Top dogs selected for Humane Society calendar

SAINT AUGUSTINE –  The St. Augustine Humane Society has completed its 10th annual pet photo contest and 2021 calendar fundraiser to support the non-profit’s mission of promoting healthy lifelong pet ownership and reducing the rate of relinquishment to shelters. Local pet winners have been named for “Mission Pawsible” secret agent themed calendars which will feature each pet fitted with accessories to match the 12 unique personalities. 

Hannah, a stunning Great Pyrenees dog, won first place and has the honor of being named the 2021 Pin Up Paws calendar cover dog. Owner Laurel Tallent campaigned for 2,400 votes. Hannah will receive a professional photo shoot with photographer Addison Fitzgerald, a $200 Columbia Restaurant gift certificate, two free copies of the 2021 Pin Up Paws calendar, and two free tickets to the PUP Party on Thursday, Nov.19 scheduled to be held at the newly renovated St. Augustine Humane Society, 1665 Old Moultrie Road in St. Augustine.

Additional top winners include second place Princess Portia, a beautiful Pomeranian, and the third-place winner is Kali, a competitive agility dog. Additional local winners include nine dogs and one cat that will be featured in the monthly pictorial calendar. They will also receive the photo shoots, gift certificates and calendars. A special acknowledgement goes to Cuomo, owned by Mary DeRose, who raised $900, but due to COVID travel restrictions was unable to attend the photo shoot.  She generously relinquished his spot in the calendar to the 14^th place runner-up.

PUP PARTY

Each year, the Humane Society applauds contest winners and debuts the calendar with a PUP Party.  The secret agent of the 2021 calendar will be celebrated on November 19  at the Humane Society with an Open House tour of the new facility.  Fundraising event guests will enjoy an evening of  desserts by Crème de la Cocoa and wine, a wine pull, silent auction, a complimentary Pin Up Paws 2021 calendar, and live music by The Falling Bones. Admission is $38 per person. The event planners have  taken great care to put together an inside and outside event that provides  a safe environment with full opportunity for social distancing.

The calendar contest initially started in June with donors who submitted a photo of their pet to be featured in the 2021 calendar. There was a $5 entry fee per pet to submit the photos, then friends placed votes for the pet in order for owners to win prizes. According to Carolyn Smith, St. Augustine Humane Society’s Executive Director, the fundraiser raised $21,582 with voting submissions. Finished calendars will cost $10 each beginning on Friday, November 20 and available at the Humane Society, 1665 Moultrie Road in St. Augustine, and online at staughumane.org.

All proceeds from submissions and vote donations, and sales will benefit the programs and services of the St. Augustine Humane Society. For more information about the Pin Up Paws  party event, call Mike Murphy at (904) 829-2737 ext. 111 or email mmurphy@staughumane.org. Visit the website at www.PUPparty.org.