It’s been said a dog is man’s best friend. Recently, students from all over Lawrence County were able to honor their best friends through an essay contest that aimed at teaching a very important lesson.

The Lawrence County Auditor’s Office sponsored its inaugural Top Dog contest, which called on students to pen all the reasons why their canine friends are tops.

Winning the contest was Lauren Simmons, a fourth-grader at Dawson-Bryant Elementary School. In addition to a trophy, Simmons was given the No. 1 dog tag for 2014.

The goal of the contest was to make people aware that dog tags are not only available for sale, but buying one can go along way in helping control overcrowding at the animal shelter.

With a simple $12 tag purchase from the auditor’s office, you can help the shelter afford food and supplies for the animals that are in needs of homes. The tags also help identify pets that have gotten away from their homes and keep them out of the shelter.

It is all too easy to bring home a new puppy, but providing identification for your new friend is just as important as the vaccinations and training.

This project is primed to teach children at an early age that pet ownership comes with many responsibilities.

We hope the county will continue its push to make the community aware of the dog tag program and continue to get students involved.