danwootton.
Dr Scott Miller began his veterinary career working at the largest animal hospital in Australia, the RSPCA clinic in Sydney, before moving to the UK in 1999. Having worked all over the UK, Scott became the vet for the Big Brother series, hosting Extinct for Meridian, a programme highlighting endangered species whilst regularly appearing on BBC Breakfast News, The Paul O’Grady Show, GMTV, Daybreak, The Alan Titchmarsh show, Liza and Huey’s Pet Nation on Sky, CBBC and ITV’s This Morning. Scott is the author of factual book, Puppy Parenting, a guide to raising a puppy through the first six months of life. Currently studying for his Masters in Wild Animal Conservation Medicine, he is an avid sportsman and documentary film maker while being proud ‘parent’ of Betty and Dave, a border terrier and English pointer, and cat Rickets. For more information see his website.
Karen Wild BA (Hons) Dip App Psy, is a full-time, qualified U.K. dog trainer and behaviour consultant with 17 years in the field. She is a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and is an Associate Member of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers. Karen deals with dog behaviour problems in a family-oriented, practical way based in solid scientific fact. She has worked with numerous celebrities helping them and their families with their pets. For more information see Karen’s website.
National Pet Month is a registered charity and will be represented by its chairman, Phil Sketchley. National Pet Month promotes the benefits of living with pets, raises awareness of responsible pet ownership and encourages the public to raise money for their favourite charity by running fun-filled events. National Pet Month is unique in bringing together animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups and pet lovers, with the common goal of improving the welfare of pets. The trustees are National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) and Pet Care Trust (PCT). For more information please see www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk.
