We hear it every year: "I meant to take a good photo of my pet, but I missed the deadline."

Good news! The deadline to enter a photograph of your pet for possible inclusion in The Hawaiian Humane Society's 2007 Pets in Paradise calendar is Friday.

The society's calendar is more than a fundraising project — it's a colorful celebration of the love that Hawai'i people have for their animal companions.

This is the sixth year that the Hawaiian Humane Society has produced the calendar using pet photos entered by their proud families.

The society chooses 14 photos for full-page size and all others are included in colorful collage pages. Each year brings new views of adorable pets in Island settings.

The useful calendar is also a valuable fundraiser for the society, annually raising more than $40,000 to support programs that promote the human-animal bond.

So take that terrific photo of your animal buddy.

Last year on a sunny day, the Maguires of 'Ewa Beach took their greyhounds to the water's edge for a photo session. They draped plumeria lei around the dogs' necks and snapped away with majestic Diamond Head in the background. Their dog Lizzie ended up as the cover girl.

In contrast, when the Parkers of Honolulu noticed their cat, Hemi, drinking from their backyard pond, they grabbed the camera and captured the moment in a photograph that made Hemi the pet of January 2006.

Though professional photographer Stan Wright's bread and butter is weddings, he also takes people and pet portraits.

"Sometimes a great photo of your pet is right in front of you, so be prepared," said Wright. He is always tickled when he sees some of the pet photographs he has snapped entered in the calendar. "A pro is almost guaranteed to give you a treasured pet pose," he said, "but you can too."

ADOPTABLES

Liza

Tag No. 92095 Lovely Liza has a stunning black and white coat and big yellow eyes. She spent some time being pampered in a foster home. Now it's time for this 2-year-old to find a permanent home. During Love-a-Cat Month, adopters receive free cat food and toys, too.

Anna

Tag No. 95231 This adorable medium-size gal has lots of energy. Her short coat is solid black with white accents on her chest. She's just becoming an adult at age 2 and responds well to training. Keep Anna busy and happy with plenty of toys and playmates.

These animals already may have found homes. The Hawaiian Humane Society and McInerny Dog Park at 2700 Wai'alae Ave. are open Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For directions, special events and to see more pets available for adoption, visit www.hawaiianhumane.org or call 946-2187. Call immediately to report lost or found animals, Ext. 2.