THE search is now on to find Southampton's hero pet of the year.

If your pet has gone above and beyond or done something extraordinary then the time has come for them to be recognised for their heroic duties, as a search has been launched today to find the ‘Pet Hero of the Year'.

According to research conducted by home security retailer safe.co.uk into how attitudes have changed towards burglary and local crime, 72 per cent of Brits suggested that there is a fear of crime in the home.

The findings also showed that many are investing more into home security, with most people spending around £100 on such technology, such as CCTV.

With almost half of victims who have been burgled feeling unsafe in their home, many people often find a level of security in their pets, and it’s even been known for our four-legged friends to deter or even help stop crime.

Nominations for the competition are open to all pets – dogs, cats, birds, reptiles or any other animal you share your home with.

Anthony Neary, managing director for safe.co.uk, said: “There’s no denying Britain is a nation of pet lovers, and we know a lot of people find a sense of security in their pets. "We believe there are some heroic pets out there and we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve!

“Guard dogs come to the front of mind when we think of ‘heroic’ pets, but we want to open this up to all.

"We are looking forward to seeing the entries from Southampton and can’t wait to crown our first ‘Pet Hero of the Year’”.

To nominate your heroic pet, head to hwww.safe.co.uk/pet-hero-2019 and upload a photo of them with the reason they deserve to win before the September 2 to be in with a chance of winning a smart indoor wi-fi camera, so you can keep an eye on your pet while you are out.

The nominated pets will then go to a public vote before being presented to a judging panel. The winner will be announced in September 2019.