2026 Calendar Pet Photo Contest
June 1 - June 30
Our annual calendar pet photo contest is one of our biggest and most popular fundraisers of the year — and it runs June 1 through June 30! Let’s see those PAWFECT photos!
Throughout the month of June, you can upload your pets’ photos ($35 donation per photo entry) and ask your friends and family to cast votes ($1 per vote) online. All submitted pictures will be in the 2026 AWLA calendar, but the animals with the most votes will win some super neat prizes (see below)! There will be weekly challenges to help you win bonus votes, too.
All kinds of animals (dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, guinea pigs, etc.) can be submitted, and do not have to have been adopted from the AWLA or live in Alexandria.
The GRAND PRIZE winner will grace the front and back calendar cover, receive a professional photo session, receive year-round invitations to AWLA events as “Alexandria’s 2026 Animal of the Year,” have their photo featured on transport buses throughout northern Virginia, receive an Alexandria city proclamation in their animal’s name, be a guest of honor at the annual calendar Yappy Hour & Launch Paw-ty, be a guest judge in the annual Paws in the Park costume contest, and be featured in a full-page ad in a local magazine!
The next THREE winners will receive professional photo sessions, receive full-page photo on the month of their choice in the 2026 calendar, be a guest of honor at the annual calendar Yappy Hour & Launch Paw-ty, and be featured in a full-page ad in a local magazine.
The 5th, 6th and 7th place entries will receive a custom pet portrait from the talented Alexandra Schmeling. Entries receiving the 5th- through 13th-highest vote tallies will receive a quarter-page photo placement on one calendar page.
Entrants who raise more than $250 (equivalent to 250 votes) will receive:
— An invitation to the calendar Yappy Hour & Launch Paw-ty (held in October, date TBD)
Entrants who raise more than $500 (equivalent to 500 votes) will receive:
— An invitation to the calendar Yappy Hour & Launch Paw-ty (held in October, date TBD)
— PLUS, a curated swag bag with AWLA merch and other goodies (must be picked up at the Yappy Hour or after at the AWLA).
There are two ways you can participate starting June 1:
Enter the contest (starting June 1)! Submit your favorite picture of your pet(s) for a chance to win amazing prizes (including the opportunity to be named Alexandria’s Animal of 2026). Each entry is $35. A mailed calendar is included in your entry fee.
Vote for your favorite pets (starting June 1)! Each vote = $1 and the proceeds fund the AWLA’s critical work to help animals and people in our community.
Through your support and participation in events like our annual photo calendar contest, we can continue to go above and beyond, not only for animals at the shelter, but for pets – and the people who love them – across the community, providing food, guidance, medical support and peace of mind.
Find more information, including full rules, contest challenges, and prizes, here.