Mar 2, 2024 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

Proud pet owners, grab your cameras: your fur baby could be a pin-up model.

Shari Brownlee of Claysville, owner and photographer of Shari Lynn Fine Art Portraits, is coordinating a pet photo calendar contest to benefit VetPets, a nonprofit that helps veterans suffering from PTSD to adopt rescue dogs and complete a service dog training program.

“This is our first year doing it,” Brownlee said. “We reached out to VetPets to see if they would be interested in being the beneficiary of the contest and they wholeheartedly agreed. They are excited to be on the receiving end of our donations and have been working alongside me to help promote it.”

Brownlee said the goal is to raise $10,000 to help grant a service dog to a veteran or first responder in need.

The contest kicks off March 11. The date was selected due to its proximity to National K9 Veterans Day, celebrated March 13 to honor the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history. Votes will be taken through April 19.

“Since VetPets is a veteran-based agency and they are providing service dogs and emotional support dogs to veterans, we thought what a better week to start it,” Brownlee said.

The contest is open to pet parents throughout the Pittsburgh area, and is not limited to dogs. Entrants may submit photos of any pet they feel is calendar-worthy. No professional photos will be accepted.

“It has to be something that they’ve created themselves,” Brownlee said.

Entry fee is $5. The public is invited to vote for their favorite for $1 per vote with a five-vote minimum.

The top 13 vote-getters will be photographed by Brownlee during a professional in-studio photography session.

“The photo that has the most likes will go on the calendar cover,” Brownlee said. “The top 13 winners will come into the studio where they will get a portrait session with me. From that portrait session will come the image that is selected for the calendar.”

A reserve-a-grid space option for $10 also is available for those who wish to purchase an empty grid space and guarantee their pet a small square on the calendar.

Brownlee said several Washington County-based businesses have stepped up to donate more than $1,000 in weekly mini-contest prizes.

“Each week by Saturday at midnight, whichever pet photo entry has the most votes for the week will win that week’s prize,” Brownlee said.

Copies of the 2025 Vet Pet’s pet calendar will be available in mid-September after Brownlee finishes photographing all 13 grand prize winners.

To submit contest entries and vote, visit www.gogophotocontest.com/vetpets2025/.