The Coolest Pets in Columbus Contest is open to anyone in the known universe 21-years-old or older who would like to enter their pet to compete for the coveted title of "The Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020. For purpose of this contest "Pet" shall be include "Dog" or "Cat" or "Unique Pet". "Unique Pet" is an open category that can include any pet you can photograph from last year's popular "Earl the Squirrel" to your gecko to your horse to your goldfish. You can be creative! Our focus is Columbus IN, but pets from anywhere can enter.

Submit a photo of your pet. Provide a few short sentences why your pet is the coolest of the cool. Photos should be digital and sharp enough to look good on the internet. No photos of people, just your pet or pets. Photos should be in focus to show off your amazing pet.

There is a $10 fee to post your pet, but you automatically receive 10 votes when you enter your pet! If you have multiple pets, you will need to take separate photos of each and post them separately. The $10 posting fee applies to each pet you enter.

Pet owners are encouraged to have their friends, relatives, and co-workers go to the contest website and vote for their pet.

Votes cost $1.00 per vote with no maximum on how many votes a person can buy. For example, you can give 100 votes to your favorite pet by donating $100 in a single transaction via the website and come back to the site as many times as you want and donate votes as often as you'd like.

Pet owners themselves will be able to buy as many votes as they'd like too.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be awarded to non-profit organizations in Indiana for programs that reduce infant mortality and help children not only survive infancy but thrive throughout their childhood.


The Coolest Pet in Columbus Contest will officially launch March 1, 2020, and end on May 31, 2020, at midnight.

Winners will be announced the week of June 1, 2020, and honored with an award celebration on June 30, 2020, with presentation of the prizes.


Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 Dogs; the Top 3 Cats; and the Top 3 Unique Pets that receive the most votes. There will be a total of 9 prizes. There will also be an overall competition between Dog Lovers, Cat Lovers and Unique Pet Lovers to see who can raise the most money (votes) to support Newborn and Infant Health through the March of Dimes, Riley Children's Foundation and the Healthy Communities Infant Mortality Prevention Team. All of the winning pets as well as all entries and their vote totals will be shown on the Kiwanis Coolest Pet website. Following the final tally of votes at the end of the contest, there will be a downloadable "Bragging Rights Certificate" recognizing vote getting (fund raising) ability of Dog Lovers or Cat Lovers or Unique Pet Lovers.


Top Pet -- First Place:
The pet with the most votes will be crowned the "Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020.

The winning pet will be prominently featured on the front label of a special beer glass provided by Upland Brewing (How cool is that?!) The winning pets in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.

The top pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020.

The top pet winners may be asked to attend promotional events and be available for interviews by the news media.


Second Place:
The pet with the second highest number of votes will be deemed the "Second Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020.

The second place pet in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.

All pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020.


Third Place
The pet with the third highest number of votes will be deemed the "Third Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020

The third place pet in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.

All pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020

In the event that the first place pet is unable or unwilling to fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities of being the Coolest Pet in Columbus, the second place pet will assume that title and receive all of the benefits described above.


All entries will be made on-line by visiting the contest website and following the directions for entering pets in the contest and voting. Contest payments online are through a secure site.

There is a $10 fee to enter your pet, which automatically gives your pet 10 votes.

Additional votes cost $1 per vote and can be made in any number throughout the run of the contest.

We encourage you to share your contest page link with family and friends through email and social media encouraging them to vote for your favorite contestant's photo.

All donations for votes are non-refundable and not tax deductible (there was a vote in exchange for the donation). Entries and donations must be made via the online contest page.

Donations and photo entries for this online contest that are submitted via other means (US mail, in-person or by other means) will be accepted as donations but not applied toward the contest.


This fundraiser is being conducted by The Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus Indiana. Our partners include: Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; The Republic Newspaper.

Our supported organizations include: The March of Dimes, Riley Children's Foundation Be the Hope Now campaign and the Healthy Communities Infant Mortality Prevention Team of CRH.


The Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus will attempt to notify the top 3 dog; the top 3 cat and the top 3 unique pet vote-getters via telephone or email during the week of June 1, 2020.

If the winner cannot be contacted within seven (7) days after the date of the first attempt and after multiple attempts thereafter, the Sponsor may select an alternate winner from the next highest vote-getter.

Participation in the Contest constitutes entrants agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules. All photos and write ups become the property of Meridian Kiwanis Club and may be used by Kiwanis and any of our sponsors and partners.


This is the required "fine print." All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply.

Participation in the Contest constitutes agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements of the contest.

In the event that the operation of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, the Meridian Kiwanis Club of Columbus IN (Main Sponsor) may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Contest to address the impairment and then resume the contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) terminate the contest and, in the event of termination, award the prize from among the eligible, legitimate entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Main Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive or offensive manner.

By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Main Sponsor, all other Sponsors, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the contest, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prize(s).