The voting for the St. Augustine Humane Society’s 2024 Pin Up Paws Calendar is underway with just less than a month before voting in the contest ends on Aug. 12.
However, there are new dogs constantly being entered into the 13th annual contest and some are starting to really make their push toward being included in this year’s calendar.
The public has until Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. to enter their pets into the contest by going to gogophotocontest.com/pupcalendar24 and clicking on the “enter contest” tab on the right of the website, which is also the best way to vote for a certain pet.
This year’s theme for the contest is “Best Buds,” and the calendar will feature the top 12 vote-getting pets in various flower garden settings for each month of the year, which will be captured as part of a professional photo shoot by world-renowned photographer Addison Fitzgerald, who will partner with fine artist and graphic designer Maribel Angel to create the calendar’s memorable designs.
Each year as it approaches the final weeks of the contest a PUP primary party is held to feature the pets that have reached more than 200 votes at that point in the contest.
This year’s party is scheduled to take place at Island Wing Company at Bartram Park on July 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. That means to be included on the night an entered pet must have reached 200 votes by 5 p.m. on July 20.
Individual ballot boxes will be on display for guests of the party to place more votes for those pets featured.
Island Wing Company is a pet-friendly establishment, so the St. Augustine Humane Society is inviting owners to bring their pets with them and solicit those in attendance for possible votes.
There are currently 12 nominated pets that have surpassed 200 votes, but there are eight more that have more than 100 and are getting closer to being included in the special event.
The calendar is one of the St. Augustine Humane Society’s largest fundraisers annually.
This year’s goal is $30,000 and each vote cast is $1 donated to the organization to help in their continued efforts to provide resources that strengthen lifelong human and animal bonds within the community.
That includes striving to eliminate the need for families to relinquish their pets to shelters, while enabling pets to live happy and healthful lives.
The Pin Up Paws Calendar Party will be held on Nov. 3 at Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Augustine Beach. All proceeds from submissions, vote donations and sales will benefit the St. Augustine Humane Society and its programs.
