How Much Is The Entry Fee?
The entry fee is $25 per photo. You can make an additional donation during the entry process that will count as votes toward your submitted photo(s). All contest entries and votes are considered tax-deductible donations and will go directly to support Marin Humane’s vital programs and services.
How Many Photos Can I Enter?
You can enter as many pets in the contest as you like! Each entry has a $25 entry fee. Bear in mind that the winner is based on most votes, so it would be best to submit only one photo per pet/entrant to maximize your chances of winning.
How Do I Enter My Pet’s Photo?
To submit photos, click on the Participate tab above and follow the directions to upload a photograph of your pet.
Entries can only be made online and must be received by 6:00:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Photos should be high-resolution (300 dpi or greater) and/or a minimum file size of 4 MB, and in a standard file format such as .jpg or .png. (Some phone photos may not meet these standards. Please check your phone’s camera settings for default image file size or pixels. The larger the file size - at least 4 MB - or pixel dimensions, the better.)
- Photos should be landscape (horizontal) orientation.
- Your pet does NOT have to be adopted from Marin Humane or Hopalong to be eligible to enter the contest.
- Photos may contain more than one pet.
- Photos must only contain pets (no people or wildlife.)
- Photos must be in color.
- Photos must feature pets owned by the photographer OR the entrant must have permission to submit the photo. (Photographs with photographer’s watermarks will NOT be eligible to be included in the calendar.)
- To be considered for the Cover or as Pet of the Month, all cats and dogs shown outdoors MUST be wearing tags and collars. If we love your photo but your pet does not have a collar or tag, we will Photoshop them in.
View this helpful infographic on how to take a great photo with your cell phone:
How do I vote for a pet’s picture?
The best and easiest way is to vote online, by clicking on the Participate tab above.
The online voting period will end at 6:00:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. You may also submit votes by mail or phone. Votes by mail should be sent to: Marin Humane, Attn: Photo Contest, 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. Novato, CA 94949. Envelopes must include your phone number, donation by check, the pet and entrant names, and your written request to apply your enclosed donation towards votes for them in the 2023 Photo Contest.
Votes by mail must be received by Thursday, June 16, 2023 at 5 pm PDT. To vote by phone with a credit card, please call 415.506.6231 during regular office hours.
Votes by phone must be received by Friday, June 17, 2023 before 3 pm PDT.
How are votes counted?
One vote is $1.00. All votes are considered tax-deductible donations.
Who gets one of the Pet of the Month calendar pages?
There are 13 winners.
- The animal with the most votes, regardless of category, wins the calendar cover.
- The next top 5 in the Dog category, top 5 in the Cat category, and top 2 in the Other category win a calendar month. All entries must receive a minimum of 25 votes to be eligible for the cover or a month in the calendar.
- All other entries will be featured on a collage page in the calendar.
How will winners be notified?
Winners will be contacted directly by Marin Humane within 2 business days after the end of the contest. You can also see the winning entries posted on our contest home page the day after the contest.
Do I get to choose what month will feature my pet(s)?
We will take into consideration any preferred months when we contact the winners. Ultimately it is up to Marin Humane to decide which pet is featured in which month.
Does my pet need to have been adopted from Marin Humane or Hopalong to enter their photo?
Not at all!
When will calendars be ready? How can I receive or purchase one?
- All entrants will receive one complimentary copy of the calendar.
- 2024 calendars will be available around October 2023. Entrants will receive an email notifying them of calendar availability, pricing details, and how to purchase additional copies.
Any Further Questions?
Please contact Maureen Reyes at mreyes@marinhumane.org