Welcome to the Cutest Golden Contest 2026! We’re so excited to see all the adorable Goldens. Please read these friendly rules before entering. 💛🐾
🐾 How to Enter
- Submit one photo per dog with a $10 donation.
- Your entry supports medical care for rescued Goldens through Rescue A Golden of Arizona (RAGofAZ).
- All submitted photos become the property of RAGofAZ.
🐾 Who can Enter?
Any Golden Retriever is welcome to enter and join the fun! But please be aware that only a RAGofAZ-adopted dog or a Golden belonging to a current RAGofAZ member can win a calendar page. Other Goldens are eligible to win a $50 PetsMart gift certificate if they place in the top ten.
📅 Contest Dates
Entering and voting happen at the same time:
🗓 7:00 AM (US Mountain Time) on Sunday, March 1, 2026 through 10:00 PM (US Mountain Time) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026
📣 Once you enter, start sharing your voting link with friends and family through social media, email, or text — the more votes, the better!
🗳 Voting
- Voting is open for the full contest period.
- Each vote costs $1.
- Dogs appear on the voting pages ranked by total votes. If there is a tie, dogs are shown in the order their photos were received, so earlier entries may have a slight advantage.
- In case of a tie, the first dog registered wins.
🏆 How Winners Are Chosen
The 10 dogs with the most votes at the end of the contest are the winners.
Calendar Prizes
- Cover Winner (1st Place): Must be a RAGofAZ-rescued Golden. Cannot win the cover two years in a row.
- Monthly Winners (2nd–10th Place): Must be adopted through RAGofAZ or owned by a current RAGofAZ member.
Ineligible Dogs
- If a Top 10 dog isn’t eligible for a calendar page, they receive a $50 PetSmart gift card and an embroidered RAGofAZ bandana instead.
- If the top-voted dog isn’t eligible for the cover, the next highest-voted eligible RAGofAZ-rescued dog will get the cover, and placements shift accordingly.
👥 Current Member Definition
A current member is someone who, within the last year, paid individual or family membership dues.
Membership must be active by March 10 to qualify as a member.
🌈 Special Situations
- Dogs who pass away during the contest may still be eligible if a calendar-quality photo is available.
- Out-of-state winners must provide a calendar-quality photo approved by the Calendar Coordinator.
- Goldens who have already crossed the Rainbow Bridge cannot enter, but there will be a post-contest memorial page for members’ past Goldens.
Please keep in mind that only RAGofAZ rescue Goldens, or Goldens belonging to current RAGofAZ members, are eligible to win a calendar page. The cover spot is reserved for a RAGofAZ rescue pup! But any Golden Retriever can enter the contest and win a gift certificate if they place in the top 10.
Good luck, have fun, and thank you for helping rescued Goldens! 🐶💛