Official Rules of the Pet Lovers Choice Awards
- INTRODUCTION AND BINDING AGREEMENT
Your participation in any capacity—as an Entrant, Voter, or Winner—in the Pet Lovers Choice Awards (the “Awards”) constitutes your full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules. This document is a binding legal contract between you (the “Participant”) and The Entertainment Gang and Buzz Box IP Pty Ltd (collectively the “Operator”). For clarity, any reference herein to "We," "Us," or "Our" shall refer to the Operator.
The Operator reserves the right to amend or cancel the Awards or these Official Rules at any time without advance notice. These Official Rules were last revised on October 31, 2025.
Please be aware that this document contains critical provisions that affect your legal rights, including limitations on liability and a mandatory arbitration clause governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Utah. The sections titled “Limitation of Liability and Indemnity” and “Mandatory Arbitration” require that all disputes be resolved through individual arbitration rather than in court and waive your right to participate in any class-action lawsuit.
- ELIGIBILITY
The Awards are open to all legal residents of the United States of America, except where prohibited by state or local law. Officers, directors, and employees of the Operator, as well as their immediate family members (defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling), are not eligible to enter the Awards. The submitted pet must reside in the United States at the time of submission and for the duration of the Awards.
Participants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Individuals under the age of eighteen (18) and over the age of thirteen (13) are permitted to enter only with the express consent of a parent or legal guardian. By entering, all Participants under eighteen (18) years of age confirm they have obtained such consent, and the Operator may require proof of this consent at any time. Participants cannot be under the age of thirteen (13).
- ENTRY AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The entry period for the Awards commences on November 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM EST and concludes on November 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. The Operator reserves the right to modify these dates and times at its sole discretion.
To enter, an individual ("Entrant") must submit a minimum of one photograph of their pet, or a pet for which they serve as a guardian, along with any other media or information requested on the application form (collectively, the "Entry"). Only one (1) Entry per person is permitted for each category.
- Authenticity of Pet and Photograph:
- All submitted photographs must feature a real, living pet legally owned by the Entrant or the Entrant must be an authorized representative by the owner of the submitted pet. Submissions featuring inanimate objects, including but not limited to stuffed animals or taxidermy, are ineligible.
- Submitted pets must be domesticated animals such as dogs and cats. Non-domesticated animals (wild) are strictly prohibited from being submitted.
- The submitted photograph must be an authentic work captured by the Entrant. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create the image or the primary subject is strictly forbidden. Standard editing, such as cropping and adjustments to color, contrast, or brightness, is permissible so long as it does not alter the fundamental reality of the image. The Operator has the final authority to determine if a submission has violated this rule.
- Proof of Ownership:
- A potential winner must furnish proof of ownership of the pet featured in their Entry as a condition of entering or receiving a prize. Acceptable documentation includes vet records, adoption certificates, or microchip registration data.
- This proof must be submitted within five (5) days of the Operator's request. Failure to do so will result in disqualification and the selection of an alternate winner.
- Intellectual Property:
- By submitting an Entry, the Entrant warrants that they are the original copyright holder of the photograph and all associated media, or that they have obtained the necessary permissions for the purpose of entering this Awards.
- The Entrant also warrants that the Entry and its associated media does not infringe on any 3rd party or entities rights including but not limited to privacy, copyright or publicity rights. If the Entry contains images of any people the Entrant warrants that they have obtained any necessary releases from those individuals to be used in the Awards and any other agreed associated use.
- The Entrant hereby grants to the Operator a worldwide non-exclusive and non-transferable license of the Entry and all its associated material. This license grants worldwide rights to reproduce, distribute, display, adapt, and sublicense the Entry in any media format for any purpose, without further compensation or consent.
- The Operator may refuse any Entry that contains vulgar, obscene, or defamatory content; infringes on third-party intellectual property rights; or otherwise violates these Official Rules.
- PUBLIC VOTING ROUNDS
The Operator may, in its sole discretion, select which Entrants advance as competitors in the public voting portion of the Awards. Competitors within each category will be placed into groups for an initial voting round, with subsequent rounds narrowing the field of competitors.
Entrants are not permitted to vote for Entries that they have submitted.
Public voting commences on November 10, 2025, at 12:01 AM EST. Members of the public are invited to vote for their favorite Entries ("Public Vote"). Voters may cast one free vote per Entry per 24 hours, which requires email or social media authentication. Additional votes may be cast through payments, with the number of votes varying based on the payment amount. All payments for votes are final and non-refundable.
- Categories Voting Structure:
- There will be five (5) voting rounds for each Category.
- Round 1: The top 20 Entrants or top 40% of entrants (whichever is less) with the most votes in each group advance to Round 2.
- Round 2: The top 15 Entrants or top 40% of entrants (whichever is less) with the most votes in each group advance to Round 3.
- Round 3: The top 10 Entrants or top 40% of entrants with the most votes in each group advance to Round 4.
- Round 4: The top 5 Entrants or top 40% of entrants with the most votes in each group advance to the Final Round.
- Final Round: The top-voted Entrant in the Final Round across all groups in a category will be named the People’s Choice Award winner for that category.
The Operator at its absolute and complete discretion, reserves the right to alter the number of rounds and number of advancing Entrants without notice. The Operator may disqualify votes suspected of fraud and disqualify any winner found to have unfairly manipulated the vote. In the event of a tie, the Operator will determine the outcome.
Entrants that have received zero (0) votes are ineligible to progress to the next round regardless of their position at the end of the round.
In the event of a tie for the final advancing spot(s) or winning positions, the submission that received the highest purchased vote amount will be positioned higher and progress. If the tie is still not broken the submissions will be positioned based on the chronological order of the submission date with the earliest submitted entries being positioned higher and advancing.
- Bonus votes for group winners:
Entrants that are placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in each group will receive bonus votes for the subsequent round. The following bonuses will be applied:
1st Place: 350 bonus votes
2nd Place: 200 bonus votes
3rd Place: 150 bonus votes
4th Place: 100 bonus votes
5th Place: 50 bonus votes
In the event of a tie for the final winning positions, the submission that received the highest purchased vote amount will be positioned higher and progress. If the tie is still not broken the submissions will be positioned based on the chronological order of the submission date with the earliest submitted entries being positioned higher and advancing.
- Best Friends Animal Society Disclaimer
Limited Role: Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) is the designated charitable beneficiary of the Pet Lovers' Choice Awards and receives proceeds from voting fees.
Purchasing votes: does not qualify as a donation to BFAS by any voters. Therefore, for avoidance of doubt, vote purchases are not tax deductible.
Minimum Allocation: BFAS receives a minimum of 51% of the Net Voting Revenue. Net Voting Revenue is the cost of your vote or bundle minus 2.9% and an additional .30 cents per transaction for processing fees, subject to change based on Stripe, Inc.’s current fees. Note that the transaction fees are subject to change if international credit cards are used.
No Influence on Voting or Results: BFAS does not participate in or control the voting process, the determination of winners, or any decisions regarding Entrants or Entries. BFAS is not responsible for vote counts, vote verifications, or final outcomes.
No Responsibility for Award Results: BFAS has no responsibility or liability for any issues arising from the voting process, technical malfunctions, or the determination of winners. Any questions or concerns regarding voting should be directed to the Awards team by clicking here.
- PRIZES
Prizes will be officially announced and awarded for Category Winners at the Pet Lovers Choice Awards event to be held in approximate proximity of Los Angeles, California. Prizes are non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. If a prize is unavailable, a substitute of equal or greater value may be provided. Physical prizes and vouchers will be sent to the mailing and email addresses provided by the winner.
All winners must attend the Pet Lovers Choice Awards event with their pet in the Los Angeles, California area on January 6, 2026. A prize will be forfeited if not claimed within 48 hours of notification, and it will be awarded to the next runner-up.
The Prizes awarded for each category will be as follows:
- Winners of each Category:
- $10,000 cash prize
- Tickets for two people and their pet to the Pet Lovers Choice Awards
- Accommodation in Los Angeles for two for one night with their Pet on the date of the Awards
- Announcement of winning prize on stage at the Pet Lovers Choice Awards
- Photography session for the winning Pet and Owner at the Awards
- Photos featured on The Pet Collective
- Photos and winners announcement on Time Square Billboard in New York City
- Pet Lovers Choice Awards Trophy
- COMMUNICATIONS, CONSENT, AND PRIVACY
- Consent to be Contacted. By participating in the Awards as an Entrant or a Voter , you provide your express consent for the Operator to contact you using the information you have provided, such as your email address.
- Types of Communication.
You acknowledge and agree that you may receive two types of communications from the Operator:
- Promotional Communications: These include updates on competition progress, voting reminders, and information about future promotional events or similar awards.
- Transactional and Operational Communications: These are communications essential for the administration of the Awards and your participation.
- Right to Opt-Out of Promotional Communications.
You may withdraw your consent and opt-out of receiving Promotional Communications at any time. Every promotional email will contain a clear and conspicuous "unsubscribe" link for this purpose.
- Transactional and Operational Communications are Mandatory.
You acknowledge that you cannot unsubscribe from Transactional and Operational Communications, as they are a condition of your participation in the Awards. Withdrawing from these communications would require you to cease participation in the Awards. These essential messages include, but are not limited to:
- Entry submission confirmations.
- Receipts for vote payments.
- Notifications to potential winners.
- Critical updates regarding changes to the Awards timeline, rules, or operational status.
- Privacy Policy.
All personal information collected from participants is subject to the Operator's Privacy Policy available at: https://petloverschoiceawards.com/privacy/. Your participation in the Awards constitutes your acknowledgment and agreement to the terms of our Privacy Policy. We may share personal information with our partners, including the Beneficiary (BFAS), for marketing and promotional purposes as described in our Privacy Policy. You have the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. Exercising your right to opt-out will not affect your eligibility to enter or win the Awards. You may exercise this right by opting out using the opt-out "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" option on the website submission form and vote form. Please note that when using social authentication to cast a free vote, you are subject to the privacy policy of that third-party platform.
- DATA USAGE AND PUBLICITY
All Participant information and Entries may be used by the Operator for any promotional, marketing, or publicity purpose for the Awards in any media format worldwide, without notice or fee.
- PROHIBITED CONDUCT AND ABUSE
All participants agree not to engage in any activity that compromises the integrity, fairness, or proper operation of the Awards. The Operator reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to determine violations of these rules. The following conduct is strictly prohibited:
- Automated Participation: The use of any automated system, script, bot, macro, or any other device to automate the process of submitting Entries or casting votes is forbidden.
- Data Extraction: The use of any automated tool or software, including but not limited to "screen scrapers," "web crawlers," or "spiders," to harvest, copy, or extract any data or content from the Awards website is strictly prohibited.
- Malicious Interference: Any attempt to disrupt, damage, tamper with, or place an undue burden on the technical infrastructure of the Awards, including its website, servers, and networks, is forbidden. This includes the introduction of any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or other potentially harmful code.
- Fraudulent Activity: Any form of fraudulent participation is prohibited, including but not limited to, the use of fraudulent accounts, vote buying or trading outside of the official paid voting mechanism, or any other deceptive practices intended to unfairly manipulate the outcome.
Consequences of Violation: Any violation of this section may result in immediate action by the Operator, without prior notice. Such actions may include, but are not limited to:
- The voiding of all votes associated with the prohibited conduct.
- The disqualification of the associated Entrant from the Awards.
- The permanent banning of the responsible individual(s) from any future competitions.
- The pursuit of all available legal remedies, including reporting such activity to law enforcement.
- LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY
The Operator is not liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising from your participation in the Awards or acceptance of a prize. This includes technical malfunctions of computer systems, servers, or internet traffic congestion. The services related to the Awards are provided as-is, and may be suspended or discontinued without notice or liability.
PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT THE CONTEST ENTITIES (DEFINED AS OPERATOR, PROMOTION ENTITIES, BFAS, SPONSORS, AND PRIZE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EMPLOYEES) SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RELATED TO THIS AWARDS. LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES AND ARBITRATION COSTS. THIS APPLIES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
ALL PARTICIPANTS AGREE TO RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING FROM THIS AWARDS, including claims for personal injury, death, or monetary loss related to the use of Entries, likenesses, or the acceptance and use of any prize. This release covers claims of error in these Official Rules; lost or misdirected Entries or votes; copyright infringement; and any technical malfunctions or human error. The Operator is not responsible for off-site activity on social media or other third-party platforms.
- MANDATORY ARBITRATION
Any dispute or claim arising from or relating to the Awards or these Official Rules shall be resolved through binding, unappealable arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules.
ARBITRATION CLAIMS MUST BE BROUGHT IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR MEMBER OF ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator in Utah, or virtually if determined by the arbitrator. The proceedings shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah. Discovery shall be limited to the exchange of relevant documents upon written request. The arbitrator may grant any remedy available in court, excluding injunctive relief. The prevailing party is entitled to recover its attorneys' fees and arbitration costs. The proceedings and their outcome shall remain confidential. If any part of this provision is found invalid, the remainder shall remain in effect.
- GENERAL TERMS
The Operator may terminate, suspend, or modify the Awards if its proper conduct is compromised by factors beyond its control, such as acts of God, terrorism, computer viruses, or fraud. Should the Awards be terminated early, the Operator may modify the winner selection process.
Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any prize. The invalidity of any provision herein shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. These Official Rules are exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah.
- SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed from this agreement. The remainder of these Terms and Conditions shall continue in full force and effect and shall be construed as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had never been a part of the agreement.