$500 for 500 likes: the Underdogs of Central Ohio Contest

If you read Central Ohio Dog Blog often, you probably know that we have a soft-spot for special cases or “underdogs.” Senior dogs, disabled dogs, bullies and even black dogs are frequently passed over at adoption events and in shelters. We believe that a progressive animal welfare community takes up the cause of the underdogs, believes in them and allies with them, and is patient enough to work with them through training, or to wait with them until the right adopter comes around.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Lady has two strikes against her: she's a bully girl, and she's deaf. But those are the ONLY counts against her. She's trained with hand signals, well-behaved on leash and gets along well with other dogs and even cats! Adoptable from PetPromise, Inc.

If you follow the Central Ohio Dog Blog facebook page, you’ll also know that I loooove to give money away to local animal welfare organizations, and I’ve used the page as a platform to do so. So I’m launching my next contest. My goal for this contest is threefold: first, to highlight the happy endings of some central Ohio underdogs, to show that they’re not hopeless cases nor should they be pitied, but rather be adopted, and loved. Second, to promote the Central Ohio Dog Blog and further its mission by expanding its reach. And finally, to give away some cash and free press to a deserving local animal welfare organization.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Doesn't that white muzzle melt you? Jeremy is a senior boy who's been up for adoption with the Columbus Dog Connection for way too long.

So here’s the contest:

I really, really want 500 likes. So much so that I’m willing to shell out $500 to get there! The more reach we have, the more we can educate our central Ohio community about responsible dog ownership, which is the core mission of the Central Ohio Dog Blog. We desperately want to bump the status quo, to help people better understand dogs and to make central Ohio a more hospitable environment for all of canine kind, and we can only do that if we’re connected to more people. So I’m launching the Underdogs of Central Ohio Contest.

The rules:

• From now until April 8^th, I will be accepting entries into the “Underdogs of Central Ohio” Contest, to highlight some of our great success stories.
• Entries must include:
  •  Name, phone number and email address for the individual submitting the entry.
  • A high-quality photograph of your owned underdog residing in Franklin or contiguous  county*. The dog does not need to have been adopted from a central Ohio rescue organization, but it should currently reside here.  Please note that while Central Ohio Dog Blog remains committed to promoting adoptables, only owned pets are eligible for entry in the contest. 
  • A narrative of no more than 150 words telling the underdog’s story, what’s great about him/her, and any other pertinent details, and
  • The name and contact information for a 501c3 animal welfare organization located in Franklin or a contiguous  county* which will receive the prize donation if the entry wins.
  • If a submission lacks a photo, narrative, or designated animal welfare organization, it will be automatically disqualified from entry. By submitting an entry, the entrant is granting Central Ohio Dog Blog the right to use the photo and narrative on the blog, facebook page, promotional materials, education events, and any other way which forwards the Central Ohio Dog Blog’s mission.
    

• All entries must be received via email at CentralOhioDogBlog@yahoo.com prior to midnight on Sunday, April 8^th.

Voting:

• On Wednesday, April 11^th, Central Ohio Dog Blog will post all entries—photos, narrative and designated animal welfare organization– to a photo album on the Central Ohio Dog Blog facebook page.
• Entrants may lobby their friends, followers, and others to vote for their photo by ‘liking’ the photograph in the album, and also ‘liking’  the Central Ohio Dog Blog facebook page. They may also enlist the support of facebook pages to garner more “likes”. 
• Please note that likes to photos from the album shared on other pages will not be counted towards the total votes. Only those likes the photo in the album on Central Ohio Dog Blog’s facebook page will be counted.
• The contest will end when the Central Ohio Dog Blog facebook page reaches 500 likes. If the page does not reach 500 likes by April 27th, the contest will end at noon of that day.

*Counties include Franklin, Pickaway, Madison, Union, Delaware, Licking, and Fairfield counties.

Prizes:

• A $500 donation to a 501c3 animal welfare organization located in Franklin or contiguous county* designated by the entrant.  If that animal welfare organization permits, the winning entry may designate how they want the donation to be used.
• 7 on-air announcements on a local radio station promoting the designated animal welfare organization
• The winning underdog’s owner will win a ticket to join me on the inaugural Doggie Delights tour hosted by A La Carte Food Tours.

Feel free to share this post far and wide. There is no limit to the number of entries we will accept, nor is there a limit to the number of entries per designated animal welfare organization. I look forward to reading about all of our wonderful underdogs!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.