The winning photo for 2009 Dog Photographer of the year. Photo by Terry Pover

The 2010 Dog Photographer of the Year competition is now underway, giving photographers and animal-lovers everywhere a reason to snap pictures of their favorite furry friends.

Sponsored by London’s Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the photography competition offers a chance for both amateur and expert photographers alike to “show off their artistic talents to a wide audience and emphasize the loving and animated characteristics of our pets.”

The winning photograph (like last year’s top dog seen above, a shot of a rescue retriever at work) will be put on display at major dog events in London, and will be featured on the cover of the Kennel Club’s magazine, Kennel Gazette.

Plus, all entry fees and donations will go straight to the foundation, which funds a variety of work such as research on canine diseases and promotion of animal support companions.

“Dogs can make for truly amazing images,” says Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club. “Their spontaneous nature can give a fresh and dynamic feel to photos in just seconds. The entries we have had over the past years of the competition have been fascinating and we look forward to seeing this year’s entries.”