The St. Augustine Humane Society completed its 10th annual pet photo contest and 2021 calendar fundraiser to support the nonprofit’s mission of promoting healthy lifelong pet ownership and reducing the rate of relinquishment to shelters.
Local pet winners have been named for “Mission Pawsible” secret agent-themed calendars, which will feature each pet fitted with accessories to match the 12 unique personalities.
Hannah, a Great Pyrenees, won first place and has the honor of being named the 2021 Pin Up Paws calendar cover dog. Owner Laurel Tallent campaigned for 2,400 votes. Hannah will receive a professional photo shoot with photographer Addison Fitzgerald, a $200 Columbia Restaurant gift certificate, two free copies of the 2021 Pin Up Paws calendar and two free tickets to the PUP Party on Thursday, Nov. 19, scheduled to be held at the newly renovated St. Augustine Humane Society, 1665 Old Moultrie Road in St. Augustine.
Additional top winners include second place Princess Portia, a pomeranian and third-place winner Kali, a competitive agility dog.
Additional local winners include nine dogs and one cat that will be featured in the monthly pictorial calendar. They will also receive the photo shoots, gift certificates and calendars. A special acknowledgement goes to Cuomo, owned by Mary DeRose, who raised $900, but due to COVID travel restrictions was unable to attend the photo shoot. DeRose relinquished Cuomo’s spot in the calendar to the 14th place runner-up.
Each year, the Humane Society debuts the calendar with a PUP Party. This year’s fundraising event will feature desserts by Crème de la Cocoa and wine, a wine pull, silent auction, a complimentary Pin Up Paws 2021 calendar and live music by The Falling Bones. Admission is $38 per person. The event planners have taken care to put together an inside and outside event to provide a safe environment with full opportunity for social distancing.
The calendar contest initially started in June with donors who submitted a photo of their pet to be featured in the 2021 calendar. There was a $5 entry fee per pet to submit the photos. Winning pets were chosen by number of votes cast.
According to Carolyn Smith, St. Augustine Humane Society’s executive director, the fundraiser raised $21,582 with voting submissions. Finished calendars will cost $10 each beginning Nov. 20 and will be available at the Humane Society.
All proceeds from submissions and vote donations, and sales will benefit the programs and services of the St. Augustine Humane Society. For more information about the Pin Up Paws party event, call Mike Murphy at (904) 829-2737, ext. 111 or email mmurphy@staughumane.org or go to the website at www.PUPparty.org.
Go to staughumane.org for more information on the St. Augustine Humane Society.
