A golden retriever from Christleton has beaten off  competition from top dogs across Chester to be  named as the city’s Prize Pooch.

Members of the public voted for the dog, Chloe, to be crowned as Chester’s Prize Pooch in a  competition run by photography company Venture,  which has a studio on Upper Northgate Street in  Chester.

The competition is run in association with animal  charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Park  Bench, the leading dogs’ social community from  petnet.co.uk, with Venture donating £1 for each  entry to Battersea.

Chloe and her owners the Adam family have  received a large portrait of her for their home  following their win.

Chloe’s owner Jenny Adam said: “When we  entered Chloe into the competition we never thought  for a moment that she would be named as a regional  winner. We’re really grateful for the support of  everyone who voted for us. It was great to be able to  include Chloe in our family photographs.”

Garry Oakes, Venture Chester’s studio owner, said:  “We’ve been overwhelmed with the response to this  competition and we’ve really enjoyed the  opportunity to photograph so many amazing dogs  throughout the process.

“Around a third of all of our photoshoots involve  pets, and both we and our clients very much view  them as an important part of the family. It’s great to  celebrate ‘man’s best friend’ with the Prize Pooch  competition and the competition was certainly  fierce, with thousands of entrants’ friends and  family rallying to show their support.

“It’s also a great excuse to support Battersea Dogs  & Cats Home and we’re pleased to have been able to  raise hundreds of pounds as a business from the  competition. We’re delighted for Chloe and her family – she is a very deserving winner and we all have our fingers crossed that Chloe will be named as the national Prize Pooch 2013.”

Chloe and the other regional finalists will now be  judged by a panel consisting of Venture  Photography’s creative director Richard Mayfield,  along with representatives from Battersea Dogs &  Cats Home. The National Prize Pooch’s photograph  will be displayed in Venture studios across the UK,  US and Hong Kong as the ‘furry face’ of the brand.

All finalists can be viewed online at  www.pooch.venturephotography.co.uk