This week, we were so glad once again see the enthusiasm that our readers have for sharing their photos of their beloved pets — and their ability to capture the essence of each of them.

Companion animals have a unique way of adding to our lives, and you'll get the chance to see some this week, including a birthday girl, a smiling kitty and a fun-loving pooch who loves the water. It's a fun way to end your week!

Participating in our weekly photo blog is easy — simply email a photo of your pet, just being him or herself, to ppsa2mi@gmail.com any time for our weekly Pet Photo Friday feature.

Be sure to include the name of the animal(s), as well as their age and city or township of residence in your email. Photos should be 600 pixels wide and in .jpg format.

We put the week's photos into a slideshow, publish and promote each Friday here in the Pets section.

Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com. Follow her daily pet adventures on Twitter.