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6th Annual Pet Photo Contest
Friends of the Animal Center Foundation is proud to announce our 6th annual pet photo contest and fundraiser! With proceeds raised by the event going to help feed and care for over 3,000 animals that pass through the shelter's doors each year, we know that they are the real winners. Of course, the pet receiving the most votes will also be a winner as our cover pet for our 2026 calendar. So get your friends, family, co-workers, and even complete strangers to vote for your pet. Who knows – your pet just might be the ultimate friend for life!
Prizes:
Top votes = cover photo
Next 10 top votes = pet of the month
Next 60 spots = pet of the week
Best in Show = December pet of the month
Cover Winners for 2025 = January pet of the month
Sample Calendar (click to enlarge):
About Us
Our purpose is to raise funds to support and expand the animal care services of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center and fill the financial needs of animal welfare initiatives in our community. We seek health, comfort, freedom from fear, and a loving guardian for our companion animals.
Prizes
This year, over 70 photos will be featured in the FACF 2026 calendar:
Grand Prize
The photo receiving the most votes will be the "Pet of the Year," and that photo will grace the cover of the FACF 2026 calendar and one month in the 2027 calendar
The Top 10 Photos
The top 10 photos receiving the most votes (2 through 11) will be featured as a "Pet of the Month" in the calendar. The large photo each month.
"Best In Show"
"Best In Show" competition. A panel of judges will choose one "best photo" that will be the featured as December's "Pet of the Month".
Past Cover Winners
The calendar cover winner of 2025 will be the featured "Pet of the Month" in January of the 2026 calendar.
The Next 60 Top Vote Recipients
The next 60 top vote recipients will be featured as "Pets of the Week" where we will feature 5-6 smaller pictures for each month in the FACF 2026 calendar.
- Entry, voting, and calendar sale proceeds help to support the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center
- Each entry will be $10 to the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation, this is an entry fee and does not include a calendar
- You may enter as many photos as you wish, no restrictions on animal species or number of animals per picture. Entry fees are required for each submission.
- Entries will be accepted from June 1st through Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Emphasis of the photo should be on pets, please do not include people
- Your pet does NOT have to be adopted from the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center or live in Iowa City to be eligible to enter the contest
- Anyone may vote for any entry in the 2026 Pet Calendar Contest Fundraiser. Each $1.00 donation counts as one vote. You may cast as many votes as you like at any time for any entry. You are allowed and encouraged to vote for your own pets
- Photos must be high-resolution (300 dpi or greater) to be considered for a month spread in the calendar, no professional watermarked
- Photos deemed offensive, indecent or obscene will be removed from the contest
- All photos submitted become the property of Friends of the Animal Center Foundation and may be used on social media, advertising or marketing
- Monthly winners. This year, 1 large picture and 5-6 small pictures will be featured on each month of the 2026 calendar. January will contain the 2025 calendar cover winner, December will be the "Best in Show" -voted on by the FACF Board of Directors and staff at the Iowa City Animal Center
- The photo receiving the most votes will be the "Pet of the Year" and that photo will grace the cover of the FACF 2026 Calendar and featured as the main picture in January of the 2027 calendar
- The top 10 photos receiving the most votes (2 through 11) will be featured as a "Pet of the Month" in the calendar
- "Best In Show" competition. A panel of judges will choose one "best photo" that will be the 12th "Pet of the Month". This is voted on by a panel of FACF Board members and staff at the Iowa City Animal Center.
- The next 60 top vote recipients will be featured as "Pet of the Week." 5- 6 "Pets of the Week" will be featured on each month of the 2026 Calendar
- ICAC employees and FACF staff & board may enter, but are not eligible to win the calendar cover
- Online voting via www.facf.org will end at 7:59:59 PM (Central Time) on Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Winners are required to purchase calendars due to the high number of winners and printing costs.