No more entries will be accepted. Results to follow! 
Overview
Let us begin with a definition. Dictionary.com defines anthropomorphism as 'the attribution of human form or behaviour to a deity, animal, etc'. For this contest, the definition must be a little narrower. We want you to write about non-human animals with human characteristics. These characteristics can include, but are not limited to (and of course do not have to include):
Use of first person from the animal's perspective, such as in poems by Ted Hughes e.g. 'Hawk Roosting', and by Rudyard Kipling e.g. 'Seal Lullaby'.
Complex thought processes (using your own judgement to define 'complex'), such as in Sheila Burnford's novel The Incredible Journey.
Bipedal tendencies, such as in Catherine Storr's stories of 'Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf'.
Communication by speech, such as in Richard Adams's novel Watership Down, and in Kathleen Hale's stories of 'Orlando the Marmalade Cat'.
The wearing of clothes, such as in several books by Beatrix Potter, and in Kenneth Grahame's novella The Wind in the Willows.
The use of objects such as tools, vehicles, buildings etc., such as in Potter, Grahame, Storr, Hale and plenty more.
There are so many other examples I could mention, and some that I will. Dick King-Smith was a farmer who wrote many children's books about farm animals; Brian Jacques' Redwall is a fantasy series in which animals are about as human as they can get; Disney have done so many animal stories, including pet dogs, pet cats, big cats, bugs, undersea creatures, rodents and a great mix of bipedal birds and mammals (plus one snake) in their version of the Robin Hood legends. There are too many examples to name, but does that mean it's all been done? I don't think so!
Judges: 
Rules
Poetry and prose (complete short stories only, no fan fiction please) are both accepted, and will be judged together, by the same criteria (these are technical merit, use of theme and originality).
Prose should be no more than 3,000 words, and poetry no more than 50 lines.
One entry per person. Judges may not enter.
Your piece may focus on any non-human animal that scientists are reasonably sure has lived, or does live, on Earth. This includes extinct animals. While your piece may have elements of fantasy, the central character may not be a fantasy animal.
All entries must be new Deviations, submitted on or after August 24th, 2013.
The closing date of the contest is October 19th, 2013. Do not worry about specific times; I will be accepting entries until the closing date has passed everywhere in the world (and I shan't bother checking exactly when that is).
Prizes
First Place
1,200 
from ThornyEnglishRose.
500 from elthereia.
3-month premium membership (or 636 ).
Your choice of a literature critique or commission from ThornyEnglishRose.*
Second Place
600 from ThornyEnglishRose.
200 from elthereia.
1-month premium membership (or 396 ).
Your choice of a literature critique or a clerihew about any person you choose, real or imagined, from ThornyEnglishRose.*
Third Place
300 from ThornyEnglishRose.
100 from elthereia.
Sunglasses for your llama (or 80 ).
A clerihew about any person you choose, real or imagined, from ThornyEnglishRose.*
All winning pieces will be featured in the journals of:
Judges' Picks
There will also be announced three judges' picks, meaning that each of the judges will choose one piece for special merit, and their writers will receive a prize of at least 10 (possibly more!). There will be no restrictions on judges' picks; two or three could be won by the same person, and they may be won by any of the three overall winners. We can pick whichever piece we like, for whatever reason we like, and by any system we choose. (So there.) These three pieces will also be featured in my journal, and I daresay some others.
Prize Pool Donors
spoems (100)
Dr-Vergissmeinnicht (100)
PoetryOD (300)
Anonymous (500)
LionesseRampant (200)
orphicfiddler (100)
SCFrankles (200)
Remember, as long as the contest is open, it's not too late to donate to the prize pool, or to offer a prize or feature. As such, the prize list is subject to change, but only for the better!
How to Enter
Simply note ThornyEnglishRose with a link to your entry. It will then be added to this collection, where it will be assumed ready for judging, so do please make sure your piece is quite to your satisfaction before you submit it.
And Finally...
Here's a tip: know your animal(s). You don't have to know them personally, but if you don't, then do some research - maybe watch some David Attenborough. Show, don't tell. Get into your animal's head, and imagine the world from their point of view.
*For critiques and the first-place commission, I will attempt any type of literature, though I do have my weaknesses. If you do not know what a clerihew is, but would like to, you can read all about it here. Basically it's a short (four lines) and fun biographical poem.
Come to me with questions, if you have them. If I consider them very good questions, I may add the answers to the rules and/or the brief.
Now, get writing, and good luck!
