Darbster Rescue is excited to announce its 5th Annual Photo Calendar Contest with this year’s special theme: “Love at First Sight!” Share your favorite photo of your rescue dog or cat — it can be one that captures the exact thing, moment, or activity that made you fall in love. Maybe it was the first cuddle, a goofy grin, a gentle nuzzle, or how they looked at you from their kennel. Along with your photo, tell us your love-at-first-sight story and help us celebrate the special bond between rescues and their people.
As you enter and share your story, you’ll also be helping save more lives. All proceeds from the contest support Darbster Rescue’s efforts to rescue, transport, and find loving homes for dogs and cats in need.
There is no entry fee this year — simply submit a photo of your rescue pet along with a short write-up describing how and when you fell in love. Then invite your friends and family to vote! Each vote is $1, and every dollar helps fund our life-saving work. The top 13 photos will be featured in our 2026 calendar, with 12 runners-up featured throughout the pages as well.
Entries and voting opens at 9:00:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Monday, May 5, 2025 (Cinco de Mayo!) and will remain open until 9:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. You can vote as many times and as often as you like!
Reserve a Day to Honor Your Pet
If you’d rather not compete, you can still participate and support rescue animals. For a $20 donation, you can reserve a date in the calendar with a photo of your pet — a great way to celebrate a birthday, honor a beloved companion, or simply show off your best friend.
Reserve Your Day Here →Want to Pre-order Your Calendar(s)?
Please consider pre-ordering a calendar. This will help us purchase the right amount of calendars so we don't waste valuable funds on extra stock.
Calendar Pre-order →