Got a dog who thinks he’s the main character? A cat who poses like she’s already famous? This one’s for you.
The Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) has opened submissions for its 2027 Pet Photo Calendar — and yes, that means your furry troublemaker has a real shot at being immortalized on a wall in homes across the U.P.
How it works
Submitting your pet is simple. Entries cost $10 per photo, and the contest is open to all pets — dogs, cats, and whatever else rules your household. Submissions are being accepted through June 30.
Then comes the fun part. Starting July 1, the public can chip in $1 per vote to back the pets they love. The pets that rack up the most votes land in the calendar — but here’s the part that makes this one special: every photo that gets at least five votes is guaranteed a spot somewhere in the calendar. So even if your pet isn’t exactly a campaign machine, a handful of votes from friends and family is enough to get them in.
More than just a pretty face
Beyond the standard entry, there are a few other ways to take part:
- Reserve-a-Day — claim a special date for your pet, like a birthday or “gotcha day.”
- Rainbow Bridge Memorial tributes — a way to honor a beloved pet who has passed on. For a lot of folks, this is the most meaningful part of the whole thing.
- Business sponsorships — for local businesses that want to pitch in and get a little goodwill in return.
Where the money goes
This isn’t just for bragging rights. Every dollar raised goes straight toward food, medical care, and enrichment for homeless animals right here in the U.P. — the dogs and cats waiting at UPAWS for a family of their own.
As UPAWS community outreach and volunteer coordinator Ann Brownell put it, the calendar has become one of the shelter’s favorite annual fundraisers because it celebrates the bond people share with their pets while helping animals in need in the community.
In other words: you get to show off your pet, and you’re feeding a shelter animal while you do it. Hard to beat that.
How to enter
To submit a pet, cast votes, reserve a day, purchase a memorial, or sign up as a business sponsor, head to the contest page at gogophotocontest.com/upaws2027. Submissions close June 30, so don’t sit on it too long.
Now go take seventeen photos of your pet until you get the one. You know the one.
Whose pet is getting in this calendar? Tag them in the comments and show off that face. 🐾
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