Do you have a picture-perfect pup? A photogenic feline?
Enter them in Independent Animal Rescue’s Photo Contest for a chance to be featured in our 2026 calendar!
It's easy to participate: just submit a favorite photo of your pet and encourage your friends and family to vote for your pet's entry. $1 = 1 vote, and 100% of proceeds will help us provide food, shelter, and veterinary care to animals in need.
The contest begins at 9:00:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, and ends at 9:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The entries with the most votes from each category (IAR Cats, IAR Dogs, Non-IAR Cats, and Non-IAR Dogs) will receive full-page features in the calendar, and the photo with the most votes overall will also be our cover pet for 2026. Visit the Prizes page to learn about more opportunities to win!
Guarantee a Spot in the CalendarIs there a birthday, "gotcha" anniversary, or other important date you would like to commemorate? You can reserve a day for your pet’s photo to appear on the calendar for a $15 donation. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate the request if it conflicts with another reserved date; in the event of a conflict we will contact you for an alternate day.
Reserve Your Day Here →
Pre-Order Your Calendar
Please consider placing a calendar order now. Doing so helps us determine how many copies to order and ensures that everyone who wants a copy can get one.
Pre-Order A Calendar →Prizes
GRAND PRIZE: The photo that receives the most votes overall will be featured on the cover and on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. The entrant will receive a free 2025 IAR calendar.
TOP IAR DOGS: The two IAR dog entries that receive the most votes will each have their pet’s photo featured on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. The months will be determined by IAR. Entries must mention that the dog was adopted from IAR.
TOP IAR CATS: The two IAR cat entries that receive the most votes will each have their pet’s photo featured on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. The months will be determined by IAR. Entries must mention that the cat was adopted from IAR.
TOP NON-IAR DOGS: The two non-IAR dog entries that receive the most votes will each have their pet’s photo featured on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. The months will be determined by IAR.
TOP NON-IAR CATS: The two non-IAR cat entries that receive the most votes will each have their pet’s photo featured on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. The months will be determined by IAR.
JUDGES’ CHOICE: Two entries (one dog and one cat) will be selected by IAR judges and will each be featured on one full month of IAR’s 2026 calendar. Winners of the above categories will be excluded from Judges' Choice.
- The judges will consider the quality of the photo and the story/pet bio when selecting the two Judges' Choice winners. Only pets adopted from IAR are eligible for the Judges' Choice award.
HONORABLE MENTION COLLAGE: The remaining 40 photographs with the most votes will be included in IAR’s calendar on one of two collage pages.
Independent Animal Rescue is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Durham, NC. Our mission is to rescue and care for homeless, abandoned, and abused cats and dogs throughout the Triangle region. We are dedicated to improving animal welfare through our foster and adoption, spay/neuter, and community outreach programs.
100% of proceeds from calendar sales along with entry and voting fees help fund our lifesaving work.
Contest Rules
- The contest period is from 9:00:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 until 9:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
- There are four categories: IAR Cat, IAR Dog, Non-IAR Cat, and Non-IAR Dog. Each category will have two winners. Visit the Prizes page to learn about more opportunities to win and how winners are determined.
- Each $1 donation in support of an entry is valued as 1 vote.
- Calendar months cannot be reserved.
- IAR reserves the right to remove an entry for not adhering to the rules or for containing inappropriate content.
Image Requirements
- Entries must be photos of companion cats and dogs; photos may not contain people.
- Your pet does NOT have to be adopted from Independent Animal Rescue to be eligible for the contest.
- Your photo may contain more than one pet.
- Photos must be high resolution (at least 2500 x 1800 pixels or 300 DPI) to be included in the calendar. You can see your photo’s resolution by viewing its properties. If your photo wins a calendar spot but is not sized appropriately, we may ask you to provide an alternate photo.
- We cannot accept physical photos, copyrighted photos, heavily edited photos, or photos with stickers, text, or emojis.
- Once your photo is entered in the contest, you agree to let IAR use it for print and marketing purposes.