The Top 5 winners will be determined by votes, but every entry - regardless of votes - will be considered for a Pet of the Month feature!
Grand Prize:
The first-place winner will be featured as the Pet of the Month and grace the cover of our 2026 SPCA Pet Calendar! Your pet will also receive a special shoutout in the calendar’s opening pages.
We’ve partnered with professional photographer Kimberly Orlebeck from Pawsh Portraits Carmel to give your pet the star treatment—with a professional photoshoot in the Monterey Bay area. From the session, you'll receive a stunning canvas print of a selected photo, plus 25 copies of the 2026 calendar to share with friends and family.
Please note: The cover image will be a new color portrait taken by a professional photographer before October 2025. If a photoshoot is not possible, the SPCA may consider a photo provided by the winner. Submitted photos must meet the quality standards required for the calendar cover. If not, an alternate prize may be awarded.
People's Choice Prize:
The photo that receives votes (donations) from the highest number of individual donors—based on unique email addresses—by the end of the contest will win the People’s Choice Prize!
Your pet will be featured as the March Pet-of-the-Month and receive special recognition in the calendar’s opening pages. As part of this prize, the SPCA has partnered with professional photographer Kimberly Orlebeck from Pawsh Portraits Carmel to treat your pet to a professional photoshoot in the Monterey Bay area. You’ll also receive 15 copies of the 2026 Pet Calendar to share with those who helped you secure this title.
Please note: The cover image will be a new color portrait taken by a professional photographer before October 2025. If a photoshoot is not possible, the SPCA may consider a photo provided by the winner. Submitted photos must meet the quality standards required for the calendar cover. If not, an alternate prize may be awarded.
2nd Prize:
3rd Prize:
4th Prize:
5th Prize:
The top five vote earners will also earn special recognition of their photo and pet in the calendar.
HOW MUCH IS THE ENTRY FEE?
The entry fee is $25 per photo. This fee includes one copy of the 2026 Calendar (a value of $15!) that will be mailed to you in November 2025. You can make an additional donation during the entry process that will count as votes toward your submitted picture(s). All proceeds from contest entries and votes will go directly to support SPCA Monterey County's lifesaving programs and services.
HOW MANY PHOTOS CAN I ENTER?
You can enter as many as you want!
HOW DO I VOTE FOR A PET'S PICTURE?
Votes are $1 each, with a minimum donation of $5 for five votes. All votes are tax-deductible. Yes, you can vote for your own pet's photo (and as many times as you and your friends and family want!). You may allocate each vote to the same picture or multiple pictures.
How to vote online: To vote online, click on the Participate tab above. Search the pet's name you want to vote for, then click on the pet's photo. You will then be taken to the pet's page where you can cast your vote!
The online voting period will end on July 31, 2025, at 3:00 PM. Donate a minimum of
$5 for five votes. Those votes can then be cast for any submitted photo in one-vote increments.
Voters do not have to use all of the votes at the time of donation. When voters donate, they will be given the option of applying all of the votes to one photo, spreading their votes over various photos, or storing votes in their account. If a voter chooses to store the votes, the voter can log in to their account using their ID and password and vote at a later time. All votes must be applied to selected photos by the conclusion of the voting period to be counted.
How to vote by mail: Make your check payable to SPCA Monterey County. Include a note with the check noting the pet's name and owner's name for whom you are voting in the 2026 Calendar of Superstar Pets Contest. Please also include your name, address, and phone number in case we have any additional questions.
Mail the check and note to:
SPCA Monterey CountyCalendar of Superstar PetsP.O. Box 3058Monterey, CA 93942- Votes by mail must be received by 3:00 PM PST on July 30, 2025.
- Votes sent by mail will be counted on the SPCA Monterey County's website under the selected pet's photo.
CAN I DROP OFF MY ENTRY OR VOTES AT YOUR SHELTER?
Entries including photo, entry form, and entry fee ($25) and votes may be dropped off in person no later than 3:00 PM PST on July 30, 2025.
SPCA Monterey County1002 Monterey Salinas HighwaySalinas, CA 93908(across from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)WHEN WILL I GET MY CALENDAR?
We will mail calendars in November of 2025, just in time for the holidays!
HOW DO I ENTER THE CONTEST VIA MAIL?
If you're mailing in your photo, we can accept 4" x 6" prints in a horizontal format for design purposes. Mailed photos should be sent to the address below.
SPCA Monterey CountyAttn: 2026 Calendar of Superstar PetsP.O. Box 3058Monterey, CA 93942- All mailed entries including photo, entry form, and entry fee ($25), must be received by 3:00 PM PST on July 30, 2025.
- Mailed entries will appear online within 48 business hours of receipt.