It's baaaack. No, you don't have to worry about gremlins invading your Internet experience. It's time for the second annual Soap Central Pet Photo Contest -- and this year the contest is bigger than last year.

We know that in addition to having a passion for all things soap, many of our readers have family members that are furry, feathered, scaly, or otherwise. To celebrate that pet love, we're inviting our readers to submit photos of their pets dressed in Halloween costumes.

Anyone with a pet can enter the contest -- it's totally free to do so. All you have to do to enter is to submit a photo of your pet -- and we know you have pictures of your pups, kitties, fish, snakes, bunnies, hamsters, ferrets, cows, and other friends. If your pet is chosen as one of our winners, he or she will be rewarded with some very cool pet swag.

To submit your pet's photo, visit Soap Central's Facebook page and upload your photo.

CATEGORIES AND JUDGING

This year, we've streamlined the submission process, and there will be just one category. We want to see your cutest photo of your favorite pet.

You don't necessarily have to submit a photo of your pet in costume, but you might earn some bonus points for creativity if you do. So if you've ever dressed your pet in a costume for Halloween, send us the photo -- and if you haven't, you still have time to snap a photo of Sparky in that pirate costume, or maybe Fifi wants to dress up like Cleopatra.

To submit your pet's photo, visit Soap Central's Facebook page and upload your photo.

This year's judging panel will once again include General Hospital star Julie Berman (Lulu Spencer). Julie is a co-founder of Better Buddies (betterbuddies.com), a company that has created high-quality, eco-friendly pet products.

PRIZES

This year, we will choose six winners winners. All of this year's prizes are again selected from the Better Buddies (betterbuddies.com) line of eco-friendly pet products.

Four runners-up will win pet mats "upcycled" from discarded yoga mats.

One second place winner will win a pet bed in a style and size of their choosing.

One Grand Prize winner will win both a pet mat and a pet bed.

Winners will be contacted directly to ensure that the bed size is appropriate for their pet. Additional prizes will be awarded at the discretion of Soap Central.

To submit your pet's photo, visit Soap Central's Facebook page and upload your photo.

OFFICIAL RULES

• By submitting a photo into the contest, you grant Soap Central the right to publish that photo on the Soap Central web site.
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia at least eighteen (18) years old or age of majority, whichever is older in their state of residence, and older. Soap Central employees, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, and members of their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling, and their respective spouses) and those living in their households are not eligible to enter this contest.


• Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm PT on October 31, 2012. Any entry received after that time will be ineligible to win the Grand Prize.


• Only one entry per person is permitted. In the event that an individual submits more than one photo, only the first entry will be considered eligible.


• Six entrants will be selected as winners. Winners will be contacted by email and have 96 hours to reply with their mailing information. In the event that a winner does not respond, Soap Central reserves the right to select an alternate winner.

To submit your pet's photo, visit Soap Central's Facebook page and upload your photo.