Does your pet have the charisma to lead Tacoma—even for one day? Get ready to enter our Pet Mayor for a Day contest and put your furry (or feathered!) friend in office!
First, your pet will campaign their way through the species-specific primary election, going paw-to-paw against fellow dogs, cats, and critters. Then, the top three in each category will advance to the general election, where one extraordinary pet will rise to become Tacoma’s first-ever Pet Mayor!
The winning pet will be honored with an official “paw-clamation” at a Tacoma City Council meeting, enjoy a photo op with the human mayor and city council, and even take a tour of the mayor’s office! All top three finalists from each category will receive a prize pack and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of our shelter.
And the best part? Every donation supports our spay/neuter programs to help create a healthier pet population in Pierce County!
So, is your pet ready to make paw-sitive change for Tacoma? Voting opens October 20 at 12 p.m.!
Rules
Rules
Contest Entry- All votes will reset between election periods.
- Primary election will take place from Monday, Oct. 20 to Tuesday, Oct. 28
- General election will take place Wednesday, Oct. 29 to Tuesday, Nov. 4
- Entries should feature pets who are alive at the time of submission.
- To submit your pet's photo, a minimum $25 donation is required.
- Entries must be submitted online. You may submit as many entries as you like.
- Photo must feature one pet only.
- Once entered, all photos become the property of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County and can be used, edited, or modified to further promote the contest.
- Any photo or caption deemed inappropriate or politically divisive as determined by the staff of HSTPC will be removed from the photo contest.
- Your pet does not have to be adopted from HSTPC to be eligible to enter this contest.
Photo Requirements- Photos should be in focus and of high quality, in either .jpg or .png format.
- Photo must feature one pet only.
- Photos must contain only pets – no humans.
- If photos include pets not owned by the person entering the photo, the entrant must receive written permission from the pet's owner for usage in the contest.
Contest Voting
- Votes will reset between Primary and General Elections.
- Each entry is $25.
- Every $1 donation counts as one vote (minimum of five votes, or $5).
- Due to processing costs, a minimum $5 donation is required
- Votes are unlimited.
- All donations from voting and entries are non-refundable.
- This contest permits online voting only. Voting in person at our shelter will not be allowed.
Contest Deadlines
- Primary Election submission and voting periods begin at noon (12:00 PM Pacific Time) on Monday, October 20, 2025.
- Primary Election voting periods end at 7:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
- General Election voting begins at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 2026
- General Election voting ends at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 2026
- Primary Election winners will be contacted by Tuesday, Oct. 28 2026 with information on their prizes.
- The General Election winner will be contacted by Wednesday, Nov. 5 2026 with information on their prizes.
The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is one of Washington’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organizations, providing essential care to more than 9,000 animals in our shelter each year. As a donor-funded organization, we rely on community support to find loving homes for nearly 7,000 pets, reunite more than 1,100 lost animals with their families and assist thousands more through innovative community programs.
Our Friendly Finder program empowers community members to help reunite lost pets with their families without entering the shelter, while our foster and volunteer opportunities provide additional ways to make a difference. We offer vital pet support services, including Spay/Neuter and Wellness Vouchers, a monthly Vaccine and Wellness Clinic and a Pet Food & Supply Pantry. Our S.P.O.T. mobile veterinary unit will expand access to essential veterinary care and launch a targeted trap-neuter/spay-return (TNR) program across Pierce County.
For more information, please visit
thehumanesociety.org.