When is the 2023 Dog Chow Visible Impact Award contest entry period?
You can nominate a PTSD service dog for the award between June 1, 2023 at 9 AM CT and June 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM CT.
What are the rules for the Visible Impact Award?
Official rules and details on how to nominate a dog for the Dog Chow Visible Impact Award and how to vote on the award finalists are available here.
Who can nominate a service dog for the award?
Any individual who is a legal resident of the 50 United States, DC, or Puerto Rico may nominate a PTSD service dog for the award. Nominating individuals may be the veteran themselves or may be a family member, friend, colleague, or employee of a service dog organization who knows the service dog and veteran handler firsthand.
How can I nominate a service dog for the award?
To be considered valid, all entries for this year’s Visible Impact Award must be submitted through our website portal.
How many dogs can I nominate?
Our rules state that there is a maximum of one entry per person. If there are multiple entries for the same service dog, those entries will be considered together.
Are photos required?
Yes, we are requiring at least one photo submission this year. Nominators have the option of including more than one photo if desired. Photos of the eligible service dog must be taken by yourself or by a friend or member of your family. You may not use photos taken by professionals. Full-color photos are preferred. Photos should be hi-res images at least 300 pixels per inch (dpi). For photos, we accept .jpeg and .png file formats.
Are videos required?
No. Video submissions are optional. However, videos do provide the opportunity to show off the service dog’s unique skills and personality. If submitting video, footage should be 20 seconds or shorter. We accept .mp4 and .mov file formats.
Can I change my entry after I submit It?
All entries are final and cannot be removed or resubmitted.
Can I use a professional photo or video?
You may not use photos taken by professionals. Any photos submitted should be hi-res images at least 300 pixels per inch (dpi). We accept .jpeg and .png file formats.
Who should be in the photo?
The eligible service dog should be featured in the primary photo submitted with the nomination. No human faces should be shown in the primary photo. Dog should be wearing a service vest or harness and should be free of any shock or choke collars. An additional photo of the eligible service dog with their veteran is preferred, but not required at the time of nomination submission. Potential finalists will be asked to provide a photo of the service dog alongside their veteran if one has not already been submitted along with the original nomination.
Can my photos or video have logos or trademarks showing?
Please make sure that you don’t prominently feature any third-party trademarks, logos, artwork, or music with your nomination. Submissions may not violate copyright or trademark rights.
How should the service dog should be shown in photos?
The eligible service dog in the nomination must be shown in photos and video (if applicable) wearing its service vest or harness. The dog’s face should be clearly visible in the photo and the photo should be taken at a great enough distance so that the dog’s service vest/harness is visible in the photo. Dog’s should be free of any shock or choke collars.
Can I use filters?
Photos or videos with filters will not be accepted. Small tweaks to exposure or other settings are okay if they help make the image or video clearer. Please keep other editing to a minimum. Photos with filters or other changes to the dog’s or veteran’s features will not be accepted.
How do I know my entry worked?
When you successfully submit your nomination form, your screen will show a message stating that your nomination has been received. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm whether specific individual entries have been received.
Who picks the winner?
Up to five service dog finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising diverse members of the Dog Chow community. The judges will carefully review each entry to identify the dogs that best illustrate the life-changing impact and unique skill set of a well-trained PTSD service dog. Beginning September 1, 2023, descriptions of the finalists will be showcased online and consumers will have the ability to vote for their favorite service dog. The PTSD service dog finalist who receives the most votes during the popular voting period will be declared the winner.
Are early submissions given more consideration?
All completed nominations are given the same level of consideration, regardless of which day they were submitted during the entry period.
What will the winner receive?
The Dog Chow Visible Impact Award winner will receive a check for $10,000. In addition, Dog Chow will award $25,000 to the organization that trained the winning service dog. See Official Contest Rules for more details.
Do finalists win anything if they are not the top vote earner?
Each finalist will receive a VIP photoshoot experience on a mutually agreed upon date in July. Photoshoot experience will include 2-nights accommodations, transportation, and meals for up to four (4) persons. Additionally, each finalist who does NOT win the grand prize, will receive $1,000. See Official Contest Rules for more details.
Do the organizations that trained the finalists receive anything?
Only the organization that trained the Grand Prize-winning service dog (based on the outcome of the popular vote) will be awarded $25,000. See Official Contest Rules for more details.
How will you contact the finalists?
The potential finalists will be notified by Sponsor or Administrator by phone on or about July 7, 2023.
How will you contact the winner?
The potential Grand Prize winner will be notified by Sponsor or Administrator by phone on or about October 25, 2023.
How do I vote for the Visible Impact Award winner?
Voting will be open to the public on our website portal from September 1, 2023 at 12:00 AM CT though October 13, 2023 at 11:59 PM CT. You can view the Official Contest Rules for more details on voting.
How many times can I vote for a finalist?
Our rules state that there is a maximum of one vote per person that can take place during the voting period. You can view the Official Contest Rules for more details on voting.
Does my vote help provide more veterans with PTSD service dogs?
For every contest vote, Dog Chow will donate $5 (up to $75,000) to the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans to help train and care for more PTSD service dogs for veterans in need. View the Official Contest Rules for more details.