The Best Free Pet Contests
Pets are family and deserve to be treated as such. So why not enter them, their image or their story in the best free pet contests? Sharing your pet with the rest of the world because you know how happy they make you can be exciting. So if he or she is physically incredible (i.e. obedient or does tricks), you are handy with a camera (even a cell phone!) or can pen a good story, the following contests are for you and your pet. Who knows? Maybe you’ll walk away with a free subscription, publishing or a bit of extra coin for your labor of love.
Cool K9 Keepsake

LIFE+DOG magazine’s Fido photo spread
Snap a wicked good picture of your pup and that little fuzzball may end up a canine contest beauty in LIFE+DOG magazine’s Fido photo spread. Simply hashtag #LifeandDog on your Instagram photos (yup, it works if you tag old pics, too) and every two months 6-8 winners are chosen. If you win you get a series of your dog’s photos published (without having to relinquish full rights), a free subscription (with, of course, your winning copy) and a prize package for your dog (unspecified but most likely a basket of treats-n-such). Either way, when you win you will have a cool keepsake and bragging rights, which, of course, is priceless.
The Do Good Video Contest

If you want to be part of a contest collective dedicated to preventing the 3 to 4 million sheltered animals that are euthanized each year, you can enter your video in the Shelter Me Video Contest sponsored by PetSafe. Your video can focus on adopting, volunteering, donating, spaying, neutering or fostering featuring your pet as the principal actor. The more creative, the better your chances of winning a $5,000 first, $3,000 second or $2000 third place prize. The first place video will air on national television. Prize money is split between creator and a donation to a shelter of their choice. Free entries end October 15th, 2013.
Little Time Left Buddy Bond Contest
This contest is over August 25th, 2013 so you may want to hurry up. Create a short video or written essay showing the bond between you and your pet. Win a grand prize of $50,000, first place of $25,000; and three runner-up prizes of $5,000 each, you’ll feel even better knowing that there is a prize to be donated to a rescue shelter of your choice. Winners will be announced September 30th and you must be able to access Facebook.
Dog or Cat Cover Shot

Evanger’s Pet Food is sponsoring a 2014 cover model contest (ends August 31st!). Send in your most engaging image of your cat, dog or both. Entering is free and can be done a number of ways via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or snail mail. No cash prizes, but yet another tool in bragging rights toolbox. There are also some undisclosed prize packages for runner-ups.
Dress ‘Em Up
This Halloween enter your pet in Costume Works 2013 Best Pet Costume. There are several contests here for people as well as animals, so make sure you pick the right one. Deadline is November 20th, 2013. These are cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25, and you can submit up to 10 photos of your best pal.
Although some of the best free contests for pets above offer little time to enter, do keep the info for next year’s drawings. This gives you 365 days to plan, construct and execute award-winning entries that will surely hoof past the competition.
Maxime Rieman writes for NerdWallet, a financial literacy site that helps you with all of your finances, including your pet insurance cost.

Processing your request, Please wait....