‘People’s Choice’ winner of BVA Veterinary Photographer of the Year revealed

The smile-inducing photo by vet Sam Price from Bangor, County Down, has been awarded the very first People’s Choice title in the much-loved competition, which is hosted by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and sponsored by iM3 Dental.

The competition awards a winner and two highly commended images in three categories - Vets At Work, All Creatures Great And Small and Happy Pets That Make Us Smile - plus a winner in the new People’s Choice category, which saw delegates at last week’s BVA Live choose their favourite image from the finalists.

Small animal practice vet Sam Price, from Bangor, Northern Ireland, won the Happy Pets That Make Us Smile category with his photo Jumping For Joy, featuring Winnie the dog on the beach. As a finalist, the image went into the running for the People’s Choice category and, after votes closed at the end of the event on Friday, the winner has now been announced.

Sam, who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2017, said: “I am delighted at the outcome of this competition, considering this was simply a candid shot taken on a regular beach walk with my dog, Winnie. The photo captured a moment of pure joy as she raced around on the sand so I felt this was a fitting photo for the brief of Happy pets that make us smile. 

“I love seeing her enjoy herself at the beach and I’m thrilled her photo has made so many others smile too.” 

Sam’s image of a ring-tailed lemur being comforted after surgery, titled A Gentle Touch, was also a finalist in the Vets at Work category.

This year’s judging panel consisted of BVA President Malcolm Morley, vet and social media influencer Cat Henstridge and iM3 Sales Manager Sue Emmerton.

On behalf of all the judges, BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “Sam’s photo of Winnie really was a photo of a happy pet that made us smile, she just looks so carefree and truly like she is living her best life. As vets, we all love to see happy, healthy pets, so I’m not surprised so many delegates at BVA Live chose this as their favourite image in this year’s competition.

“Congratulations again to Sam and to all of the winners and finalists, it’s fantastic to see so much talent and creativity from our amazing vets.”