Jessica Bryant is both a dog and a cat person, which is certainly manageable for her parents if it came to having both under the same roof. What isn' t necessarily acceptable in the Bryant household? Horses.

Jessica would love to have one of those, too, but that' s where dad Stephen Bryant draws a line in the sand.

"Don' t think that' ll happen anytime soon,' he said. "But she definitely loves animals.'

So much so that the Butler Elementary fourth-grader wrote a well-researched essay on "What changes do cats and dogs have to make to live and survive as homeless pets?'

The essay scored best in the 2013 Animal Essay Contest, which honors third through sixth-graders for writing about animal-related topics such as "How would an overpopulation of homeless cats and dogs affect our local ecosystem?' and "What advice would you give a family about a new pet so that its offspring will not end up in the local animal shelter?'

Any Arlington resident regardless of educational venue, private, charter, home school, can enter and more than 1,000 did, making it one of the most competitive contests in years.

Mason Vaughan of Moore Elementary won among third-grade entries, David Schmitt of Children' s University was the fifth-grade winner, and Eleanor Mize of Dunn Elementary was best among sixth-graders. A complete list can be found at arlingtontx.gov.

Winners receive a multitude of goodies including $50 from EECU to open a savings account and a Nook from Barnes & Noble. Awardees will be recognized March 5 during a City Council presentation and on March 23 will have a reception and Nook training at Barnes & Noble followed by an Arlington Animal Shelter tour.

The Essay Contest originated 11 years ago to bring awareness of pet responsibility to Arlington youth, but District 2 City Council Member Sheri Capehart describes the contest as "an intervention,' and for good reason.

"We know very conclusively that people who grow up to be abusers start by abusing animals,' Capehart said. "We try and instill in children particularly at a young age if you' re going to be a pet owner then that' s a responsibility of a lifetime. And how you treat that pet also will carry forward how you treat other people.

"That' s why we really do it,' Capehart continued. "It certainly helps with promoting the animal shelter. That' s a side benefit. But it' s more about the education.'

One of the fun aspects of the contest is the "prize patrol' led by Capehart and including sponsor representatives and parents of the winners who surprise all 12 by making the announcements in their classrooms.

Butler Elementary had so many winners (first, second and a third place) that the school held a mock assembly so the students could get their awards at once.

"I hear it' s difficult to be one of the 12 and we have three,' beamed Butler Principal Daniel Gallagher. "Wow.'

Winners

Third grade:
1^st place: Mason Vaughan, Moore Elementary
2^nd place: Payton Teeples, Home School
3^rd place: An' nas Bayyoud, Glen Harmon

Fourth grade:
1^st place: Jessica Bryant, Butler Elementary
2^nd place: Victoria Alford, Saint Maria Goretti Catholic
3^rd place: Louis Alexander, Blanton Elementary

Fifth grade:
1^st place: David Schmitt, Children' s University
2^nd place: Madelyn Anderson, Ditto Elementary
3^rd place: Caroline Brown, Ditto Elementary

Sixth grade:
1^st place: Ellie Mize, Dunn Elementary
2^nd place: Carlos Arrazola, Butler Elementary
3^rd place: Kelley Murray, Butler Elementary

View photos of the event