Rules

The contest is open to individuals / families who have adopted a rescue (shelter) dog and whose dog is still alive and a part of their family. The dogs entered into any of the five categories for The Golden Paw Awards contest are not required to be Helping Hounds alumni.

Dog photos and entry write-ups must be non-commercial, personal photos / entries please. The contest is for entertainment only and not to promote any company or organization. Photos may be removed without warning if they do not meet the standards of the contest.


The contest will commence on April 3, 2017 at 12am (midnight) EST and end on May 5, 2017 at 11:59pm EST. Contestants may enter one photograph and accompanying write-up per each of the five contest categories. The cost to submit one entry is $10. Proceeds for each entry will directly benefit Helping Hounds Dog Rescue. Each write-up must be original to the theme of each category entered. Each qualifying photograph and write-up will adhere to the following categories:

1. Most Talented
2. Dog Hero
3. Biggest Transformation (since adoption)
4. Who Rescued Who
5. Most Pampered

All photos and write-ups must be original, unpublished, and not copyrighted. The contest must be entered by visiting http://gogophotocontest.com/HHDRGoldenPawAwards and completing the form by providing your name, title, email address, photo title and location. Images must be uploaded in JPG format and be no larger than 2 MB.

Entries must be solely the original work of the entrant. Copyright infringement is grounds for immediate disqualification. If the entry contains any material that Helping Hounds Dog Rescue deems, in their sole discretion, to be morally objectionable, inappropriate or unfit for publication, such entry will be immediately disqualified.

By submitting images and write-ups to the Golden Paw Awards contest (prize winning or not) the contestant agrees that Helping Hounds Dog Rescue has the right to use, re-use, publish, re-publish, post on a website, transmit, modify and edit the Authorized Material, in whole or in part, severally or in conjunction with other materials, in any medium now or hereafter known, for commercial, promotional and educational purposes and for any other purpose whatsoever, including without limitation, publicity, marketing, advertising, fundraising and/or trade. In the event that an image is utilized, the contestant-owner of the image will be notified, and credit will be granted in the piece. In the event that a submitted images features discernible persons, the contestant must receive permission to use that person(s)' likeness, and understand that the image may be used for advertising or distribution through the sponsors.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO GRANT HELPING HOUNDS DOG RESCUE RIGHTS TO YOUR SUBMITTED IMAGE AND WRITE-UP, THEN WE MUST REQUEST YOU NOT ENTER THE CONTEST. SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.


Contestants are encouraged to promote voting for your dog through email, blogging, social networking sites, etc. You can vote for each dog once every 24 hours. We encourage showing your support of your favorite dogs by voting regularly. To vote you must visit the contest web page and click on the heart. All photos entered in the photo contest regardless of number of votes can appear in the magazine, on our website, email newsletter or social media. Winners will be determined by a combination of the number of votes received and editor's choice. It costs $1 for every vote cast.