Some folks just need to enter the room to a theme song.

I’ve met quite a few in these parts who could easily parade in to one particular feel-good tune:

’Cause you got personality; Walk personality; Talk, personality; Smile personality; Charm, personality; Love, personality …”

In a city such as Natchez — especially right after we’ve wrapped up Mardi Gras — I’m sure you can picture a few community characters sashaying right on in to that tune as well.

But I’m not looking at eye level.

Drop your eyes down a bit, to the end of the leash or the bed in the corner, and you’ll find the true personalities in your lives.

Dozens of local residents recognized the star power of their pets three years ago when The Democrat hosted the community-wide Pet Idol contest.

Eye-catching photos of faces bearing all kinds of personalities poured in, community members cast votes for their favorites, and a king was crowned.

Gatsby, the son of Fred and Karen Callon, took home the win and has reigned ever since.

The Great Pyrenees even appeared on the cover of a recent edition of Natchez the Magazine.

But, the time has come to honor a new personality — or at least to make Gatsby defend his 2010 title.

The newspaper has recently launched Pet Idol 2013, meaning it’s time to grab your camera and capture a moment of that personality you love so much.

Snap a photo of your favorite pet — feel free to enter more than one animal — and e-mail it to petidol@natchezdemocrat.com or drop it off or mail it to 503 N. Canal St., Natchez, MS, 39120.

Be sure to include your pet’s name, your name, your address and phone number and the $10 entry fee.

The Newspapers in Education program will use all money raised from Pet Idol 2013 to place newspapers in area school classrooms as a learning tool.

Area teachers who participate in the program year after year know the benefits having such a living textbook in their classrooms provides to students.

But entry fees won’t be the only fundraiser for the NIE program.

After the photos are received, the newspaper will publish all the entries.

The community will be encouraged to place their vote — for a quarter per ballot — in favor of their true pet idol. You can cast as many votes as you’d like.

We’ll work through a few rounds of voting to narrow the pool before eventually crowning the new pet idol and two runners up.

But first, we need to see our community’s pet personalities.

We are currently accepting entries, so e-mail them, drop them by or mail them to us soon.

In 2010, dogs dominated the contest, but cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs and any critter you call a pet are welcome to enter.

You know your favorite Rover has charm; it’s time to share it with the community and benefit a good cause at the same time.

Remember, the biggest personalities have the biggest egos, and you wouldn’t want to bruise your pet’s pride by leaving him out of the fun!

 

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.