With mid-summer fast approaching, this month's eight new Kent Pets Tournament entries are eager for your vote.

In this first round, four animals will be voted on by readers to go to round two - getting one step closer to becoming August's Pet of The Month.

Scroll down to vote

For those new to the game, every month we will be choosing eight animals across Kent for readers to explore the lives of and vote on who will be Kent's Pet of the Month.

Every week readers will vote on pairs of animals to go to the next round until only one remains.

If you're interested in entering next month's round for September, email details about your pet (such as pictures, name, breed, age and fun stories) to mcarr@thekmgroup.co.uk

Head-to-Head #1

Taffy the Welsh Collie

Taffy is a five-year-old Welsh Collie who loves balls and sticks!

He was chosen by his owners after they met his dad asleep on a pub floor and kept in touch when he was sired for puppies.

Due to their meeting Taffy's human parents had the first pick of the litter.

Now he is nearly five, and a father himself, Taffy's owners say he has the best life ever.

His favourite game is going round and round with a stick in his mouth and he loves chasing after a ball on a beach.

Taffy is also a keen footballer! He loves a football pitch, here he always put the ball in the net for the next kick.

His owners say he truly is a well tempered, gorgeous dog, who gets lots of attention every day from people in their village.

Strangers often comment wow and ask what breed he is, his owners love him to bits.

Nicknamed Mr Taffy, the pooch is full of character and charm.

Phoebe the Jack Russell cross Chihuahua

Phoebe is a nine-year-old Jack Russell cross Chihuahua who will be 10 in March.

The loveable pooch has had four babies, one being Prue, who her owners kept.

Phoebe loves a biscuit and will casually demand them throughout the day by tapping on your feet or by jumping up and pushing your legs, if one person says no she will go and tap on another persons foot until someone gives in.

If she doesn’t want to go for a walk or have a bath she will either hide under the tables like you can’t see her or run away from you, so her owners end up chasing a small dog around the house and garden!

One of the things she hates is the rain, if it’s raining hard and Phoebe needs the loo, she will put her head out of the cat flap and pee on the mat inside!

Her owners think that she believes if she can see outside then technically she is outside or at least her head is.

Phoebe loves teddies, she has many from abroad, weddings and fun fairs.

She also loves a car ride as long as she is sitting in the front and can see out of the window or she will huff the whole way.

Phoebe also adores biscuits and puffed chicken feet.

Her owners have also come up with a variety of nicknames for Phoebe, including Fatty, Porky and Piggy.

Head-to-head #2

Hudson the Bernese Mountain Dog

Hudson is a one-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog and a true cheese connoisseur.

The 36-kilo woolly mammoth loves nothing more than running around with all his four-legged friends - large and small.

The fury giant also loved the cat and played with them lots when he was a puppy

Hudson also loves swimming and playing at the beach.

Winston the Dachshund

Winston getting his teeth cleaned

Winston is a six-month-old Dachshund puppy that loves holidaying.

Nicknamed Win, Monster and Little Sausage, he recently flew on the sky bus plane on his first holiday to the Scilly Isles.

Winston also ventured on a boat for a boat tour.

For a small dog, Winston has a big bark and is very sassy!

The pup is also an escape artist, not only can he escape from his crate but also his play pen, thanks to his springy legs.

When he is at his grandparents house, Winston was exploring the garden and didn't notice the edge of the pond.

As you can imagine he fell right in and jumped out covering everyone in pond spray.

Winston loves to cuddle and wrap himself around his human parents neck.

Head-to-head #3

Bertie the Birman

Bertie is a 6-year-old Birman cat who was born in Australia and then moved to Kent.

He enjoys being given treats, chasing ribbons and dressing gown cords, and having his back massaged while he eats his breakfast.

He very much dislikes other cats and birds in his garden.

Berite is also an active member of the neighbourhood watch and is the only member of the family to have his own framed portrait.

Bertie showing the Seagulls in his garden who is boss

His special skills are using mind control to gaze at a human until they weaken and give him a Dreamies and lying with his belly exposed and then attacking anyone who dares touch it.

Jasper the Working Cocker Spaniel

Jasper is a 10-year-old Working Cocker Spaniel who loves a pub.

When visiting Hayling Island in Hampshire, Jasper and his owner stumbled across his namesake bar, Jasper's.

He was only too happy to settle himself into a stoic pose while his owner Beth Robson got snapping with her smart phone.

Usually he likes to go on a long walk and settle himself in a country or seaside pub, making friends among regulars.

He's energetic, full of fun and exists purely to retrieve balls, sticks and rolled up socks!

Head-to-head #4

Arthur the rescue cat

Arthur arrived at Wisteria Cat Rescue when his previous owners could no longer care for his needs.

Due to the condition of his coat he had to be shaved but, the rescue made sure he had a snazzy hair do.

Arthur playing pool

Arthur is a fun character that loves chatting to the staff at Wisteria Cat Rescue.

He even made his claim to fame, making it onto ITV's national news.

Louie Bob the Cairn Terrier

Louie Bob is very chilled out 11-year-old Cairn Terrier who is currently enjoying his twilight years pottering in the garden, sunbathing, and walking around his home village.

He is very loving and enjoys snuggling up on the sofa with his owners.

But his grey-ringed eyes have many tales to tell; when he was younger he used to prey on wild rabbits in true terrier style.

He would have been spending his retirement years in peace and quiet had it not been for his owners buying a Labrador puppy who is now almost two.

He didn't take to the new arrival too kindly, choosing to tolerate his now mugh-bigger younger brother, Ziggy's Stardust, rather than welcome him with love.

Winning this competition might alleviate some of this dog's "little man syndrome" and would be an achievement in his golden years.

To read more about Kent’s furry, flying and finned friends, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent