Rules

Eligibility

• All animal companions are welcome to participate, regardless of species or breed.  
• Your pet does NOT have to be adopted from PAWS or any other rescue to participate.
• You may enter a photo of a pet that has passed away as a way to honor their memory.
• All pet owners regardless of SOFA status or residency may participate, however, the complimentary calendar and any prizes offered will only be available for pickup at the PAWS Animal Shelter at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. 
• Photos may include more than one pet.
• Photos may only contain pets (no people).
• You may enter multiple times if you prefer to submit separate photos, but a separate entry fee is required for each submission.
• If you are under 18 you must obtain permission from a parent/guardian prior to entering the contest.
• If you are submitting photos for a friend you must obtain permission from the pet owner to submit their pet's image on their behalf. 

Photo Format

• Photos must be high resolution for printing purposes (300 dpi minimum).
• Photos must be in color (no black and white or grayscale).
• Photos must be in landscape format (horizontal) so that your photo is adequately sized for publication.  Any pictures submitted in portrait format (vertical) will be cropped, which may compromise photo quality.
• If your photo wins top 13 but is not high enough quality for printing purposes, we will notify you to ask for a replacement photo.

Photo Submissions

• Online entries must be received by Saturday November 20, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (Tokyo Standard Time).
• You must submit your photo online. To enter, click on the 'Enter Contest' button to the right and follow the directions to upload a photograph of your pet.
• The entry fee for contest submissions is $20 minimum which will automatically translate into 20 votes.  At the time of submission, you will have the option to make an additional donation above the $20 minimum which will automatically contribute to your vote count.
• You may submit as many photographs as you like but each photograph is subject to the $20 minimum entry fee.
• Once entered, photo submissions become the property of PAWS, to be used at PAWS' discretion for print and marketing purposes.
• Any photos deemed inappropriate, indecent, or obscene will be immediately disqualified.
• PAWS has final approval of all photos submitted. PAWS reserves the right to decline the publication of any photograph for any reason and reserves the right to replace an animal's photograph.

Voting

• All entrants are required to submit a minimum $20 entry fee which will automatically translate into 20 votes. At the time of submission, entrants may make an additional donation above the $20 minimum which will count towards their vote count prior to the official voting period for the public.
• The official voting period for the public is from Sunday, November 21, 2021 12:01 A.M. to Wednesday, December 1, 2021 11:59 P.M. (Tokyo Standard Time).
• Votes are $1 each, a minimum of 5 votes are required at the time of voting. There is no limit to the number of votes you would like to cast.  
• Pet owners may vote for their own pets.
• PAWS Board Members are welcome to submit photographs of their pets and are encouraged to fundraise and encourage voting within their networks and communities, however, with the exception of the $20 entry fee, the board members themselves may not vote for their own pets.

Prizes

• All entrants will receive one complimentary copy of the Posing for PAWS 2021 Calendar. Calendars will only be available for in-person pick up at the PAWS Animal Shelter at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan during the announced pick-up date (TBD) and during Adoption Nights after the contest closes. 
• All photo submissions are guaranteed a spot in the calendar's honorable mention section.
• The top 13 pets will either be featured on the cover page or will have a monthly spread and will also receive a PAWS Swag Bag.
• Swag bags and any other prizes will only be available for in-person pick up at the PAWS Animal Shelter at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan during the announced pick-up date (TBD) and during Adoption Nights after the contest closes. 
• We reserve the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value. 
• Prizes are not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash.