Every dog who enters the contest is a winner in our hearts -- but the pups with the most votes earn a very special kind of fame: a spot in The Mosby Foundation's 2027 Calendar, seen by dog lovers across the country all year long. Here's what's up for grabs:
GRAND PRIZE -- Cover Dog
The cover of the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar is one of the most coveted spots in the contest. The cover dog is hand-selected by The Mosby Foundation's Executive Director from among the top vote-getters.
- Featured on the cover of the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar
- One original, hand-drawn pet portrait by artist Carrie Waller -- the talented creator behind the beloved Mosby Foundation T-shirt design
About the portrait: Original 4x6-inch graphite pencil drawing on paper, unframed, made to order. Features one pet face or body. Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks for completion.
- One complimentary copy of the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar
- Recognition on The Mosby Foundation's social media and website
MONTHLY WINNERS -- 12 Calendar Dogs
The top vote-getters will each earn their own month in the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar -- 12 months, 12 incredible dogs, 12 families who chose love.
- Featured as the dog of the month in the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar
- One complimentary copy of the 2027 Mosby Foundation Calendar
- Recognition on The Mosby Foundation's social media and website
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Because every dog deserves to be celebrated, a select few pups will earn Honorable Mention recognition -- hand-selected by The Mosby Foundation and featured in a special spread at the front of the calendar. Even if your dog doesn't win a month, they just might still make it in!
- Featured in the Honorable Mentions section at the front of the 2027 calendar
- Recognition on The Mosby Foundation's social media
RESERVE-A-SPOT -- Honor a Special Date
Want to make sure your dog is in the calendar no matter what? Reserve a specific date to honor your pup -- their Gotcha Day, birthday, Adoption Day, or any day that holds a special place in your heart. This is a wonderful way to celebrate your dog and support a great cause.
- Your dog's photo and name featured on your chosen calendar date in the 2027 calendar
- $10 donation per reserved date (limited availability -- numbered date blocks only)
Reserve Your Day Here →
All winning and honorable mention placements are subject to photo quality requirements. The Mosby Foundation reserves the right to make final placement decisions. Complimentary calendars will be available for pick-up at our Staunton, VA office or shipped for an additional fee. Custom portrait prize applies to the cover dog selection only and will be coordinated directly between the winner and the artist. Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks for portrait completion.
All contest proceeds support The Mosby Foundation's mission to provide emergency veterinary grants and pet food pantry support to limited-income pet owners -- keeping dogs with the families who love them.
Warm hearts. Wagging tails. Helping paws.
Rules
Official Contest Dates
Photo Submission Period
- Opens: 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- Closes: midnight (11:59:59 PM Eastern Time) on Friday, July 31, 2026
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Voting Period
- Opens: 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- Closes: midnight (11:59:59 PM Eastern Time) on Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Votes received after the official closing time will not be counted.
Winner Announcement
Winners will be announced on or about August 28, 2026, following verification of votes and donations.
Eligibility Requirements
- Entrants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission.
- Entrants must be the legal owner or primary caretaker of the dog featured in the submitted photograph.
- The contest is open to residents of the United States unless otherwise specified by The Mosby Foundation.
- Employees, board members, volunteers, and their immediate family members may participate unless otherwise prohibited by organizational policy.
- By entering the contest, participants agree to abide by all contest rules and decisions made by The Mosby Foundation.
Photo Release and Usage Permission
By submitting a photograph to The Mosby Foundation Calendar Contest, you certify that:
- You are the legal owner of the photograph or have full authority to submit it.
- The photograph is an original work and does not infringe upon the rights of any third party.
- You grant The Mosby Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, publish, edit, distribute, and display the submitted photograph in connection with the calendar contest, calendar production, marketing materials, social media, website content, fundraising efforts, and future promotional activities.
- No compensation will be provided for the use of submitted photographs beyond any prizes awarded through the contest.
- Ownership of the original photograph remains with the photographer.
Contest Integrity and Dispute Resolution
Duplicate Entries
If duplicate photographs or duplicate submissions are received, The Mosby Foundation reserves the right to:
- Remove duplicate entries.
- Consolidate votes where appropriate.
- Contact the entrant for clarification.
Ownership Disputes
If ownership of a dog or photograph is disputed:
- The entry may be temporarily suspended pending review.
- The entrant may be required to provide documentation or additional information.
- The Mosby Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any entry for which ownership cannot be reasonably verified.
Fraudulent Voting
The Mosby Foundation reserves the right to investigate suspected fraudulent activity, including but not limited to:
- Stolen payment methods.
- Chargebacks or reversed donations.
- Automated voting systems or bots.
- Manipulation of the voting process.
Any votes determined to be fraudulent may be removed from the final tally. Entries associated with fraudulent activity may be disqualified at the sole discretion of The Mosby Foundation.
Final Decisions
All contest decisions made by The Mosby Foundation are final. The organization reserves the right to interpret contest rules, resolve disputes, and make decisions regarding eligibility, voting, submissions, and prizes as necessary to ensure a fair and successful contest.
The Mosby Foundation reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the contest if technical failures, fraud, natural disasters, or other circumstances beyond its reasonable control compromise the integrity or proper operation of the contest.
The Mosby Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping dogs with the families who love them.
Since 2004, we have provided emergency veterinary grants and pet food pantry support to limited-income pet parents facing unexpected, critical medical expenses -- because a family's financial hardship should never become a death sentence for their beloved dog.
Named in memory of Mosby, a certified therapy dog who was shot and killed in 2003, our work is driven by the belief that every dog deserves a second chance and every family deserves the dignity of keeping their pet.
We offer specialized giving programs including cancer care, senior dog support, heart health, and spay/neuter assistance. Based in Staunton, Virginia, we serve pet owners nationwide with a special focus on underserved communities in Virginia and West Virginia.
92.14% of our expenses go directly to programs. We hold a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and have partnered with Petco Love to award over $1.7 million in grants.
Warm hearts. Wagging tails. Helping paws.
Learn more at themosbyfoundation.org | info@themosbyfoundation.org | 540-885-2260