Prizes
- Full Calendar Page: There are 12 full pages to win in the 2026 "I Love Animals" Calendar (the cover and 11 months). Entrants choose between two categories, "Dogs" and "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 as of the contest close at 8 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
- 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 spot in the calendar (not full-page).
- Star for a Day Feature: There are 24 Star for a Day features to win, meaning you have an astounding 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 delight countless eyes 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: 36 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: When you donate $25 CAD or more, or if you are one of the winners, you will be sent one complimentary 2026 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 reached their final vote total first will receive the prize.
Contest Rules
- The contest opens on January 27, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. PST. The contest closes on February 15, 2025 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, they must pay for any additional costs for sending physical prizes outside of B.C.
- A selection of 3-4 print-quality photos of each Top 12 animal and the Hill's Honourable Mention must be provided by February 28, 2025 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 2026 "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: Hill's Pet Nutrition is generously providing 25 bonus votes when you make a self-donation of $25 or more during your contest entry registration by midnight on January 28.
- Double vote days: There may be double vote promotion days, where 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 2020 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:
- Dogs in photographs taken outdoors must be shown wearing a humane collar and ID tag.
- Cats in photographs taken outdoors must be shown in a safe environment (preferably in an enclosure/catio or with a harness on) wearing an ID tag.
- Domestic birds, however, must 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, including wearing clothing, accessories (e.g., bows), or costumes. Photos of different species (e.g., cats with dogs) must show each animal looking comfortable with the interaction.