Rules
FULL CONTEST RULES
Please read all contest rules before entering your pup into the 2026 Triangle Dog Of The Year Contest.
ENTRIES:
Each entry is a $10 donation.
Limit of 1 pup per photo entry. People are not allowed in photos, only your pet. Photos that do not follow these rules will not be eligible to win with no opportunity for a refund.
If you have multiple pets per household and wish to win a session per each pet, you will need to submit each pet individually.
Entry photos that include two pets will share a month if they place among the top thirteen vote getters.
All photos must be uploaded; we cannot accept printed photos.
We cannot accept any copyrighted or professional photos. The exception to this are photos taken of pups by Five Freedoms Photography are allowed to entered into the contest as given permission by Joanne Wetzel of Five Freedoms Photography to entrants.
The Entries Period starts on February 11th, 2025 at 10 AM/EST and ends on March 9th, 2025 at 8:00PM/EST.
Any photograph that includes content that is deemed inappropriate, indecent, or obscene, as determined by Five Freedoms Photography in its sole discretion, will be removed from the contest with no opportunity for a refund.
Posting more than one photo of your pet does not increase the chances of winning. The winners of the photo contest will be determined by the top thirteen entries that receive the most votes. The same pet can only win once. Attempts to win two spots in the calendar by the same pet will not be permitted.
Previous years winners may enter into the contest, but the same pet may only win the cover spot once. The second runner up will be moved to the cover spot if the cover model has won previously.
Entries are non-refundable and are tax-deductible. The email acknowledgement to your online donation serves as your tax receipt.
VOTING:
Each $1 donation counts as one (1) vote with a minimum donation being $1/1 votes and so on.
All donations from voting are non-refundable. Entries and donations must be made via the online contest page. Contest payments online are through a secure site.
Contest votes are tax deductible. The email acknowledgment to your online donation serves as your tax receipt.
All winners will be determined by electronic vote tabulations under the supervision of Gogo Photo Contest, whose decisions are final and binding, not Five Freedoms Photography or Second Chance Pet Adoptions.
The Voting Period starts on February 11th, 2025 at 10 AM/EST and ends on March 9th, 2025 8 PM/EST.
CALENDAR PHOTO SESSION:
The top thirteen vote getters will win a professional on-location photo session by Five Freedoms Photography at a pre-selected location in the Raleigh, NC area on dates as determined by the photographer in Spring / Summer 2025.
Winners who want a more customized experience for their whole pack will have the option to upgrade their session after the contest is over.
If you are unable to commit to a photo session during those times or find yourself unable to travel to the pre-selected locations as determined by Five Freedoms Photography, you forfeit your winning and the next top vote getter will take your pet's spot in the calendar, no exceptions.
The top vote recipient will win the coveted cover photo for the 2026 Triangle Dog Of The Year calendar. The following twelve recipients with the most votes will be eligible to have their pet featured as a pet of the month chosen by Five Freedoms Photography.
The photographer, Five Freedoms Photography, will choose the best image of the pets to be used in the calendar as well as which month that image will appear.
The top eight voted recipients will also earn a spot on a gallery wall installation at Second Chance NC’s physical facility in Cary, North Carolina
WEEKLY MINI-CONTESTS:
The pet receiving the highest number of new votes each week over the course of the four weeks will win a mini-contest prize from one of the participating businesses.
Each pet may only win a weekly mini-contest once.
In the event of a tie, a random computerized draw will be held between the highest vote getters of the week to determine that week's winner.
In the event that there are no new votes for that week, a random computerized draw will be held for all eligible pets.
Certain individual business restrictions and limitations may apply and may vary by business. Five Freedoms Photography is not responsible for these restrictions and eligibility requirements as determined by each business.
THE FINE PRINT:
By submitting a photo entry, you warrant and represent that your entry is your own original work created by you and that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to your entry materials. If you submit an entry that is copyrighted by another individual, you are responsible for any legal action the copyright holder takes against you.
Calendars will be available to the general public starting September 2025. Calendars can be pre-ordered through the calendar contest page with all the proceeds benefitting Second Chance NC.
By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Second Chance Pet Adoptions and Five Freedoms Photography and each of their respective officers, directors, representatives, volunteers and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claims of any nature arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize.
Your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please enable JavaScript to view and participate in the contest.