1. Full Calendar Page: There are 13 full pages to win (the cover and 12 months) in the OMHS 2025 Calendar. Entrants choose between two categories, 'Cats' or 'Dogs & Other Amazing Pets'. The 6 top spots in each category will win a full-page calendar month, with the cover spot awarded to the fundraiser with the most votes overall. Winners will be determined by their vote totals as of the contest close at 11:59:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024. In the case of a tie for a calendar spot, the entry that joined the contest first will receive the prize.
   
   
2. 100 Votes: All photo entries with 100 or more votes have a guaranteed place in the calendar!
   
   
3. NEW Early Bird Leader Prize: At 11:59:59 p.m. on March 21, all pets with 100 votes or more will be entered into a draw to win a beautiful 8' x 10' oil painting of their pet by artist Mary Lynne Ketcheson. This winner will be notified on March 22, 2024.
   
   
4. NEW Early Bird Prize: At 11:59:59 p.m. on March 21, all pets with 100 votes or more will be entered to win a premium Godiva Gift Basket valued at $150 which was generously donated by Brian & Nancy Villemaire. This winner will be notified on March 22, 2024. The winner of the painting will not be eligible for this gift basket.

1. Photos may contain one pet only.
2. Photos may only contain domestic pets (no people or wildlife).
3. Photos deemed offensive, indecent or obscene will be removed from the contest.
4. Photos must receive at least 100 votes to be included in the 2025 Calendar.
5. Participants are not limited to the residents of the Towns of Oakville and Milton. Everyone is welcome to participate. Pets that win one of the 13 spots should be available in May 2024 for the photos. The photographer will go to your home if you live within 30 kilometers of the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS). Otherwise, you would be asked to bring your pet to OMHS for the photo shoot.
6. By agreeing to the waiver, you will also acknowledge and give permission to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society to use the name, story and photo of the animal entered in various publications and materials, including the 2025 Calendar.
7. Photos will be accepted online from February 29, 2024 to 11:59:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
8. All photo entries with 100 or more votes have a guaranteed place in the calendar!
9. Sign up matching bonus: People who sign up by March 21, 2024, will receive 25 bonus votes when registering a pet.
10. Bonus votes: There may be bonus vote promotion days. All entrants will be notified by email when they arise (so make sure you are subscribed to OMHS emails at omhs.ca or email connect@omhs.ca).
11. In the case of a tie for a calendar spot, the entry that joined the contest first will receive the prize.

1. Photo staging:
• Dogs in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing a collar and ID tag.
• Cats and domestic birds must only be shown indoors.
2. OMHS is opposed to practices that prevent animals from expressing their natural behaviours. Photos should not feature animals performing unnatural activities, including wearing clothing/hats, or costumes.
3. A submitted photo may contain only one pet.

How much is the entry fee?

• The entry fee is $25 per pet and is tax-deductible. Tax receipts will be mailed to entrants and voters no later than August 31, 2024. You can make an additional donation during the entry process that will count as votes toward your submitted photo and you will receive a tax receipt for this donation.

How many photos can I enter?

• You can enter as many as you would like, but each entry has a $25 fee.

My image won’t upload, what do I do?

• Contact us at donations@omhs.ca or call 905-845-1551 ext. 304 and we can help.

I made a mistake with my entry/donation. Who do I contact?

• Contact us at donations@omhs.ca or call 905-845-1551 ext. 304 and we can help.

Do I have to live in Oakville or Milton to participate?

• No, everyone is welcome to participate. Pets that win one of the 13 spots should be available in May 2024 for the photos. The photographer will go to your home if you live within 30 kilometers of the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS). Otherwise, you would be asked to bring your pet to the shelter for the photo shoot.

How are votes counted?

• Donations made in support of an animal are valued at one vote for every $1.00.

How do I get a top spot?

• Fundraise! OMHS’s Pet Photo Contest is a fundraising activity to support homeless, neglected and abused animals.

Who wins one of the calendar pages?

• There are 13 full pages to win (the cover and each month). The top fundraiser will be awarded the cover, with the next six (6) spots from each category being awarded a page. The categories are “Cats” and “Dogs & Other Amazing Pets”.

 If I win, what happens next?

• If you win one of the 13 spots, you will be contacted directly by an OMHS representative to schedule a specific time for your pet’s photo shoot during May 2024.

 What will OMHS do with my pet's entry once it has been uploaded?

• By agreeing to the waiver, you will also acknowledge and give permission to OMHS to use the name, story and photo of the animal entered in future publications and materials, including the 2025 Calendar.

 When will I receive my tax receipt?

• Tax receipts will be mailed to entrants and voters no later than August 31, 2024.