In celebration of the 95th annual national celebration of Be Kind to Animals Week and Month, the Animal Protection Society Friday Harbor announces its first Be Kind to Animals Writing Contest for children in grades K-12.

Submissions are to be mailed or e-mailed to the shelter office and winners will be chosen in early July 2010 by the APS-FH Board with announcements of said winners in both The Journal of the San Juan Islands and www.apsfh.org.

Each entry should be written in English with correct spelling and grammar, be an original essay or poem about an animal of their choice and should not exceed 1,000 words in length. Essays will be judged on creativity, writing style, grammar, and spelling.

“We are looking for stories that are entertaining and have a creative description of taking care of an animal or animals,” Tawny Martel Galligan of APS-FH said.

The contest entries will be divided into three age groups: 5-8, 9-14 and 15-18, with a “Grand Prize Winning Story” chosen from each age group. Grand prizes will be graciously donated by the new owners of Ace Hardware Friday Harbor, Island Bicycles and the Art Department of the Office Center. Two prize-winners will also be chosen from each age group as second- and third-place winners, and will receive complementary movie pass donated by a private individual to The Palace Theater in Friday Harbor.

To participate in the contest, visit www.apsfh.org for official contest entry rules and follow the submission instructions.

Questions? Contact Galligan at the shelter office, 378-2158 or e-mail pets2homes@interisland.net.