2016 Nose to Nose Contest (“Contest”)

Important: Please read these Official Rules before participating in the Contest. By participating in the Contest, you, as the submitter or blog post author, agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

OFFICIAL RULES

Eligibility. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.  The Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (and the District of Columbia), Canada (excluding Quebec), Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand Sweden, and Switzerland who are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority under applicable law of your jurisdiction of residence). IF YOU DO NOT MEET ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, OR ANY OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE, AND BLOGPAWS (OWNED AND OPERATED BY PET360, INC.) (“SPONSOR”) RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD PRIZES TO YOU.  To be eligible to win a Prize, Entries must be completed and received by Sponsor in the manner and format designated in these Official Rules.  Employees, directors and officers of Sponsor, PetSmart, Inc., PetSmart Charities, Inc., Banfield Pet Hospital (Medical Management International, Inc.) and any of their respective affiliates, parent companies, subsidiary companies, and advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, the “Contest Entities”), and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside), and/or those living in the same household of each, are not eligible to participate or win any prizes.  All applicable federal, state/provincial and local laws and regulations apply.  By participating in the Contest, you agree that: (1) you have read and understand the Official Rules; (2) you meet the Contest eligibility requirements as explained in the Official Rules; (3) you are bound by the Official Rules and to Sponsor’s Conditions of Use, Legal Notices and Privacy Policy as published at www.blogpaws.com; (4) you unconditionally accept and agree to comply with and abide by the Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor; and (5) the Official Rules shall be legally binding on you and your legal representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns.

Entries. You may submit a nomination for one blog post in as many of the twelve (12) categories (each a “Category,” and collectively, the “Categories”) as you wish (each an “Entry,” and collectively, the “Entries”). Duplicate Entries in the same Category will be disqualified. In the event there are duplicate blog Entries (but different posts), the Judges will disqualify the Entry(ies) that do not meet the criteria and standards during the Review Period. Entries for each Category must have been created between January 1, 2015 and April 4, 2016. Entries created outside of this time period will be disqualified. Each Entry must be about, relate to, or demonstrate a focus on pets (companion animals of any kind). Previous Winners, who have won a particular Category two or more times, are ineligible for an Entry in that Category for three (3) years from the year of the last win. For a list of previous winners, please visit: https://blogpaws.com/events/past-events/2015-conference/2015-nose-nose-awards/.

Entry Period: Nominations for each of the Categories will open during the week of March 28, 2016 and all Entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. ET April 11, 2016 (“Entry Period”). Contest will include two rounds of judging. The first round will be a review for qualifications beginning 12:00:00 a.m. ET on April 11, 2016 and ending on April 18, 2016 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET (“Review Period”). All qualified reviewed Entries will be judged beginning 12:00:00 a.m. ET on April 19, 2016 and ending on May 4, 2016 at 11:59:59 ET (collectively with the Review Period, the “Judging Period”).

How to Enter the Contest. You can nominate a blog post for the contest in two ways. You may (1) submit a link to the blog post you wish to enter via the nomination page on blogpaws.com; or (2) mail the blog post to Sponsor at “2016 Nose to Nose Contest”, 10269 Deerfield St, Firestone, CO 80504.

The “Entry” includes a link to the blog if submitting through blogpaws.com or a copy of the blog post if submitting via mail and a completed registration form.

Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Entries, submitters and finalists may be subject to verification by Sponsor in its sole discretion. All Entries must be in English. Any attempt by an submitter to submit duplicate or near duplicate blog posts, will void such Entries and that submitter may be banned from making any nominations. Entries generated through a third-party website or software or in any way other than the manner and format set forth in these Official Rules is prohibited, and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any such entrant(s).

Contest Judging and Finalist Selection. During the Judging Period, a panel of qualified judges comprising representatives of the Contest Entities at Sponsor’s sole discretion (together, the “Judges”) will independently and blindly evaluate all eligible Entries submitted during the Judging Period. For a list of the committee and judges please visit https://blogpaws.com/events/2016-conference/2016-nose-to-nose-awards/. All Categories will be judged based on the Judging Criteria below. All Entries will be independently scored by the Judges. The four (4) highest scoring Entries in a particular Category will be chosen as the finalists for that Category. The highest scoring Entries in a particular Category will be chosen as the winner for that Category.

Judging Criteria: The Judges will evaluate all eligible Entries based on whether they meet all submission requirements and are visually appealing and will then evaluate the Entries based on the criteria in the following Categories:

BEST Pet Blog Design: Judged on use of color, images, written content, sidebar content, and overall visual appeal of the blog to the reader’s eye. How are pets represented? How effective is the design in showing the reader there are pets on this blog? Are pets represented appropriately? Last year’s winner: Jessica Rhae Williams http://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/

BEST Written Pet Blog Post: Judged on grammar, punctuation, paragraph construction, writing style, purpose, message, and ability to tell a story. Where it is appropriate, grammar and punctuation may challenge the judges when post is written in the voice of the pet. Content must be easily understandable by the average human or such Entry will be disqualified. Blog posts submitted should represent the purpose of the blog. ONE blog post per blog or nomination. Last year’s winner: Mel Freer https://nodogaboutit.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/loose-dog-dont-chase-stop-drop-and-lie-down/

BEST Pet Humor Blog: Judged on whether the content makes the reader laugh out loud, or at least smile. Content should be appropriate for pet parents – humor should include pets. Blog content should be original and show creativity. Engagement and sharing will be a plus in this category.
Last year’s winner: Jennifer Costello http://mybrownnewfies.com/

BEST Dog Blog: Judged on original, creative writing and visual content about dogs. Design will also be important. Blog must be focused on dogs. Posts about the writer’s dog, written in an entertaining or educational manner, are just as welcome as posts about specific dog issues. Engagement by the readers is a plus in this category. Last year’s winner: Jessica Rhae Williams http://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/

BEST Cat Blog: Judged on original, creative writing and visual content about cats. Design counts! Posts should capture the unique presence of cats in our lives. The focus of the blog as a cat blog is vital. Blogs that ‘include’ cats should not nominate for this category. Engagement by the readers is a plus in this category. Last year’s winner: Debbie Glovatsky http://www.glogirlydesign.com/

BEST Unconventional Pet Blog: Judged on writing, originality and creativity in bringing the category of ‘other’ to life. Our ‘other’ pets category is open to any animal NOT a dog or a cat, such as guinea pigs, goats, chickens, pigs, ferrets, horses, yes, even snakes. Content needs to be reflective of the animal the blog is about, although the blog may also write about other animals. Last year’s winner: Stacy Mantle http://www.petsweekly.com/horses

BEST New Pet Blog: Judged on originality, creativity, writing ability, purpose, and focus. The nominations in this category will be judged on ‘intent’ as well as accomplishment. Blog MUST have been created between January of 2015 and April of 2016. Show us a blog that is working to be the best it can be. Last year’s winner: Jen Gabbard http://www.puppyleaks.com/

BEST Cause Blog for or about pets: Judged on purpose, effectiveness, achievement, and engagement. We are looking for passion and persistence. Achievement may be how much money was raised and/or how many times the cause was supported. Also, audience engagement will be key to this category; how are reader’s responding? Last year’s winner: Christina Lee http://deafdogsrock.com/

BEST Pet Video on a Blog: Judged on creativity, focus, sound quality, visual quality, and length. Video should be purposeful. Pet(s) must be present in the video. Video must have pets in it. If the video is 5 minutes, it needs to demonstrate why it’s that long. If it’s a minute and a half, it needs to accomplish its goals in that minute and a half. ONE video per blog or nomination. Last year’s winner: Alana Grelyak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dlMJbfYwE

BEST Pet Photo on a Blog: Judged on creativity, focus, visual appeal, use of color, and purpose. If the picture tells a story, all the better. Picture must include pet(s). Must be relevant to the post it is contained in. ONE video per blog or nomination. Last year’s winner: Abbey Jacobson-Myers http://basilstravels.com/

BEST Pet Microblog: Judged on the overall look and feel, audience engagement, and the blogger’s participation in the conversation. Is the page effective in its design and its use of the platform? We are looking for active engagement, sharing, consistency in purpose, original blogger content, creativity and visual appeal, where appropriate. Platforms eligible for nomination are: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram. Last year’s winner: Sarah Stanek https://instagram.com/yogi000008/

BEST Use of Social Media by a 501c3: Judged on the creativity, purpose, effectiveness, and ability to convey and support the cause. Must include the results and demonstrate how social helped achieve those results. Must show proof of 501c3 status. Last year’s winner: Christine Michaels https://www.facebook.com/RiverfrontCats/

Nominated Blog Posts can also receive an Honorable Mention certificate: This is NOT a nomination category! Winners will be chosen by the BlogPaws Team for Best Series/Collaboration and Best About Page.

Other Contest Submission Requirements: Any Entry will be disqualified that contains material that, in the sole discretion of Sponsor:

  • Communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which Sponsor wishes to associate. Examples include, pets in unsafe situations, or Entries that promote bigotry or discrimination.
  • Disparages any person, Sponsor, the Contest Entities or any such entity’s products.
  • Violates or infringes upon the copyrights, trademarks, or privacy, property, publicity or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity not affiliated with this Contest;
  • Contains any personal identification, such as personal names or e-mail addresses;
  • Promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing);
  • Basic Guidelines for car photos:
    o Pet’s head cannot be out the window of a moving vehicle
    o Pet cannot be unrestrained in a moving vehicle
    o Pet can be unrestrained if vehicle is not moving

Any Entry, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, is considered inappropriate or not suitable for publication under the Official Rules may be disqualified.

Contest Prizes. All Category finalists will each receive one (1) full blogger registration for the Conference (approximate retail value: $229). Upon finalist claiming such prize, registration for the Conference will be purchased by Sponsor and given to the finalist.

Each Category winner will receive a prize package (the “Prize”). Each Category Prize, having an approximate retail value of at least $400.00 will be donated to a U.S. animal shelter of the Category winner’s choosing. All Prize details will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Prizes may vary, in color, size and other respects.

Odds of Winning a Contest Prize. Odds are not applicable due to this being a Contest and not a Sweepstakes. Contest prizes will be decided by judging in accordance with the judging criteria detailed herein.

Contest Winner Selection. Four (4) finalists will be chosen in each Category for a total of forty eight (48) finalists. Sponsor will attempt to notify the finalists on or about May 10, 2016 by sending an email to the email address on file with Sponsor and/or provided with the Entry by the submitter. One winner in each Category will be selected from the finalists and announced during the live Awards Ceremony taking place at the BlogPaws Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on June 25, 2016.

Potential Contest finalists and winners will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility for verification purposes or Liability/Publicity Release (TN residents need not sign publicity release) within three (3) business days. Puerto Rico residents may have thirty (30) days to claim their Prize and return documents. The value associated with the Prize may be taxable as income. In the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules; if Contest Prize notification is returned as undeliverable; if the potential winner does not respond to Sponsor’s direct message within the Contest Period; or a Contest Prize winner declines Prize offered, the Contest Prize will be forfeited and Sponsor may select an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible Contest Entries received during the corresponding Contest Period. Contest Prizes will be delivered within 6 – 12 weeks from date of verification via mail or freight to the street/mailing address provided by a winner in the Contest Application.

Potential contest winners and finalists will be required to warrant and represent that he/she owns the pet(s) that is/are featured in the Entry, has obtained permission from all persons in the Entry (or parent or guardian of minor children pictured), and that no images in the Entry infringe on another party’s intellectual property rights. Potential contest winners and finalist further agree that the Contest Entities are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. At any time during the Contest, even if the Entry has already been announced as a Prize winner, if Sponsor determines that an entrant’s Entry does not comply with any of the Official Rules, such Entry may be disqualified and will not be eligible to win a Prize.

Disclaimer. Sponsor, the Contest Entities, and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees, media partners, printers, and agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties“) will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or Entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related or technical malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor or by non-authorized human intervention; (d) damage caused by computer virus or otherwise resulting to any computer from entrant’s participation in the Contest or access of the any websites related to the Contest, whether human, mechanical or electronic; (e) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest; or (f) incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Internet users or by any of the programming or equipment associated with or used in the Contest.

As a condition of submitting an Entry, each entrant acknowledges and agrees that (a) Sponsor and other participants have access to and/or may create or have created Entries and/or other materials, ideas and concepts which may be similar or identical to the Entry in theme, idea, format, characters and/or other respects; (b) the entrant will not be entitled to any compensation or other consideration because of the use by Sponsor or any other participant of any such similar or identical material, ideas and/or concepts; and (c) Sponsor’s or another participant’s use of material containing elements similar to or identical with those contained in the Entry shall not obligate Sponsor to negotiate with and shall not entitle entrant or author of the Entry to any compensation or other claim.

ALL FEDERAL, STATE/PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

All Prizes will be awarded. Prize notifications returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within five (5) business days after delivery will be forfeited and will be awarded to an alternate winner. Prizes are not transferable. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any Prizes will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a Prize of equal or greater value for any Prize. Limit one (1) Prize per person, household or address. All Prizes are awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). Sponsor is not responsible for loss, delay or damage in shipping any Prize or notification.

Identity of Entrant, Finalist or Winner. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an online Entry, Entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail account of the e-mail address submitted at time of Entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Additionally, a potential Prize winner or finalist may be required to provide Sponsor with proof that the potential Prize winner is the author of the nominated blog post and eligible to win a Prize.

GENERAL RELEASE. By entering this Contest, all persons submitting an Entry and all Contest winners and finalists release Sponsor, and all Released Parties, from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of, misuse of or inability to use any Prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to intellectual property, personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property (including pets), rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

Use of Entrant, Finalist or Winner Name, Likeness, etc. Except where prohibited by law, by submitting an Entry, or claiming a prize as the finalist or winner, you hereby consent to Sponsor’s use of the Entry in its internal communications and publications and on social media and other marketing platforms. You also confirm that any people and/or the owners of any animals who are featured in the Entry gave permission for you to take the image(s) and do not object to your and Sponsor’s use of the same for commercial purposes.

Winner List; Rules Request. For a copy of the Contest Prize Finalists and Winner list, visit www.blogpaws.com or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope by August 31, 2016 to “Nose-to-Nose Contest” Winners’ List at 10269 Deerfield St, Firestone, CO 80504. To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit https://blogpaws.com/2016-nose-to-nose-awards-official-rules or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to “Nose-to-Nose Contest” Official Rules at 10269 Deerfield St, Firestone, CO 80504. Residents of VT may omit return postage.

Intellectual Property Notice. The Contest and all accompanying materials are copyright © 2016 by Pet360, Inc. All rights reserved. PET360 and BLOGPAWS are trademarks of Pet360, Inc. PETSMART is a trademark of PetSmart, Inc. BANFIELD is a trademark of Medical Management International, Inc.

Miscellaneous. The Contest and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the state of Arizona, U.S.A., without regard to conflict or choice of law provisions or international treaties or conventions. All persons submitting an Entry and all Contest finalists and winners agree and consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in Maricopa County in the State of Arizona, U.S.A. All persons submitting and Entry an all Contest finalists and winners agree to be bound by the Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor reserves the right to change the Official Rules at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion and without notice, and reserves the right, for any reason, to suspend or cancel the Contest or any entrant’s participation in the Contest including should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control affect the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Contest, or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Contest as planned. All persons submitting an Entry and all Contest finalists and winner who violate the Official Rules, violate any law, rule or regulation in connection with participation in any Contest, tamper with the operation of the Contest or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Contest or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from Entry into the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. Any provision of the Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Contest, please mail them to BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards Contest at 10269 Deerfield St, Firestone, CO 80504.

Contest Sponsor: Blogpaws (owned and operated by Pet360, Inc.) 10269 Deerfield St, Firestone, CO 80504.