MORE than 100 Cirencester dog owners shared cute snaps of their four-legged friends for a care home's competition last week.

Staff at Elm Grove Bupa Care Home - which is situated in Somerford Road, Cirencester - decided to organise a virtual dog competition for its residents to get involved with. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home residents helping judge the dog competitionElm Grove Bupa Care Home residents helping judge the dog competition (Image: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home)

They invited the local community to submit photos of their pooches via Facebook and received more than 110 entries. 

Residents at the care home came together and brainstormed eight categories to rate them in, which included funniest sleeping position, cutest puppy, best rescue and handsomest hound.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Handsomest hound winner of Elm Grove Bupa Care Home's dog competition Handsomest hound winner of Elm Grove Bupa Care Home's dog competition (Image: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home)

Winners of each category were then announced and one resident even wrote a poem about the event.

Staff at the care home revealed that the show was thoroughly enjoyed by the residents who loved looking at the photos of the different dogs.

For many residents, the competition brought back fond memories of dogs they had owned in the past.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Most pawsome eyes winner of Elm Grove Bupa Care Home's annual dog competitionMost pawsome eyes winner of Elm Grove Bupa Care Home's annual dog competition (Image: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home)

Resident Carole Titmus, aged 83, said: “I had a lovely time seeing all the photos of the different dogs, my favourite category was funniest sleeping position."

Another resident Lorna Kent, aged 88, said: “It was great fun taking part in the dog show, I couldn’t believe how many entries there were. 

"I’ve had lots of dogs throughout my life, so seeing certain breeds brought back many happy memories.”

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home resident judging the dog competition Elm Grove Bupa Care Home resident judging the dog competition (Image: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home)

Activity co-ordinator at Elm Grove Bupa Care Home Victoria Hamlett said: “The virtual dog show was brilliant, we were amazed to have received so many entries from the local community. 

"Our residents really did enjoy the judging. 

"Some saw dogs that reminded them of their old dogs which we had some lovely conversations about, and happy tears were shed.

 "It really was a beautiful weekend seeing the residents so interested and engaged.”