The Coolest Pets in Columbus Contest is open to anyone in the known universe 21-years-old or older who would like to enter their pet to compete for the coveted title of "The Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2019. For purpose of this contest "Pet" shall be limited to "Dog" or "Cat". Our focus is Columbus IN, but pets from anywhere can enter.

Submit a photo of your pet. Provide a few short sentences why your pet is the coolest of the cool. Photos should be digital and sharp enough to look good on the internet. No photos of people, just your pet or pets. Photos should be in focus to show off your amazing pet.

There is a $10 fee to post your pet, but you automatically receive 10 votes when you enter your pet! If you have multiple pets, you will need to take separate photos of each and post them separately. The $10 posting fee applies to each pet you enter.

Pet owners are encouraged to have their friends, relatives, and co-workers go to the contest website and vote for their pet.

Votes cost $1.00 per vote with no maximum on how many votes a person can buy. For example, you can give 100 votes to your favorite pet by donating $100 in a single transaction via the website and come back to the site as many times as you want and donate votes as often as you'd like.

Pet owners themselves will be able to buy as many votes as they'd like too.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be awarded to non-profit organizations in Indiana for programs that reduce infant mortality and help children not only survive infancy but thrive throughout their childhood.


The Coolest Pet in Columbus Contest will officially launch May 23, 2019 and end on July 6, 2019 at midnight.

Winners will be announced the week of July 7, 2019.


Prizes will be awarded to the Top 6 Pets that receive the most votes. There will be 3 Top Dogs and 3 Top Cats. There will also be an overall competition between Dog Lovers and Cat Lovers to see who can raise the most money (votes) to support New Born and Infant Health through the March of Dimes and Riley Children's Hospital. All of the winning pets as well as all entries and their vote totals will be shown on the Kiwanis Coolest Pet website. Following the final tally of votes at the end of the contest, there will be a downloadable "Bragging Rights Certificate" recognizing vote getting (fund raising) ability of Dog or Cat lovers.

Top Pet -- First Place:
The pet with the most votes will be crowned the "Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2019.

The winning pet will be prominently featured on the front label of a special beer glass provided by Upland Brewing (How cool is that?!) The pet owner will have the opportunity to help select the beer for the "Coolest Pet in Columbus celebration and for the March of Dimes Chef Event. (subject to approval).

The winning pet will be professionally photographed and featured on Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; Kiwanis and other partner websites.

The top pet winners will be honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on July 18, 2019.

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


Second Place:
The pet with the second highest number of votes will be deemed the "Second Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2019.

The second place pet will be featured in a smaller logo on the front of the special beer glass provided by Upland Brewing.

The second place pet will be professionally photographed and featured on Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; Kiwanis and other partner websites.

The top pet winners will be honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on July 18, 2019

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


Third Place:
The pet with the third highest number of votes will be deemed the "Third Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2019.

The third place pet will be professionally photographed and featured on Upland Brewing Co, The Pump House Restaurant; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; Kiwanis and other partner websites.

The third place pet will be featured in a smaller logo on the front of the special beer glass provided by Upland Brewing

The top pet winners will be honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on July 18, 2019


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

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


This fundraiser is being conducted by The Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus Indiana. Our partners include: Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; The Republic Newspaper; The March of Dimes and Riley Children's Hospital.


The Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus will attempt to notify the top 3 dog and top 3 cat vote-getters via telephone or email during the week of July 7, 2019.

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 entrants 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. All photos and write ups become the property of Meridian Kiwanis Club and may be used by Kiwanis and any of our sponsors and partners.


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

Participation in the Contest constitutes agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements of the contest.

In the event that the operation of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, the Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus IN (Main Sponsor) 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 Main Sponsor 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 Main Sponsor, 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).