Question: How are votes counted?
Answer: Donations made in support of an animal are valued at one vote for every $1.00 donated.
Question: Is there a fee to participate?
Answer: The fee to enter is $25. This is tax-deductible. The registration fee also includes a calendar which will be mailed to you in November 2019.
Question: Do I get a calendar when I vote?
Answer: Those who donate $25 or more will receive a calendar in November.
Question: How do I get a top spot?
Answer: Fundraise! The Ottawa Humane Society Calendar Contest is a fundraising activity to support homeless, neglected and abused animals in Ottawa.
Question: Do I have to live in Ottawa to enter the contest?
Answer: Participants and voters are not limited to the City of Ottawa: everyone is welcome to participate.
Question: My pet has passed away, may I still enter him/her?
Answer: Yes, you can; however, due to potential issues with photo quality, we recommend that you only enter if you can absolutely guarantee that your photos meet the image requirements. If they do not, the runner-up will be given your spot.
Question: Who gets one of the calendar pages?
Answer: There are 12 full pages to win (the cover and each month minus one). The top fundraiser will be awarded the cover; the top (5) dog photos, the top five (5) cat photos, and the top one (1) other pet photo will be awarded a page in the 2020 OHS Calendar on July 18th, 2019 at 11:59:59 pm EST.
Question: If I win, what happens next?
Answer: If you win one of the Top 12 spots, you will be contacted directly by an Ottawa Humane Society representative regarding photos and photo quality. A high-resolution version of the winning photo must be provided by Friday, July 19th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST to be included in the production of the calendar.
Question: What happens if I cannot get high quality photos?
Answer: If appropriate print quality photos are not provided by the deadline, the Ottawa Humane Society will offer the spot in the calendar to the next runner up.
Question: Can I be disqualified?
Answer: The Ottawa Humane Society reserves the right to disqualify an entry based on objectionable content or depiction of the animal or persons in a photo. Donations collected will be refunded if requested by the donor.
Question: What will the Ottawa Humane Society do with my pet's entry once it has been uploaded?
Answer: By agreeing to the waiver, you will also acknowledge and give permission to the Ottawa Humane Society to use the name, story and photo of the animal entered in future various publications and materials, including the 2020 OHS Calendar.
Question: I didn't win a place in the Top 12, how does my pet become featured in the 2020 OHS Calendar as an Animal Sidekick?
Answer: For $20 you can purchase a day of the year in which your pet appears (approximate size: 3cm by 2cm). It's first-come-first-served for the dates. The photo must comply with all Image Requirements.
You can purchase a day of the year here »
Question: When will I get my tax receipt?
Answer: Tax receipts will be emailed to voters no later than August 31, 2019. We will, however, endeavor to issue them as soon as possible.
Question: What are the Image Requirements?
Answer:
- Photos must be high quality, taken at maximum resolution, 300 DPI, minimum file size of 4mb (megabytes) in size and in a generally accepted file format. Please note: most phone photos will not meet these standards.
- Photos submitted for the calendar must include at least one animal, who should be present in no less than 2/3 of the frame. Landscape format is preferred.
- Please ensure that the photo is sharp and in focus with a clean background.
- Pets who are shown outside:
- Dogs in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing a collar and ID tag.
- Cats and small animals in photographs taken outdoors must be shown in a safe environment (preferably in an enclosure/ catio or with a harness on). Cats must be shown wearing an ID tag.
- Domestic birds, however, must only be shown indoors.
- Photos submitted for the Top 13 and all Sidekicks must follow the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst — by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from Discomfort — by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease — by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour — by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
- Freedom from Fear and Distress — by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
- The Ottawa Humane Society is opposed to practices that prevent animals from expressing natural animal behaviours. Photos should not feature animals performing unnatural activities, including wearing clothing, or costumes.
- If the photo contains an individual, you must be able to confirm and provide written authorization from that person for the Ottawa Humane Society to use the photo. It is preferred that the photo not feature individuals.