ADVERTISEMENT

Prepare to have your mood lifted. We might be rushing further and further away from Summer and the world can be a dark place sometimes, but there’s always something to cheer us up. After a heated battle, the 2020 Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards have announced their 40 finalists. And they look absolutely hilarious!

Scroll down, upvote your fave photos, and let us know in the comments below which pics made you laugh the most and why, dear Pandas. Guaranteed to make you smile and chuckle? We certainly think so.

The competition, now in its second year, celebrates the positive effect that pets have on our lives and hopes to raise awareness around homeless pets in the United Kingdom. The competition was started by Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks, the founders of the world-famous Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Meanwhile, the sponsor of the competition is Mars Petcare which is raising funds for pet charity Blue Cross. Read on for Bored Panda's interview with Sullam.

More info: ComedyPetPhoto.com | Mars.com | BlueCross.org.uk

#2

'Gossip Girls' By Magdalena Strakova

'Gossip Girls' By Magdalena Strakova

"I was photographing horses in a pasture, and these three got together and appeared to have a chat, gossipping like giggling schoolgirls"

Magdalena Strakova / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the caption as it describes the situation so well. It's so charming.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

'The Dancing Cat' By Iain Mcconnell

'The Dancing Cat' By Iain Mcconnell

"Edmund playing at the top of the stairs."

Iain McConnell / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Sullam told Bored Panda that the judging for the competition was "ridiculously" difficult. "The hardest thing is deciding which of all the funny dogs, funny cats, funny horses, etc. are the funniest of them all, when in fact so many images could have been finalists!" he complimented all of the entrants.

"We had to go underground individually, look at the images, and then come back with our own personal scoring," Sullam gave us a sneak peek into how the judging process works. "It was gladiatorial once back together, but between us three (Michelle, Paul, and me) we managed to get it down to the top 40. It's always difficult, it is always a little heartbreaking as so many great images don’t quite make it, but ultimately it is a decision that we cannot shirk!"

#4

'Guard Dog On Duty' By Elke Vogelsang

'Guard Dog On Duty' By Elke Vogelsang

"What is it about dogs that makes us love them so much? Let's admit it, they please us. They are great fun. They are gorgeous to look at, charming and cuddly. Their loveable, adoring nature appeals to us. They are loyal, protective, cheerful and altogether great company. Dogs give you all their attention. They can make the shiest people feel better about themselves. A recent study found that dog owners tend to be less lonely, less fearful and more extrovert than people without dogs."

Elke Vogelsang / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

'The Guilty Kitten' By Iain Mcconnell

'The Guilty Kitten' By Iain Mcconnell

"Edmund the kitten and a stick chew."

Iain McConnell / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#6

Look Mom - I Can Walk On Water' By John Carelli

Look Mom - I Can Walk On Water' By John Carelli

"He was so proud for a split second.  He thought he was going to walk across the lake and avoid retrieving the bumper.  But alas, gravity won the day."

John Carelli / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Entrants in the competition have a chance at winning 3k pounds and being named the 2020 Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photographer of the Year. The winners of the competition will be announced on November 24, so keep an eye out, dear Pandas!

The competition was massively successful: there were more than 2k entries from 81 different countries. Among them were photos of various pets: from lovable llamas and cute cats to gorgeous guinea pigs.

Sullam and Joynson-Hicks’ partnership with Mars Petcare is raising funds for pet welfare by donating 10 percent of the sponsorship fee and 10 percent of all entry fees to national pet charity Blue Cross, in order to help with its work rehoming pets and providing vet treatment and care.

#7

'That Moment You Realise You've Gone Through Half A Jar Of Snacks' By Candice Sedighan

'That Moment You Realise You've Gone Through Half A Jar Of Snacks' By Candice Sedighan

"Bear's expression looking into his jar of dog food is far too relatable. I simply cut a hole into the food container, taped my iPhone camera to it, and snapped a shot before he dug in to his tasty meal."

Candice Sedighan / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

'Why Are You Upside Down Mum?' By Malgorzata (Gosia) Russell

'Why Are You Upside Down Mum?' By Malgorzata (Gosia) Russell

"This our one year old still kitten cat Basil. He is very playful, agile and loves our garden we used a lot during lockdown.  It is our daily, morning routine to chase each other around the garden. Picture is not photoshopped."

Malgorzata (Gosia) Russell / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

'There Goes Dinner' By Beth Noble

'There Goes Dinner' By Beth Noble

"Five tonkinese cats watching their "dinner" walk past the kitchen window."

Beth Noble / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Sullam and Joynson-Hicks will be judging the finalists along with Mars Petcare, the Blue Cross, as well as with wildlife TV presenter, writer, conservationist, and pet-lover Kate Humble.

“The entries this year have been completely and utterly what we needed to raise our spirits in 2020. It has been a tough year for many, but these images have not only made us laugh out loud, but also re-affirmed our desire to drastically reduce animal cruelty and pet orphanage. The positive movement created by this competition is so uplifting and hopefully, we can achieve a similar reaction from all who see this competition!" said Sullam.

#10

'Squirrelll!!!' By Elke Vogelsang

'Squirrelll!!!' By Elke Vogelsang

"Noodles was rescued from a Spanish kill-shelter and brought to Germany, where she joined our family when she was eight months old. She is a Spanish sighthound (Galgo Espa) mix, 13 years old now (a bit younger in this picture) and still acting like a pup. She is the clown, sometimes overly motivated and clumsy, the eager-beaver, curious, friendly, open-minded, extremely funny if not unintentionally comic sometimes."

Elke Vogelsang / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

'Covert Cows' By Heather Ross

'Covert Cows' By Heather Ross

"A couple of important members of the Whitehouse Farm team, peeping over the hedge."

Heather Ross / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#12

'The Dancing Kitten' By Iain Mcconnell

'The Dancing Kitten' By Iain Mcconnell

"Edmund playing with his toy."

Iain McConnell / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Meanwhile, Helen Warren Piper, General Manager at Mars Petcare UK had this to say: “Celebrating our pets is central to our business, and this competition has been hugely enjoyable to be a part of. The benefits of having a pet in the home have never been clearer, and we have loved seeing so many pet lovers sharing their amazing images. We're delighted to be partnering with Blue Cross and in addition to the funds we are raising, we hope the competition will raise much-needed awareness for homeless pets in the UK."

Tracy Genever, Judge, and Blue Cross Head of Education concluded: “We know the massive impact pets can have on our well-being and this joy and companionship is clear to see in all these pictures. I’m thrilled to be invited to join the finalist judging panel and can’t thank The Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards enough for choosing Blue Cross to support this year.”

If you’d like to lend a hand to The Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards in helping out the Blue Cross, you can make a donation right here.

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

'Friends Don't Let Friends Do Silly Things Alone' By Kerstin Ordelt

'Friends Don't Let Friends Do Silly Things Alone' By Kerstin Ordelt

"This photo is an outtake. Actually, the dogs tried to hug and thats what happend :) The picture was taken in Linz (Austria) in a pedestrian zone early in the morning."

Kerstin Ordelt / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#14

'Saint Pauls Cap' By Alex Class

'Saint Pauls Cap' By Alex Class

"I've always been keen on architectural photography, on leading lines, on creative perspectives. I had a walk around London with Kyte and his owners. Kyte is a lovely 9 year old weimaraner.  I had been eying up this spot for a while and just waiting for the right face to wear Saint Paul's cupola."

Alex Class / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#15

'Drama Queen' By Anne Lindner

'Drama Queen' By Anne Lindner

"There is almost nothing more beautiful than to see a hearty yawn of a rabbit."

Anne Lindner / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Add photo comments
POST
adelahmoore avatar
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, this bunny is adorable! I used to like watching my rabbits yawn too.

mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find a rabbit appearing to have no eyes with its mouth wide open to be terrifying.

sixstringkate avatar
Kate Yeti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, yeah. Rabbits' mouths are terrifying. I love them, I even raise them. And still I admit it! 😆

elizabethacree avatar
Liz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Face of the female lead in one of those seventies slasher films when the murderer discovers her

fidelitas-ut-terminus avatar
Jane Doe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhh ahhh ...... plooph ... bunny sneeze both cute and messy ....

bree_saw avatar
Sabrina Fisher
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-e-IIIIIIIIIIIIIII will alwayyyyys looooveee yoooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuu

lsgm2fw avatar
Zoe's Mom
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...And I I I I I I will always love you oh youuuuuuuuuuuuu!

abkoz89 avatar
Abbey Kosiorek
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

aaaaand IIIIIIIIEEEEEIIIIIIII WILL ALWAYS LOOOOOVE YOUUUUUUUUUU

louchebert avatar
Hubertus Touché
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then she said that Jason... and I was like OMG, Jason? Then she told me that Hillary... and I was like NO WAY! Hillary?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#16

'Living Trophy' By Antonio Peregrino

'Living Trophy' By Antonio Peregrino

"This border collie lives on a farm and his name is FOFO. Always cheerful and playful, FOFO also likes to watch the movement on the farm and in this particular photo he is inside the stall of the horses with his head placed in a hole in the wall that gives access to the outside to see me and my cousins walking. I took advantage that I had my camera at the time and took the photo. I called this photo a living trophy because it reminded me of a sad culture that we humans have in killing animals and putting their heads on walls. FOFO proves how much more beautiful, healthy and happy it is for us humans to appreciate free and living animals."

Antonio Peregrino / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

'Isolated Dog' By Ilana Rose

'Isolated Dog' By Ilana Rose

"Isolated Vizla dog in lockdown, a reflection on how we all feel in this year of lockdowns due to COVID-19 world wide."

Ilana Rose / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#18

'Smile' By Mehmet Aslan

'Smile' By Mehmet Aslan

"The horse's smile and the dog that makes it strange."

Mehmet Aslan / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Add photo comments
POST
logancheng avatar
Logan Cheng
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

looks like my sister barging into my room with some YouTube video about animals farting

View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

'Super Happy Dog' By Dean Pollard

'Super Happy Dog' By Dean Pollard

"Taz, our rescue dog from Cyprus was super happy on a sunny day and clearly delighted to be at the beach."

Dean Pollard / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#20

'Ohhhhhhhhh' By Dimpy Bhalotia

'Ohhhhhhhhh' By Dimpy Bhalotia

"This happened in a fraction of a second and I couldn't stop laughing."

Dimpy Bhalotia / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#21

'Funny Horse' By Peter Von Shnen

'Funny Horse' By Peter Von Shnen

"This horse is already 24 years old. He moved in with me and he likes it very much. Me too."

Peter von Shnen / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#22

'Shocked Mastiff' By Annett Mirsberger

'Shocked Mastiff' By Annett Mirsberger

"During a photoshoot, this gorgeous mastiff made some funny faces - I hope not because of me ...!?"

Annett Mirsberger / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#23

'The Funny Amorgos Donkey' By Boris Purmann

'The Funny Amorgos Donkey' By Boris Purmann

"2016 at the greek Island Amorgos. We  hiked from Aegiali to Langada and I made some Pics with my Mobile of a Donkey Group. In the last Picture it looks like that the Donkey was friendly and smiling to us. So I realise that I have to make more of this. In 2019 we meet the Donkey Owners, they have a nice Tavern in Langada TAVERNA LOUDAROS and they told us the name of the Donkeys. From righti to left: Sister Nefeli, Mother Floredia and SOSO!"

Boris Purmann / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#24

'Red Slippers? I Don't Know Anything About Them' By Teun Veldman

'Red Slippers? I Don't Know Anything About Them' By Teun Veldman

"This little cat seems to tell: I don't know anything about red slippers."

Teun Veldman / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#25

'Hold On Tight! We're Running Late' By Karen Hoglund

'Hold On Tight! We're Running Late' By Karen Hoglund

"Dani, the puppy, hangs on for her life when Gabby is at the wheel. (The car wasn't actually moving so it wasn't really scary.) We intended to take a photo of the dogs looking at the camera but both pups looked forward instead which was much funnier!  Just to be on the safe side, we kept both dogs on leashes. What you can't see in these photos is my husband crouched down in the back seat, holding both dogs leashes. He is such a good sport!"

Karen Hoglund / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#26

'Splash' By Alice Van Kempen

'Splash' By Alice Van Kempen

"While playing with eachother one of the puppies fell into the water. The others looked surprised at the splashing sister."

Alice van Kempen / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#28

'Crazy Horse' By Daniel Szumilas

'Crazy Horse' By Daniel Szumilas

"The horse was laughing in front of me.  When I got back to the car, I had to check the mirror to see if I had anything on my face.  Amazing experience"

Daniel Szumilas / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#29

'Buddy's New Teeth!' By Lianne Richards

'Buddy's New Teeth!' By Lianne Richards

"Our lovable and squeaky ball obsessed cocker spaniel Buddy who we rehomed 18 months ago."

Lianne Richards / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

#30

'Poodle Chaos' By Darren Hall

'Poodle Chaos' By Darren Hall

" This is Ted the Poodle. Ted loves his ball more than anything. You can probably tell by his expression in this photo that Ted's ball is the most exciting thing in the world to him. This image was taken in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle upon Tyne. I used a hand held flash to light Ted as he scrambled through the leaves to get his ball."

Darren Hall / Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 Report

Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.