The pet with the most votes will be crowned Ottawa’s Cutest Pet and win $750 in pet food (gift card) from Ottawa Humane Society's Buddy & Belle Boutique!

Ask your friends and family to vote for your pet! Votes are $1.00 each. $20.00 will count for 20 votes and $50.00 will count for 50 votes, etc. The more votes cast, the more support homeless animals receive in our community.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

1. Participants are not limited to the City of Ottawa: everyone is welcome to participate. Voters are welcome from outside of Ottawa and Canada.
2. Contest entry period is 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 12, 2026 to 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
3. The fee to enter is $10.00. 
4. Votes made in support of an animal are valued at one vote for every $1.00. Those who vote for 10 or more times will receive a tax receipt for the value of their votes. Voting made to the Ottawa Humane Society are non-refundable once a tax receipt has been issued. Refund requests for voting must be made before a tax receipt is issued and no later than the close of the contest. A refunded vote removes that count from the entry.
   • Official tax receipts can only be issued to Canadian residents with a Canadian mailing address. 
5. By agreeing to the waiver, you will also acknowledge and give permission for the Ottawa Humane Society to use your name, your pet’s name, story and photo entered of the animal in future various publications and materials, including on social media. 
6. 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. The registration fee will be not be refunded. 
7. Prize must be accepted as awarded and has no cash value.

1. Pets who are shown outside:
   • Dogs in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing a collar and ID tag.
   • Cats in photographs taken outdoors must be shown in a safe environment (preferably in an enclosure/ catio or with a harness on). Photos of cats taken outdoors must show the cat wearing a collar and tag and on a leash and harness.
   • Domestic birds and small animals (rabbits, Guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.) must only be shown indoors.
2. Photos submitted for the Cutest Pet Contest must follow the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
   1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst — by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
   2. Freedom from Discomfort — by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
   3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease — by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
   4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour — by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
   5. Freedom from Fear and Distress — by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
3. The Ottawa Humane Society is opposed to practices that prevent animals from expressing natural animal behaviours.
4. 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.

Answer: Fundraise! The Cutest Pet Contest is a fundraising activity to support homeless animals in Ottawa.

Answer: Participants and voters are not limited to the City of Ottawa: everyone is welcome to participate.

Answer: You will be contacted by a representative from Ottawa Humane Society. It will be announced on Thursday, February 26, 2026 on Ottawa Humane Society's Facebook page. You and your pet will $750 in pet food from Ottawa Humane Society's Buddy & Belle Boutique!

Answer:

1. Please ensure that the photo is sharp and in focus with a clean background.
2. Pets who are shown outside:
   • Dogs in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing a collar and ID tag.
   • Cats in photographs taken outdoors must be shown in a safe environment (preferably in an enclosure/ catio or with a harness on). Cats in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing an ID tag.
   • Domestic birds, however, must only be shown indoors.
3. Photos submitted for the Cutest Pet Contest must follow the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
   
   1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst — by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
   2. Freedom from Discomfort — by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
   3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease — by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
   4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour — by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
   5. Freedom from Fear and Distress — by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
4. The Ottawa Humane Society is opposed to practices that prevent animals from expressing natural animal behaviours.
5. 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.