It’s time for our annual Paws in the Park AmabassaDOG photo contest!
Ready to have some fun? Here's your chance to have YOUR PUP featured as our AmbassaDOG for the Rhode Island SPCA 24th Annual Paws in the Park! The winner of this contest will be the “cover dog” for all marketing materials and will have the opportunity to “kick off” the event when the walk begins. This is a fantastic way for dog owners to show their love for their pets and to help support the Rhode Island SPCA.
How Does It Work?
With a $20 donation you can enter your dog (s) best photo on this page, along with their personal story, quirks, and fun facts! The submission period begins at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Friday, June 19, 2026 and ends at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 10, 2026.
Be sure to share your entry on your personal social media, email and word of mouth to let all your friends and family know they can vote between June 19th & July 17th, 2026! The pet with the most votes on July 17 at 9 pm will be our grand prize winner and named the 2026 Paws in the Park AmbassaDOG, so make sure to encourage everyone to vote early and often! For more questions about entering see our RULES page.
All proceeds will benefit the Rhode Island SPCA’s critical community programs and services including adoption, humane education, animal cruelty investigation and affordable veterinary services at our Animal Health Center.
Check Out Our Prizes →
Rules
Entering A Photo:
- Entry fee is $20 to submit your favorite photo of your dog(s).
- You may enter one photo with no more than one dog eligible for the grand prize or multiple entries of different dogs, each receiving their own votes. ($20 entry donation per photo submitted).
For each entry please include:- Name of your dog(s)
- Your name & email
- A short bio about your dog (s). Include your dog's story, fun facts and quirks that might help increase their votes.
- Due to the nature of our event, this is a “Dogs Only” photo contest.
- The submission period begins at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Friday, June 19, 2026, and ends at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Voting period begins at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Friday, June 19, 2026 and ends at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 17, 2026.
- Your dog(s) do not have to be adopted from the Rhode Island SPCA to be eligible to enter the contest.
- Entries must live within Rhode Island or surrounding area to qualify for the Grand Prize. Entries outside of this area can qualify for runner up.
- All dogs must be human and dog friendly to qualify for the Grand Prize.
- All entries must be made electronically through the contest website, we are unable to accept mailed or physical entries.
- Heavily filtered photos, including those with stickers or doodles are not recommended to be used as entries.
- All photo entries must be taken by owner, as you must own the copyright to your entered photography.
- Once entered, all photos become the property of the Rhode Island SPCA and can be used for future marketing needs.
- Rhode Island SPCA has final approval on all photos submitted.
- The Rhode Island SPCA reserves the right to decline entry photographs for any reason. Should this happen, you will be notified. If an appropriate replacement cannot be obtained, your entry fee can be refunded if desired.
Voting:
- Each vote costs $1, and there is no limit to the number of votes one may cast for the duration of the contest.
- You must purchase a minimum of five votes at a time for a minimum charge of $5 due to credit card process rules.
- You may vote for your own photo.
- Online voting begins as soon as the photo is registered and ends at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 17, 2026.
- Voting is done exclusively through this website.
Grand Prize* - 2026 Paws in the Park AmbassaDOG
The Grand Prize will be awarded to ONE entry based on total votes received. The dog photo entry that receives the most votes at the close of the contest at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, July 17, 2026 will be recognized as the 2026 Paws in the Park AmbassaDOG in all 2026 Paws in the Park print & digital marketing materials!
Marketing materials may include but not limited to: posters, brochures, social media posts, digital banners, t-shirts, signage, as well as featured on the Paws in the Park webpage at RISPCA.ORG and dedicated peer-to-peer fundraising website.
As the Paws in the Park AmbassaDOG you & your pup will receive the following…
- A professional pet photography session with select images being used in all 2026 Paws in the Park marketing outlets.
- The photo session will be with a professional photographer at Rocky Point Park.
- Photos will be selected by the Rhode Island SPCA Marketing & Development staff from the results of this photo session.
- Submitted contest photo may be used in AmbassaDOG announcements and other marketing needs until professional photos are selected.
- Winner will receive digital photos from the photo shoot and a keepsake package containing printed event marketing materials and an event t-shirt.
- Winner will have the option to purchase printed photos or products offered by the photographer.
- At the Paws in the Park event on Saturday, October 17, 2026, the AmbassaDOG and owner will be called to the stage for a feature introduction and will also kick-off the walk! (Dog must be dog friendly. If the winning dog is not able to attend the event, his/her photo will be shown in large format and a bio written by the owner will be read on their behalf).
*In order to be eligible for the Grand prize, winner:
- Must be dog and human friendly
- Must be available for a photo shoot between July 20 and August 1
- Must live within the Rhode Island area
If the winner does NOT meet these requirements, the grand prize moves to the next eligible candidate.
1st, 2nd & 3rd Runner Up
After the Grand Prize Winner, the next three contestants with the most votes will receive:
- A Thank-you Runner Up feature on the Rhode Island SPCA website and social media platforms. It will include the submitted contest photos and the amount raised for the RISPCA.
- A Paws in the Park t-shirt that can be picked up at the event on Saturday, October 17, 2026 or at a scheduled time at the RISPCA.