Rules

The Coolest Dog in Charlotte Contest is open to anyone in the known universe 21-years-old or older who would like to enter their dog to compete for the coveted title of "The Coolest Dog in Charlotte" for 2023.


All entries will be made on-line by visiting the contest website and following the directions for entering dogs in the contest and voting. Contest payments online are through a secure site.

There is a $10 fee to enter your dog, which automatically gives your dog 10 votes.

Additional votes cost $1 per vote and can be made in any number throughout the run of the contest.

We encourage you to share your contest page link with family and friends through email and social media encouraging them to vote for your favorite contestant's photo.

All donations for votes are non-refundable and not tax deductible (there was a vote in exchange for the donation). Entries and donations must be made via the online contest page.

Donations and photo entries for this online contest that are submitted via other means (US mail, in-person or by other means) will be accepted as donations but not applied toward the contest.


The Coolest Dog in Charlotte Contest will officially launch at February 23, 2023 at 9:00 am  and end on March 24, 2023 at 8:00 pm at The Protagonist Beer.

Winners will be announced after April 1, 2023.


Prizes will be awarded to the Top 10 Dogs that receive the most votes.

Top Dog -- First Place:

The dog with the most votes will be crowned the "Coolest Dog in Charlotte" for 2023.

The winning dog will be prominently featured on the front label of a special beer brewed by The Protagonist Beer. (How cool is that?!) The dog owner will have the opportunity to help customize the beer and name it (subject to approval).

The winning dog will be professionally photographed and featured on WBT, Kiwanis and other partner websites.

The top dog winner may be asked to attend promotional events and be available for interviews by the news media.

Second Place: The dog with the second highest number of votes will be deemed the "Second Coolest Dog in Charlotte" for 2023.

The second place dog will be featured on the back label of the special brew.

The second place dog will be professionally photographed and featured on WBT Radio, Kiwanis and other partner websites.

In the event that the first place dog is unable or unwilling to fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities of being the Coolest Dog in Charlotte, the second place dog will assume that title and receive all of the benefits described above.

Third Place: The dog with the third highest number of votes will be deemed the "Third Coolest Dog in Charlotte" for 2023.

The third place dog will be professionally photographed and featured on WBT Radio, Kiwanis, and other partner websites.

The third place dog will be featured on the back label of the special brew.

Fourth through Tenth Place: The dogs with the fourth through tenth highest number of votes will be deemed "cool dogs" and will be featured on the back label of the special brew in a smaller photo of the one that was submitted to the contest.


The Kiwanis Club of Charlotte will attempt to notify the top three vote-getters via telephone or email on or after March 24,  2023.  They will also be asked to attend our closing celebration to be photographed for the beer can on March 30, 2023 at Protagonist Brewery.  

If the winner cannot be contacted within seven (7) days after the date of the first attempt and after multiple attempts thereafter, the Sponsor may select an alternate winner from the next highest vote-getter.

Participation in the Contest constitutes an entrant's agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules.


This is the required "fine print." All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply.

In the event that the operation of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, the Kiwanis Club of Charlotte  may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Contest to address the impairment and then resume the contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) terminate the contest and, in the event of termination, award the prize from among the eligible, legitimate entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Kiwanis Club of Charlotte reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive or offensive manner.

By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Kiwanis Club of Charlotte, all other Sponsors, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the contest, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prize(s).