Prizes

Contest winners will be determined by the top 13 entrants that earn the most votes. 

The entry with the most votes (1st place winner) will win superior bragging rights, as well as the coveted cover photo for the 2026 Homeward Bound Animal Shelter Calendar! 2^nd through 13^th place winners will be featured as pet of the month in the calendar. The top 13 pets will be professionally photographed by Chaltron Photography for the 2026 calendar.

All winners must confirm or decline their spot in the calendar by completing the electronic form sent to the email address on file. The deadline to respond is 5pm on Friday, April 11, 2025. 

All winners will be offered the opportunity to upgrade to an extended photography session and to purchase artwork and products afterwards if desired.

*If your pet is one of the 13 to be photographed for the calendar, you must be able to bring your pet to the Manistee area at a pre-selected location (announced to the winners at the end of the contest) between May 16 - June 14, 2025 for a professional pet portrait photography session. If you are unable to commit to a photo session during those times or find yourself unable to travel to these pre-selected locations, you forfeit your winning and the next top vote getter will take your pets spot in the calendar, no exceptions.

In addition to the above mentioned GRAND PRIZES, the contest winners will also receive the following from our generous supporters:

Promotional prizes include a weekly contest where entrants compete for the most new votes for that week to win a prize from one of our many generous local sponsors. In the event of a tie for that week or if there are no new votes, a random computerized drawing will be held for all eligible pets. Each pet may only win a weekly contest once. Certain individual business restrictions and limitations may apply and may vary by business. Chaltron Photography, Manistee County Humane Society, nor Homeward Bound Animal Shelter are not responsible for these restrictions and eligibility requirements as determined by each business.

We are beyond excited to showcase the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, whose support has made this contest truly special. From exceptionally generous prizes and weekly offerings to invaluable publicity, and the use of prime locations, these sponsors have truly gone above and beyond to elevate the competition and make a lasting impact for Homeward Bound Animal Shelter. Each week, we will reveal new sponsors, so stay tuned and watch as we unveil the next amazing prize and the businesses that made it possible!