Do you think your pet has what it takes to become a local star in Manistee County?
Homeward Bound Animal Shelter is hosting a contest to feature pets in its 2026 calendar and raise funds for the shelter. In partnership with Chaltron Photography, the shelter is offering your furry friend a chance to appear in the upcoming calendar, with one lucky pet winning the honor of gracing the cover.
Starting Tuesday, the public can enter their dog or cat into the contest by submitting a photo online. The contest will run until April 8.
Once entries are submitted, participants can rally their friends and family to vote. The top 13 vote-getters will have the chance to be professionally photographed by Chaltron Photography for the calendar.
The pet with the most votes will be crowned the cover star of the 2026 Homeward Bound Animal Shelter Calendar and will receive a professional photo session with Chaltron Photography, along with the top 12 winners.
The entry fee is $5 per pet, and participants must be willing to travel to Manistee for the portrait session. Only one pet is allowed per photo, with no humans in the shot.
Votes can be purchased with a minimum donation of $5 for five votes, at $1 per vote. Both entry fees and vote donations are tax-deductible and must be made via the online contest page.
Portrait sessions for the calendar will take place between May 16 and June 14 in Manistee. Chaltron Photography will select the winning images and decide the month each image will appear in, according to contest rules.
The contest also offers weekly prizes for the top vote-getters, and calendars will be available for purchase by October 30.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Homeward Bound Animal Shelter opened its doors in April 2005. This nonprofit, no-kill shelter is managed by the Manistee County Humane Society Board of Directors and receives no state or federal funding. It relies on memberships, donations, and fundraising events to support its operations. The shelter’s two full-time employees provide care for 75 to 130 animals daily.
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