PROUD pet owners lined up this week at a presentation of prizes for the winners and runners up in The Journal's Perfect Pets competition.Readers voted in their hundreds for the cute cats and dapper dogs featured in our spring pet competition.

PROUD pet owners lined up this week at a presentation of prizes for the winners and runners up in The Journal's Perfect Pets competition.

Readers voted in their hundreds for the cute cats and dapper dogs featured in our spring pet competition.

Each entry received a free photographic sitting courtesy of Picture Studios, in London Road North, Lowestoft which was then published in The Journal for readers to choose their favourite animal in each group.

Top dog was seven-month-old boxer bitch Roxy whose owner, Teresa Laws, of Kirkley Run, Lowestoft, had to be persuaded to enter her into the competition.

She said: 'I work at Pakefield Riding Stables and Roxy comes to work with me. All the children and our disabled riders think Roxy is beautiful and wanted me to enter her so that they could vote for her.'

Runner-up in the dog section was another boxer, nine-and-a-half-month-old Tyson.

His owner Chelsea Weavers, of Sutherland Drive, Lowestoft, admitted he was a difficult customer to photograph, because he is so nosy he cannot stay still for a minute.

Misty, an Old English Sheepdog came third. His owner Sandra LeGood, of Kirkley Park Road, Lowestoft, had entered him in the competition for the second year running and was surprised and pleased that he was in the top three again having come third last year.

Top cat was Gem, a seven-month-old rescue cat.

Her owner Kim Hale, of Laurel Road, Lowestoft, entered her into the competition because she wanted everyone to see how beautiful Gem really is. Totally agreeing with her was runner-up cat owner Sharon Stephens, of Spashett Road, Lowestoft, who also entered her family cat Honey because she was so gorgeous.

Third, but no means least, was 10-year-old Chloe Bullen with her cat Amber, a rare breed known as an ocicat, a cross between Siamese and Abyssinian breeds.

Each winning pet received a 20in x 16in framed portrait by Picture Studios, a personalised porcelain birth tablet including photograph and name, and date of birth, courtesy of Lowestoft Porcelain and a personalised dog and cat bowl from the Paint and Create company, which are both based in Battery Green Road, Lowestoft.

The runners up received a 10in x 8in framed portrait, and a personalised bone china mug.

And the third placed pets received a 7in x 5in framed portrait.