Pet Sounds

Sometime, somewhere, you've probably sung a short song to your pet. It wasn't an out-and-out power ballad, but rather a passing ditty to celebrate your pet's adorability. The lyrics probably included the word "wuv" and a cutesy iteration of Baxter's name. Perhaps the melody was original. Perhaps it sounded exactly like Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby."

Last month we asked readers to expand their ditties into formal minute-long songs, record them on video and send them in for the Sunday Source's first Pet Songs Contest. We expected to receive nothing. Instead, we got a few dozen DVDs in the mail, and all of them, in their own ways, were tremendously amusing to watch. Some were funny. Others were moving. Some had melodies that were stuck in our heads for days. No joke. (This is either really great or really sad.)

We narrowed the submissions to six finalists: two acoustic guitar solos by sweet-voiced cat lovers, a dulcimer riff for a trio of rodents, a mysterious canine ode that chugs like a freight train, a hilarious paean to a miniature pinscher named Mr. Scrappers and a full-on music video of two fluffy white dogs worthy of broadcast on VH1.

Two winners were selected, one by the Sunday Source staff, the other by the discriminating ears of Post critics J. Freedom du Lac (pop music), Ann Hornaday (film) and Anne Midgette (classical music). Each winner gets $100. The critics' pick, " Bones," by Gary Jaffe of Springfield, was hailed as "clever" and "energetic." The staff pick is Silver Spring resident Randy Scope's "Mr. Scrappers, You're a Good Boy," featuring an obstinate miniature pinscher.

True bragging rights, however, go to the video that gets the most votes online. Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/petsongs to view them and pick your favorite. A special thanks to everyone who took the time to write and perform songs, record and mail videos and lay bare their emotions for our enjoyment.

Turn to Page 4 for profiles of the six finalists, as well as a word from our critics.