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American Humane Association HERO DOG AWARDS™

2011 Contest Official Rules

American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ (the “Contest”), starts on March 15, 2011, at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT”) and ends on September 30, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. PT (“Contest Period”). Winners will be announced on or about October 1, 2011. NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  1. SPONSOR: American Humane Association, 11530 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 (“Sponsor”).

  1. ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is only open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old and own (or are authorized agents of the owner of) the nominated dog. All Contest participants (“Entrants”) must sign the Release portion of the Entry Form authorizing Sponsor’s use of the Photograph(s) in public relations and marketing efforts, and agree to be bound by all terms set forth in these Official Rules. All employees of Sponsor, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, sales representatives, agents, consultants, contractors, advertising, marketing and promotional agencies, Sponsor’s panel of judges, and the immediate families and household members (parent, child, sibling or spouse regardless of where they reside) of each are not eligible to enter or win. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. This Contest is void outside the United States and where prohibited by law.

  1. TO ENTER: NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. Beginning March 15, 2011 at 12:00 a.m. PT and ending June 17, 2011 at 11:59 pm PT (“Nomination Period”), you may enter or nominate a dog in one of the eight (8) Contest Categories by submitting to Sponsor a 2011 Official Contest Entry and Release Form (“Entry Form”) and Photograph that meet the criteria of the Contest Submission Guidelines below (collectively, Photograph, Entry Form, and narrative description essay constitute an “Entry”). The Contest Entry Form is available online at www.herodogawards.org/entry or may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane Association, 2011 Hero Dog Awards Contest Entry Form Request, 11530 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope. Entries submitted by mail (“Mail” includes delivery by U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, UPS or DHL) must be postmarked on or before June 17, 2011 and received by Sponsor no later than June 23, 2011 to be eligible. Entrant is responsible for cost of mailing Entry Form and Photograph(s) to Sponsor.

  1. CATEGORIES: All Entries must meet the criteria of one of the following eight (8) Categories:

    1. Law Enforcement/Arson Dogs
    2. Service Dogs
    3. Therapy Dogs
    4. Military Dogs
    5. Guide Dogs
    6. Search and Rescue Dogs
    7. Hearing Dogs
    8. Emerging Hero Dogs


  1. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: During the Nomination Period, visit www.herodogawards.org and submit a photo of the dog in one of the eight Categories along with a completed Entry Form that must include a narrative description of two-hundred fifty (250) words or less telling the Sponsor about the dog and explaining why the dog pictured deserves the title of Hero Dog. Follow the directions provided to complete the Entry Form: Upload the photograph, select the appropriate Category, provide a narrative description, and designate one Charity Partner from the list of approved Charity Partners. Entrants are encouraged to select a Charity Partner carefully – the Charity Partner designation cannot be changed after Entry is submitted. See “Prizes” section for more information about how the Entrant’s selection of Charity Partner may benefit that charity. All elements of the Entry Form must be complete, and all Entries must be received within the Nomination Period to be considered. There is no limit on the number of Entries you can submit; however, each unique photo must be entered into only one (1) Category and submitted with a separate Entry Form. Photos submitted more than once for the same or different Categories will void all Entries related to that Photograph. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means and Entries by any means which subvert the entry process are void. Entries may only be submitted online or by Mail. All other methods, whether or not defined herein, are void. Photo submitted must be taken within the last twelve (12) months. If submitted online, Photo must be submitted in .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, and .png format and cannot exceed 4 MB in size. If submitted by mail, Photograph must be either a commercially developed print, or a digital photograph produced at a minimum of 300 dots per inch (“dpi”) on quality photo paper, and must be no smaller than 4”x6” and no larger than 8”x10” in size. Image modifications such as borders, frames, composite images, multiple exposures, watermarks, signature or copyright notices, addition or replacement of elements, and artistic filters are not permitted. Cropping, rotating, resizing, red-eye removal, and the use of autofix enhancements and tools to correct contrast, brightness, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color, balance and tint are permitted. Studio photos are ineligible. All dogs should appear with collars and tags. Sponsor reserves the right to edit or redact badges or insignia. Photographs depicting or implying any form of inhumane treatment will be immediately disqualified. Photograph(s) must be the original work of the Entrant; must not feature any third parties or third party materials, must have been taken in the last twelve (12) months, may not have been published previously; must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity; and must be suitable for publication. Entrant or Photo may not have won award(s) from Sponsor in the preceding twelve (12) months. All Entry materials and Photograph(s) will become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

    Additional Entry Requirements: Entry may not contain, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, any content that:

    • contains commercial trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or commercial building exteriors/interiors) owned by others; contains any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
    • contains copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media);
    • contains any person or any animal other than the nominated dog;
    • is sexually explicit or suggestive; unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic; contains nudity;
    • promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing); promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message;
    • is obscene or offensive; endorses any form of hate or hate group;
    • appears to intentionally duplicate any other submitted Entries, as determined by the date received;
    • defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people, animals or companies; or
    • violates any law.

By submitting an Entry, Entrant warrants and represents that he/she is the owner of the dog, or authorized agent of the owner of the dog, in the photo and that he/she consents to the submission and use of the Entry in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein, and grants permission for the Entry to be posted on www.herodogawards.org, www.americanhumane.org and/or any other websites controlled by or affiliated with Sponsor. Entrant agrees that Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. Released Parties do not guarantee the posting of any Entry.

  1. CATEGORY WINNER DETERMINATION: NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO VOTE. All eligible Entries submitted will be posted by Sponsor within a commercially reasonable time on www.herodogawards.org during the Nomination Period. Between June 18, 2011 and 11:59 pm PT on July 31, 2011 (“VOTING PERIOD”), individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age may visit www.herodogawards.org to register and vote for individual dogs in each of the eight (8) categories. A voter may vote for more than one Entry, however, voters are limited to one vote per dog per category each day. Voters are instructed to follow the guidelines and criteria for judging the grand prize winner set forth herein when voting for individual entries. Entrants are prohibited from obtaining votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public in exchange for votes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Use of script, macro or any automated system to vote or with the intent to impair the integrity of the voting process is prohibited and all such votes will be void. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, The Contest will operate as follows: The Entry that receives the highest number of valid votes in each applicable Category, as tabulated and determined by Sponsor, will be deemed the “First Place Category Winner” and “Finalist” for that Category. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the Entry that receives the second highest number of valid votes in each applicable Category, as determined by Sponsor, will be deemed the “Second Place Category Winner” for that Category. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the Entry that receives the third highest number of valid votes in each applicable Category, as determined by Sponsor, will be deemed the “Third Place Category Winner” for that Category. In the event of a tie for any Category, a “tie-breaking” judge will determine the winner based on the Grand Prize Judging Criteria (as defined below). One (1) Grand Prize winner will be selected from Finalist Entries from all Categories.

  1. GRAND PRIZE WINNER DETERMINATION:

NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO VOTE. Between August 1, 2011 at 12:00 a.m. PT and September 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PT (the “Judging Period”), individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age may visit www.herodogawards.org to register and vote for the Grand Prize winner (the “American Hero Dog”). A voter may vote for more than one Entry; however votes are limited to one dog each day. Voters are instructed to follow the guidelines and criteria for judging the Grand Prize winner set forth herein when voting for individual entries. Entrants are prohibited from obtaining votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public in exchange for votes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Use of script, macro or any automated system to vote or with the intent to impair the integrity of the voting process is prohibited and all such votes will be void. The public votes for the Grand Prize winner will compromise 49% of the weighted total of all votes. A blue ribbon panel of judges consisting of celebrities, animal care professionals, and advisors selected by Sponsor will also choose the Grand Prize winner from among the Finalists. All eligible Finalists will be judged equally on the following criteria: Appropriateness to Category, narrative description of Entry (including how the dog best portrays the category of service for which the dog is entered), creativity, composition and quality of the Photograph. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker will be conducted based upon the highest score in the first judging criterion, continuing thereafter to each judging criterion in order as needed to break the tie. Sponsor reserves the right not to award the Grand Prize if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries. Decisions will be made without regard to race, creed, color, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. The public vote will be combined with the voting of the Judges. The Judges votes will total 51% of the weighted total of all votes. Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. All prize awards are subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. All First Place/Finalist, Second and Third Place Category Winners will be notified on or before the week of October 1, 2011. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements of these Official Rules. All Finalists, Second and Third Place Category Winners’ Entries and American Hero Dog Entry may be posted on www.herodogawards.org and/or www.americanhumane.org and/or any other websites controlled by or affiliated with Sponsor and/or announced by news release and media outreach following the Judging Period.

  1. Prizes:

American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards Finalists (First Place Category Winners):

The American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ Finalists in each Category and his/her dog will be required to travel to Los Angeles, CA on or about September 30, 2011(exact dates and details to be determined by Sponsor) to participate in the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ event. The trip consists of round-trip, coach class air transportation from a major U.S. gateway airport nearest to Finalist’s residence to designated location for two people and the winning dog, three (3) days and two (2) nights standard hotel accommodations (one (1) room, double occupancy, room, taxes, and welcome gift basket, ground transportation to and from the Event provided, excludes food, beverages, and any additional items.) If winner resides within a 100-mile radius of destination, ground transportation will be provided in lieu of air transportation and no compensation or substitution will be provided in lieu thereof. A tribute video between one and three minutes in length will be produced for each Finalist. Sponsor shall be responsible for creating the story content, all pre-production and post-production elements, and any crew travel or lodging expense. Actual value of prize of may vary based on point of departure. Any difference between stated value and actual value will not be awarded. Finalists are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents prior to travel. Trip must be taken on dates specified by Sponsor or prize will be forfeited and Sponsor will have no further obligation to such winner. Sponsor reserves right to change dates with reasonable notice to all Finalists. Travel must be made through Sponsor’s agent, on a carrier of Sponsor’s choice. Certain travel restrictions may apply. Charity Partners selected by the Finalists are encouraged but not required to attend the Event Ceremony, and no compensation will be provided to Charity Partners by Sponsor for travel and lodging costs. Finalists are responsible for ensuring the safe travel of his/her dog and for the conduct of his/her dog (including, without limitation, ensuring his/her dog does not bite or otherwise injure any person or animal or otherwise do harm to any property). A cash prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the Charity Partner designated by the Finalist in their Contest Entry. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) is $10,000 for each prize package.

One Grand Prize Winner:

In addition to the First Place Category winnings stated above, one Grand Prize Winner - the 2011 American Hero Dog Entrant - receives a cash prize of $10,000 to be awarded in the name of the Charity Partner selected by the Entrant in their Contest Entry Form. ARV is $10,000.

Second Place Category Winner Prize:

Each Second Place Category Winner will receive a $500 gift certificate for pet supply shopping plus the Ultimate Dog Gift Basket filled with toys, treats, a dog bed, and the Pamper Your Pooch collection from True Blue Pet Products. ARV is $1,000 for each prize package. Sponsor anticipates awarding one Second Place Category Winner prize for each Category based on sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries.

Third Place Category Winner Prize:

Each Third Place Category Winner will receive a $250 gift certificate for pet supply shopping plus the Ultimate Dog Gift Basket filled with toys, treats, a dog bed, and the Pamper Your Pooch collection from True Blue Pet Products. ARV is $500 for each prize package. Sponsor anticipates awarding one Third Place Category Winner prize for each Category based on sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries.

Total ARV of all prizes: $102,000. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor. Value of autographed merchandise will depend on market fluctuations. Winners may not substitute, assign or transfer prize or redeem prize for cash, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value. Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided, including, if Grand Prize winner, additional transportation, meals, luggage fees, gratuities and souvenirs. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

  1. WINNER NOTIFICATION: All potential First, Second and Third Place Category Winners will be notified by telephone, mail and/or email and will be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release (unless prohibited by law) and any other documents required by Sponsor, which must be returned within ten (10) business days of date appearing on prize notification. Return of prize or prize notification as undeliverable, failure to sign and return requested documentation within the specified time period, the inability of Sponsor to contact a potential winner within a reasonable time period or noncompliance with these Official Rules by any potential winner will result in disqualification and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, the prize may be awarded to a runner-up. If any potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Prizes will be awarded provided there are a sufficient number of eligible Entries received. Odds of winning depend upon the number of Entries received during Nomination Period, votes cast during Voting Period, the quality of the Entries, and decisions of Judges during the Judging Period.

  1. GENERAL CONDITIONS: All Entries and submitted Photographs and essays become the property of Sponsor upon submission. By participating, each Entrant agrees: (a) to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to this Contest; (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor, American Humane Association, Unleashed Public Relations, and their affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, consultants, contractors, and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives of the forgoing (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from Entrant’s participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any awarded prize (including any travel or activity related thereto); and (c) to the use of his/her and his/her dog’s name, voice, performance, photograph/video, image and/or likeness for programming, advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide and on the Internet, and in perpetuity by Sponsor and its designees, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so whether or not such Entry is selected as a winner. Submission of a Contest Entry Form and/or participation in a prize further constitutes the Entrant’s irrevocable waiver of any moral rights and assignment and transfer to Sponsor of any and all rights, title and interest in and to the elements of the Entry. By participating, entrant also agrees not to release any publicity or other materials on their own or through someone else regarding their participation in the Contest without the prior consent of the Sponsor, which Sponsor may withhold in its sole discretion.

BY SUBMITTING A CONTEST ENTRY FORM, ENTRANT REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT HE/SHE HAS ALL NECESSARY RIGHTS TO HAVE THE ENTRY AND PHOTOGRAPH(S) POSTED ONLINE, INCLUDING CONVEYANCE OF THE COPYRIGHT TO SPONSOR.

  1. ADDITIONAL TERMS: Any attempted form of Entry, other than those previously stipulated, is prohibited; no mechanically reproduced, facsimile, automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. Entries not complying in any way with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification. No correspondence regarding Entries will be entered into with Entrants except as provided herein. Entrants waive all rights and remedies at law or in equity for any claim they may have relating to this Contest.

  1. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Entrants acknowledge and agree that Released Parties are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered or garbled Entries or votes; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Entries, the tabulation of votes, the announcement of the prizes, the incorrect uploading of the photo, or in any Contest-related materials. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to any person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading materials from or use of the Contest website or Sponsor’s website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Contest or website, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated Entries will be void. Should any portion of the Contest be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of Entries, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winners from all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to action taken using the judging procedure outlined above. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

  1. OFFICIAL RULES: Rules are available online at www.herodogawards.org/rules or by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ Contest Rules Request, 11530 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope. Sponsor may modify Official Contest Rules in its sole discretion upon notice provided online at www.herodogawards.org.

  1. WINNERS LIST: Winners will be posted on Sponsor’s website, and may be printed in any of Sponsor’s publications. A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane Association, 2011 Hero Dog Awards Contest Winners List Requests, 11530 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope.


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