Happy DOGust! The universal shelter dog birthday, recognized each year on August 1, was created to give shelter pets with unknown birthdays a special day to celebrate. This year, we’re celebrating with the PetMeds Cares™ DOGust Birthday Contest, sponsoring adoption fees at three winning shelters/rescues!

Why sponsored adoption fees?

Sponsored adoption fees can help promote a pet or can help offset costs when adopting. Pets that really benefit from sponsored fees include those that are often overlooked, including adult pets, seniors, special-needs pets and bully breeds.

We’re hoping by sponsoring adoption fees, adopters will give those overlooked pets a chance at getting a great home and a loving family. The other part of the prize, edited adoption videos, will help by featuring one special, sponsored pet at each winning shelter or rescue to help draw some much-needed attention to the pet.

What are the prizes?

• First place will receive 10 sponsored adoption fees of less-adoptable pets and one adoption video featured one sponsored pet. (ARV $2,000)
• Second place will receive five sponsored adoption fees of less-adoptable pets and one adoption video featured one sponsored pet. (ARV $1,000)
• Third place will receive three sponsored adoption fees of less-adoptable pets and one adoption video featured one sponsored pet. (ARV $600)

 Can my group enter?

Eligible groups are registered 501(c)(3) organizations that adopt out dogs and/or cats within the U.S. and have not won a PetMeds Cares™ contest within the past year (August 1, 2015-July 31, 2016).

How can my group enter?

The DOGust Birthday Contest is open to entries now until August 7, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To enter, a group representative must visit the contest website and fill out the form.

The representative will also share how sponsored adoption fees can help pets get adopted and will include the story and photo of one pet that will benefit if the group wins.

How do we win?

The contest is open to voting August 8-14, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET. US residents 18 and older can vote for an entry once every 24 hours. Once the voting period has ended, the three winners will be chosen based on the number of votes received.

Encourage your communities and supporters to vote and share the contest with their friends. Social media is a great tool for raising support, but you can also email your fans, put up flyers at your group’s office or verbally tell visitors to vote and help you out.

Do you have a question we haven’t answered? Feel free to comment below or email .

Enter the PetMeds Cares™ DOGust Birthday Contest now by visiting the contest page here. Good luck, and thank you for everything you do for homeless pets!