Blue can relate to the tumultuous year that was 2019. The Los Angeles Fire Department’s 2024 Howling Hero was separated from her mother as a puppy and found herself in what her owner, Kristen Nystrom, called, “a house of horrors.”

Nystrom described the illegal backyard breeding situation from which they rescued Blue. The off-the-books puppy mill was rampant with subpar conditions and a lack of care for the dogs.

Blue was nursed back to health after her rescue and fit right in with Nystrom’s family as soon as she came to her new home. She quickly became the center of Nystrom’s household and was a bright spot during the uncertainty and heaviness of the pandemic.

“It was such a difficult time for everyone, and she just brought this light and energy and love to our family, friends, and the neighborhood,” Nystrom shared.

Blue safely made “house calls” to visit Nystrom’s loved ones and brought comfort and normalcy to those in need during a very trying time, especially to Nystrom’s grandparents who were uniquely impacted by the pandemic.

More recently in January, an intruder attempted to break in while Nystrom was home. Blue’s sharp, loud bark cut through the air and alerted Nystrom’s household to the danger, scaring away the nefarious individual.

“It could have been really bad, especially if we weren’t home,” Nystrom reflected.

Nystrom’s boyfriend and his father are both members of the LAFD, and they shared the Instagram post announcing the contest with her. “I am dog obsessed so I figured this is our time!” Nystrom said of her decision to enter Blue, now three and a half years old, in the running.

“Honestly, I was very surprised,” Nystrom said when they announced Blue as the winner live on KTLA. But more than anything, she was proud of Blue. “She puts a smile on everyone’s face,” Nystrom shared.

Over 150 pups helped raise more than $28,000 for the 2024 Howling Heroes contest, with all of the proceeds going to support LAFD canine and other programs that help them save lives and protect communities.

The contest is open to residents of Los Angeles and nearby regions, including surrounding counties like Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, etc. As long as you can travel to and from the KTLA studio easily (and at your own expense) the day after the competition ends, and are available for future photo shoots if selected, you’re welcome to enter! If you win and are not available, the next highest fundraiser will be moved into that spot.

Votes can come from anywhere in the world, however tax receipts are only applicable in the U.S.

Not at all. All domestic dogs are welcome. The contest celebrates the heroic spirit that all dogs possess, regardless of breed, size, or age.

The winning dog becomes the official LAFD K9 mascot for 2026, gets the calendar cover, and they can appear with the owner on KTLA News. You'll also participate in a photo shoot with LAFD firefighters. We'll contact you within 24 hours to coordinate all logistics.

Contact us at the contact information provided on the contest website and we will fix it right up!

Contact us!

Donations made in support of a dog are valued at one vote for every $1.00 donated, excluding promotional votes which may be of higher value for a limited time.

Fundraise! The Howling Heroes Calendar Contest is a fundraising activity to support the LAFD Foundation's essential programs and equipment.

Your entry photo should be in focus and clear, but it doesn't need to be professionally taken. However, the dog must not show any signs of animal distress or discomfort. Winners will participate in a photo shoot after the contest.

Email us with your new image, along with a link to your contest entry, and we'll update it for you.

If you win, you will be contacted directly by the LAFD Foundation regarding the photo shoot logistics and promotional materials. You'll need to coordinate your schedule for the professional photo shoot with LAFD firefighters and KTLA News appearance.

If you cannot participate in the required photoshoot and promotional activities, the next highest fundraiser will be offered the position.

All dogs must be able to safely participate in a professional photo shoot environment with firefighters and camera crew. If you have concerns about your dog's temperament around strangers, loud environments, or new situations, please consider this before entering. For memorial entries, you can designate another dog to participate in the photo shoot.

The LAFD Foundation reserves the right to disqualify an entry based on objectionable content or depiction of the dog or persons in a photo. Donations collected will be refunded if requested by the donor.

By agreeing to the waiver, you acknowledge and give permission to the LAFD Foundation to use the name, story and photo of the dog entered in future various fundraising activities and materials, including promotional content for the LAFD Foundation.

Yes! U.S. Tax receipts will be emailed to donors. 

Email us with any questions, concerns, or photo updates at the contact information provided on the contest website.

The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is proud to present the 2026 Howling Heroes Calendar Contest, celebrating dogs that remind us how to love unconditionally, be loyal, and to be better humans. 

• Contest opens at 8:00 AM (Pacific Time) on Thursday, April 30, 2026
• Contest closes at 8:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 15, 2026

• Open to residents of Los Angeles and nearby regions, including surrounding counties like Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, etc. As long as you can travel to and from the KTLA studio easily (and at your own expense) the day after the competition ends, and are available for future photo shoots if selected, you’re welcome to enter!
• Only photos of dogs will be permitted
• One entry per household.
• Winners must be available to travel to subsequent photo shoot(s) (Dates TBD) and for the on-air KTLA announcement (TBD)
• Dogs must be able to safely participate in public situations & a photo shoot with LAFD firefighters
• The contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulations

• Each $1 donated equals 1 vote*
• The suggested donation for entry is $10. A donation is not required for entry but is very much appreciated
• All donations must be made online and directly to the contestant's page to be counted
• Votes/donations received outside the contest window will not be eligible
• Entrants may vote for their own entries - it will set an example to everyone you share your pet’s page with!
• All donations are tax-deductible in the U.S.. Please save receipts for tax records

*except during any potential promotional events with bonus votes available

• There are 12 full pages to win (the cover and each month). The top fundraiser will be awarded the cover, with the next 11 spots being awarded their own month.*
• All 12 winners will be invited to participate in a photoshoot with LAFD firefighters.
• The top fundraiser becomes the official LAFD K9 mascot for 2026, receives the calendar cover, and appears on KTLA News.
• Winners will be contacted within 48 hours of the contest closing to coordinate next steps.

• Photos must be clear and in focus
• Dogs should be the central feature of a photo, please avoid wildlife and people in pictures. If there are people in the pictures, you need to have written consent but may still be asked to enter an alternate photo.
• Photos deemed offensive, indecent, or obscene will be removed from the contest.
• Dogs must not be exhibiting signs of distress or potential distress in photos.

• By entering the contest you acknowledge and give permission to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to use the name, story and photo of the animal entered in any future materials including those that bring awareness to the needs of the LAFD and other publications in perpetuity.
• Photos taken by a professional photographer must have the photographer's written permission to enter.
• Winners consent to participation in a photo shoot with LAFD firefighters for promotional use.
• Offensive or inappropriate dog names may be edited or disallowed. If this occurs, entrants may provide a revised name, or be disqualified/removed.
• LAFD Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any entry based on content that violates its values or policies.

*Page/Prizes awarded providing the entry meets all listed requirements along with any unforeseen issues (e.g. transportation to and from the photo shoot).

The Legal stuff

When you enter the "Howling Heroes" contest, you warrant that you are at least eighteen (18) years old as of the date of entry, the photograph is original, that you are the sole owner and copyright holder of that photograph, and that you have not granted exclusive rights of that photograph to any other person or entity. You also warrant that the photograph does not invade the right of privacy of any individual; does not infringe any trademark, trade name, trade secret, intellectual property right, or other common law or statutory right; nor does it contain any material that otherwise violates any criminal prohibition or the personal or proprietary rights of any person or entity.

With regard to any image or content submitted, you agree to grant the LAFD Foundation, its legal representatives, successors, and assigns, the nonexclusive right and permission to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, publish, and distribute the photograph, or any portion thereof, throughout the world, in any printed form and by any kind of mechanical or electronic or any other method or device of reproduction, publication, and distribution known or later developed, during the full term of the copyright, and without notification or payment.

LAFD Foundation shall not be responsible for printing, typographical, human, or other errors of any kind in any contest-related materials or for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, or illegible entries. If, for any reason, the contest is not capable of running as planned, or infection by computer viruses, bugs, or tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, actions of entrants, technical failures, or any other causes corrupt or infect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the contest, the LAFD Foundation reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any entry or entrant and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the contest and at its sole discretion award a prize from among all eligible non-suspect entries validly received prior to the action requiring such modification. By entering, all contestants agree that the contest is governed by laws of the State of California for the resolution of all claims and disputes (excluding any claims against or disputes involving parties other than the Foundation relating to any prize awarded in the contests).

Personally identifiable information provided by entrants and voters will be added to the Foundation's email list. Entrants and voters will be able to "opt out" of future such communications by following the instructions on any electronic communication we send. The Foundation does not sell, rent, trade or share its email addresses with any third parties for such party's own marketing purposes.

LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER OR VANDALIZE THIS WEB SITE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND LAFD FOUNDATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.