Prizes
- Full Calendar Page: There are 12 full pages to win in the 2027 "I Love Animals" Calendar (the cover and 11 months). Entrants choose between two categories, "Dogs" or "Cats & other amazing pets". The top 6 spots in each category will win a full-page calendar feature, with the cover spot awarded to the fundraiser with the most votes overall. Winners will be determined by their vote totals at contest close at 8 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
- Hill's Honourable Mention: Hill's Pet Nutrition will select their favourite entry for the Hill's Honourable Mention from among participants who earned at least 50 votes. The chosen entry will get a non full-page spot in the calendar.
- Star for a Day Feature: There are 24 Star for a Day features to win, meaning you have an incredible 37 chances in total to win your beloved pet a place in the calendar! Following the full-page winners, the next 12 vote-getters in each category will shine bright for a full month from an available "day" square within the calendar. These photos will use the actual contest entry photo (see image requirements for conditions), so pawrents are encouraged to use their pet's best photo for their entry.
- Greeting Card: 15 entries will be selected to be featured on a BC SPCA greeting card, sold in the online store. Participants who raise 5 votes or more are eligible.
- Complimentary Calendar: If you donate $25 CAD or more, or if you are one of the winners, you will be sent one complimentary 2027 calendar (one calendar per household).
Each entry may only win one (1) place in the calendar. For example, a Top 12 animal cannot also be the winner of the Hill's Honourable Mention.
In the case of a tie for a calendar spot, the entrant that secured their final vote total first will receive the prize.
Contest Rules
- The contest opens on February 3, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. PST. The contest closes on February 21, 2026 at 8 p.m. PST. Only funds raised within these dates will be considered.
- Donations made in support of an animal are valued at one vote for every $1.00 donated. There may also be promotions where donors can get bonus votes.
- Participants can enter or donate from anywhere. However, if a physical prize must be shipped outside B.C., the recipient is responsible for any additional costs.
- A selection of 3-4 print-quality photos of each Top 12 animal and the Hill's Honourable Mention must be provided by March 4, 2026 to be included in the production of the calendar. Winners of the Star for a Day feature will have their contest entry photo used; however they may be required to provide additional photos at the discretion of the BC SPCA if the entry photo doesn't meet the image requirements.
- If appropriate print-quality photos are not provided by the deadline, the BC SPCA reserves the right to offer the spot to the next runner-up.
- By submitting a photo, you acknowledge and give permission to the BC SPCA to use the name, story and photo of the animal entered in future publications, promotions and materials, including the 2027 "I Love Animals" Calendar. You also confirm that you own the rights to the photo you are submitting.
- All calendar winners must be domesticated animals. Animals in contest photos must not be displaying any signs of distress (e.g., looking fearful or anxious). We reserve the right to ask for a new picture submission for any reason. Please see full image requirements for winners.
- The BC SPCA reserves the right to disqualify an entry based on objectionable content or depiction of the animals in a photo, if an appropriate replacement cannot be submitted.
- Sign up matching bonus day: will generously match your self-donation of $25 or more with bonus votes when you donate during your contest entry registration by midnight on February 4. Your self-donation will be matched to a maximum of 500 bonus votes.
- Double vote days: There may be bonus vote promotions during the contest, where any votes received will be matched. All entrants will be notified by email when they arise, so make sure you are subscribed to BC SPCA emails!
Image Requirements for Winners
So long as an animal does not look distressed (e.g., fearful or anxious), you may enter the contest with whatever picture you choose. Winning submissions must follow the rules below for print:- Photos must be a minimum of 3600x2700 pixels (or 12x9 inches) at a resolution of 300 DPI. Generally, cell phones from onwards should take photos of sufficient quality. PNG, JPG and TIFF image formats are accepted. (For the Star for a Day features specifically, the photo submitted as your contest entry will be used; portrait and landscape are both acceptable, though a minimum size of 400x500 pixels is recommended.)
- Winners must own the rights to the photos they provide (i.e., photos taken by professional photographers who reserve the rights to their images are not eligible). For photos not taken by the winner, the photographer's name must be provided.
- Photos submitted for the calendar must include at least one animal, who should occupy no less than 2/3 of the frame. Photos may not include any humans.
- Please ensure that the photo selected is sharp and in focus with a clean background. Landscape format is preferred.
- Pets who are shown outside:
- should be shown wearing a humane collar and ID tag.
- Cats in photographs taken outdoors should be shown in a safe environment (preferably in an enclosure/catio or with a harness on) wearing an ID tag.
- Domestic birds, however, should only be shown indoors.
- No images which are in conflict with BC SPCA policies or procedures can be accepted. Photos submitted must follow the Five Freedoms (spca.bc.ca/fivefreedoms). The BC SPCA is opposed to practices that prevent animals from expressing natural behaviours. Photos should not feature animals performing unnatural activities or wearing costumes or clothing, except items worn for warmth or safety (for example, jackets, sweaters, booties and life jackets). Photos of different species (e.g., cats with dogs) must show each animal looking comfortable with the interaction.