Leading up to our 2025 Spring Lake Water Bark and in celebration of 60+ dog-friendly Sonoma County Regional Parks, the Sonoma County Parks Foundation is hosting our second annual summer 2025 Top Dog photo contest as a fundraiser to benefit Regional Parks.
Two winning dogs – one selected by the public and one by our judges’ panel – will be “Top Dogs”!
Winning photos will also be featured on the Sonoma County Parks Foundation website, newsletters and social media. We welcome all photographers who are residents or visitors in Sonoma County, regardless of skill level or experience.
We will have two categories of winners. "People's Choice" winners will be selected based on popular votes through the website www.gogophotocontest.com/parksfoundationtopdog. "Judges' Choice" winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges. Learn more about our judges and the rubric for judging.
A 2026 “Sonoma County’s Top Dog” calendar will be awarded to Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice prize winners, and the calendar also will be available for purchase. Pre-order your calendar here. The $25 price includes tax and shipping and supports our beloved Sonoma County Regional Parks.
Meet our judges!
Julie Vader was the official photographer for Spring Lake’s Water Bark event for many years and has contributed to publications like the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Sonoma Index-Tribune, Sonoma Magazine, Sunset, and Western Horseman. Based in Sonoma, she loves photographing dogs—especially since they never complain about the results! https://www.julievader.com/
Sherri Oster is an award-winning Sonoma County photographer currently pursuing master candidate status with the Santa Rosa Photographic Society. Since 2015, she has studied the art of photography through classes, workshops, and camera clubs, and now captures events, portraits, and pets for commercial clients. Her work reflects a passion for spontaneous beauty and storytelling through images. Recent honors include multiple Best in Show awards at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in 2023 and 2024. www.sherriophoto.com
Heidi Adler is an award-winning, internationally accredited pet photographer and educator based in Sonoma County, California. Known for capturing the unique personality and emotional connection between pets and their people, her work ranges from playful action shots to soulful portraits. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Heidi also donates her time to local rescues and service dog organizations, using her photography to help animals find loving homes. https://www.heidiadlerphotography.com/portfolio
Good luck and thanks for entering!
Reserve a Day to Honor Your DogJust want a guaranteed spot in the calendar? Reserve a day to honor your dog. This can be for your dog's adoption anniversary, birthday, loved one's birthday, memorial or really any special day! Your dog's photo will appear on the day of your choice. Just choose your favorite photo and then choose the day and pay! First come first served! Once a date has been reserved, it will no longer be available.
Reserve Your Day Here →