When it comes to cute, it takes a lot to beat a candid photograph of Scruffy, the kids' terrier, or Max, the lord-over-all family cat.

Pet photos will be competing in the Tribune's Pet Idol Contest. Readers can submit photos in these categories: Dogs, Cats, Pets - All Dressed Up, People and Pets, Pets on the Farm and Other.

Price: $7.95 to enter and get a $5 coupon from Animal Kingdom with your entry.

How to enter: Registration form running in the Tribune, Finder, Mandan News, Farm and Ranch, or call the Tribune Classified Call Center at 258-6900, or stop at the Tribune office or Animal Kingdom to register. Entries must be made before Aug. 7.

The submitted photos will be published in the Aug. 20 Tribune and placed on the Tribune Web site.

Then readers will be able to pick their favorite or the best pet photos, and at the same time support local Newspapers In Education programs.

For a small donation, people will be able to vote for their favorites in each of the categories. All voting proceeds will be donated to NIE, a literacy program in local schools.

Results of the voting will be published in the Tribune throughout the voting process, with the final prize winners announced Sept. 24 in Celebrate.

Prizes: Best of Show - Free pet food for a year. Gift certificates for first, second and third place in each category (first - $25, second - $10 and third - $5). All prizes from Animal Kingdom.