The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® Contest (the “Contest”), starts on April 18, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on or around November 10, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET. The 2023 American Hero Dog winner will be announced on or about November 10, 2023. NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR DONATION WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

Eligibility Criteria

This Contest is only open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry and own the nominated dog (or are the authorized agent of the owner of the nominated dog). All Contest participants (“Entrants”) agree to be bound by all terms set forth in these Official Rules and, unless prohibited by law, must sign the Release portion of the Entry Form authorizing use described therein of the Entrant’s Entry materials (including but not limited to narrative and Photograph). All employees and Board members of Sponsor, and to the extent involved with this Contest or prior years’ American Humane Hero Dog Awards® events, including presenters, previous American Humane employees, previously disqualified Entrants, event leadership committee, sales representatives, agents, consultants, contractors, advertising, marketing and promotional agencies, Sponsor’s panel of judges, and the immediate families (parent, child, sibling or spouse regardless of where they reside) and household members of each, are not eligible to enter or win, unless authorized, in its sole discretion, by Sponsor. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. The nominated dogs of all Entrants must have appropriate credentials for the applicable Category and Sponsor has the right to request, require, and verify the narrative story and credentials at any time including but not limited to before any Entrant’s dog is deemed a Semi-Finalist, winner of any Category and/or the American Hero Dog winner. Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify nominated dogs that are submitted by anyone other than the owner of nominated dog (or the authorized agent of the owner of the nominated dog). Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant’s dog that does not have satisfactory credentials, whose narrative story cannot be verified or is contrary to the mission of Sponsor, or any behavior Sponsor deems inappropriate or illegal in Sponsor’s sole opinion, and/or based upon credible allegations or complaints of animal cruelty, abuse and/or neglect against Entrant in Sponsor’s sole opinion. Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify an Entrant’s dog for bullying or other unsportsmanlike behavior by Entrant that is not in the spirit of the contest, whether through email or documented on another platform like Twitter or Facebook. Each Entrant’s dog must be living at the time of entry and be located within the United States. Nominated dogs must not be currently used in connection with a for-profit business owned or run by the Entrant, owner, or handler of the dog, unless approved by Sponsor in its sole discretion. This Contest is void outside the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia and where prohibited by law. First place Category winning dogs and/or the relevant Entrants of the first place Category winning dogs from any prior American Humane Hero Dog Awards® contest are ineligible to be entered or win.

Entering a Nomination

No purchase or donation is necessary to enter. Beginning April 18, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET and ending June 6, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET (“Nomination Period”), you may enter or nominate a dog in one of the five (5) Contest Categories by submitting to Sponsor a completed and signed 2023 Official Contest Entry and Release Form (“Entry Form”) and photograph that meet the criteria of the Contest Submission Guidelines below (collectively, photograph and completed Entry Form with narrative description essay constitute an “Entry”). Sponsor retains the right in its sole discretion to extend the Nomination Period. The Contest Entry Form is available online at www.herodogawards.org/nominate (or such other website designated by Sponsor) or may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane, 2023 Hero Dog Awards Contest Entry Form Request, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope. Entries submitted by mail, which includes delivery by U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, UPS or DHL (“Mail”), must be postmarked on or before June 6, 2023 and received by Sponsor no later than June 13, 2023 to be eligible. Entrant is responsible for cost of mailing Entry to Sponsor. Sponsor retains the right in its sole discretion to determine whether an Entry satisfies the requirements set forth herein. In the event of a dispute related to the identity of the Entrant of an electronic entry, the authorized holder of the applicable e-mail account shall be deemed the Entrant if such holder of the account meets the definition of an Entrant as set forth above.

Categories

All Entries must meet the criteria (as set forth in the Entry Form, which criteria are hereby deemed part of these Official Rules) of one of the following five (5) categories (the “Categories”)::

Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs
Service and Guide/Hearing Dogs
Therapy Dogs
Military Dogs
Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs

Entrants are encouraged to select the Category carefully – the Category designation may not be changed after Entry is submitted without Sponsor’s consent.

What are the submission guidelines?

During the Nomination Period, visit www.herodogawards.org (or such other website designated by Sponsor) and submit a photograph (“Photo” or “Photograph”) of the dog (dog only) in one of the seven (7) Categories along with a completed Entry Form that must include a narrative description of 1500 characters or less (if submitted online) or two-hundred fifty (250) words or less (if submitted via mail) telling the Sponsor about the dog (with specific emphasis on how the dog represents the Category for which the dog is nominated) and explaining why the dog pictured deserves the title of American Hero Dog. Follow the directions provided to complete the Entry Form: Upload the Photograph, select the appropriate Category, and provide a narrative description. All elements of the Entry Form must be complete, and all Entries must be received within the Nomination Period to be considered. During the Contest, American Humane may request additional material from an Entrant including submission of a short video taken by Entrant or film a video managed by American Humane, at Entrant’s home location. Each Entrant (including members of the same household) may nominate only one (1) dog and each dog must be submitted with a separate Entry Form. Each unique dog may not be submitted into more than one (1) Category. A dog submitted more than once for the same or different Categories may void all Entries related to that dog. Entries must be completed in English. For submissions by Entrants who are most comfortable with American Sign Language (ASL) or otherwise not a written language, Entries may be submitted via video in sign language and Sponsor will provide an interpreter to verbalize the Entrant’s words for their Entry, and upon request, Sponsor will compose the entry in written English. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means and Entries by any means which subvert the entry process are void. Entries may only be submitted online or by Mail. All other methods, whether or not defined herein, may be deemed void at the discretion of Sponsor. Photo submitted must be taken within the last twelve (12) months and include only the dog that is the subject of the Entry (no persons). If submitted online, Photo must be submitted in .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .pdf or .png format and cannot exceed 10 MB in size. If submitted by Mail, Photograph must be either a commercially developed print, or a digital photograph produced at a minimum of 300 dots per inch (“dpi”) on quality photo paper, and must be no smaller than 4”x6” and no larger than 8”x10” in size. Image modifications such as borders, frames, composite images, multiple exposures, watermarks, signature or copyright notices, addition or replacement of elements, and artistic filters are not permitted. Cropping, rotating, resizing, red-eye removal, and the use of autofix enhancements and tools to correct contrast, brightness, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color, balance and tint are permitted. Studio photos are ineligible. Sponsor reserves the right to edit or redact badges, insignia or logos and/or require dogs to appear with collars and/or tags. Sponsor reserves the right to edit, crop, resize or compress Photographs at their discretion. Sponsor also reserves the right to require an updated or replacement photograph. All Photographs must be approved by Sponsor, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Photographs depicting or implying any form of inhumane treatment may be disqualified at the Sponsor’s discretion. Photograph(s) must be the original work of the Entrant or otherwise the Entrant must have the permission of the photographer; must not feature any third parties or third party materials, may not have been published previously; must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity; and must be suitable for publication. All Entry materials (including but not limited to Photograph(s) and narrative descriptions) become the property of Sponsor upon submission and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Additional Entry Requirements: Entry may not contain, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, any content that:

Contains commercial trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or commercial building exteriors/interiors) owned by others; contains any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
Contains copyrighted materials owned by others (including but not limited to photographs, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media);
Is sexually explicit or suggestive; unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic; contains nudity;
Promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing); promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message
Is obscene or offensive; endorses any form of hate or hate group;
Appears to intentionally duplicate any other submitted Entries, as determined by the date received;
Defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people, animals or companies;
Violates any law or the privacy, publicity, copyright or other rights of any person or entity or
Is determined by Sponsor not to be consistent with Sponsor’s mission or the goals or spirit of the Contest.

By submitting an Entry, Entrant represents, warrants and covenants that he/she is the owner of the dog, or authorized agent of the owner of the dog, in the applicable Photo, that he/she owns or otherwise controls all rights in his/her Entry materials and any other materials provided by Entrant and that his/her Entry does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any other person or entity, and that he/she consents to the submission and use of the Entry materials (including but not limited to the Photo and narrative) and any other materials provided by Entrant in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein, and grants permission for the Entry to be posted on www.herodogawards.org, www.americanhumane.org and/or any other websites controlled by or affiliated with Sponsor. Entrant agrees that Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. Released Parties do not guarantee the posting of any Entry. No changes are permitted to any Entry after submission, subject to Sponsor’s sole discretion to make limited exceptions based on particular circumstances.

How is the winner determined?

Up to five Nominated Dogs in each Category (the “Semi-Finalists”) will be selected by a panel of advisors convened by Sponsor. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, all eligible Entries will be judged on the following criteria: the extent to which the Nominated Dog exemplifies the Category, narrative description of Entry (including but not limited to how the Nominated Dog best portrays the Category for which such dog is entered), creativity, composition and quality of the Photograph). Decisions will be made without regard to Entrant’s race, creed, color, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. Designated Semi-Finalists must be alive and permanently reside within the United States at the time of such designation. Sponsor reserves the right not to designate a Semi-Finalist for any Category if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries in that Category.

All Semi-Finalists and their Entries will be posted by Sponsor on www.herodogawards.org (or such other website designated by Sponsor) on or about July 18, 2023. Sponsor reserves rights to publish, use, adapt, edit, modify and/or create derivative works of the elements of such Entry materials and any other materials provided by Entrant (or otherwise connected with the story of the Semi-Finalist) and any derivations of the foregoing, in any way, for programming, advertising, trade, commerce, publicity, promotional and other purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide and on the Internet, and in perpetuity, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from Entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so.

All Semi-Finalists’ Entries may be posted on www.herodogawards.org and/or www.americanhumane.org and/or any other websites controlled by or affiliated with Sponsor, any sponsors of the Contest or the American Humane Hero Dogs Awards® event and/or related events, and/or announced by news release and media outreach following the Nominated Dog’s designation as a Semi-Finalist.

CATEGORY WINNER DETERMINATION:NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO VOTE. Between 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET on July 18, 2023 and 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET on August 24, 2023 (the “Category Winner Voting Period”), individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and reside in one of the fifty (50) United States or District of Columbia may visit www.herodogawards.org (or such other website designated by Sponsor) to register and vote for Category winning dogs (“Category Winners”) from among the Semi-Finalists in each Category. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend the dates of the Category Winner Voting Period. A voter may vote for more than one Semi-Finalist; however, voters are limited to one vote per Category each day. Each Semi-Finalist must be alive and permanently reside within the United States during the Category Winner Voting Period, unless approved by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

Votes obtained by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public in exchange for votes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, are prohibited. Use of script, macro or any automated system to vote or any vote that is intended to impair, or results in impairment of, the integrity of the voting process is prohibited, and all such votes will be void. Subject to Sponsor’s sole discretion for limited exceptions based on particular circumstances, voting is only permitted electronically through www.herodogawards.org (or such other website designated by Sponsor). All e-mail addresses of voters must be valid; Sponsor has the right to validate e-mail addresses of any voter. Individuals may not utilize more than one e-mail address to vote more than one time per day per Category during the Category Winner Voting Period. Sponsor will determine, in its sole discretion, whether a vote is valid. Invalid votes may be invalidated, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, whether or not the Entrant for which such invalid vote was cast was involved or affiliated with such invalid vote. Any threats, intimidation or other negative action against, or received or perceived to be received by, Sponsor, any sponsor of the Contest or any other Entry (including but not limited to Entrant and/or Semi-Finalist) may result, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, of disqualification of the Entry related to making such action (whether or not the applicable Entrant was involved or affiliated with such action). Voting is not permitted by employees or Board members of Sponsor and its subsidiaries. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to invalidate or discontinue public voting and make any or all Semi-Finalist, Category Winner, or American Humane Hero Dog determination.

Category Winner Entrants are not permitted to campaign for any particular dog for selection in any future American Humane Hero Dog Awards® but may promote the Contest in general.

A short tribute video will be produced for each Category Winner. and will be filmed in the Category Winners’ hometowns. Sponsor shall be responsible for creating the story content, all pre-production and post-production elements, and any crew travel or lodging expense.

2023 AMERICAN HUMANE HERO DOG WINNER DETERMINATION: Sponsor will select the 2023 American Humane Hero Dog winner from among the Category Winners. All eligible Category Winners will be assessed by the criteria set by Sponsor. The 2023 American Humane Hero Dog will be announced at the AMERICAN HUMANE HERO DOG AWARDS® CEREMONY on or about November 10, 2023.

Hero Dog Awards Ceremony

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards® Category Winners and their respective Entrants will have the opportunity, but will not be required to travel to Palm Beach, FL on or about November 10, 2023 (exact details and dates to be determined by Sponsor) to participate in the American Humane Hero Dog Awards® event (“Event”) if Event is held. If the Category Winner and Entrant elect to travel to the Event, the trip may consist of round-trip, coach class air transportation from a major U.S. gateway airport near Category Winner’s residence to designated location for two people and the Category Winner, three (3) days and two (2) nights standard hotel accommodations (one (1) room, double occupancy, room, taxes, ground transportation to and from the Event provided (excludes food, beverages, insurance and any additional items) (“Trip”). Please note that Category Winners must travel according to the airline’s rules and regulations and are not guaranteed to travel in the cabin with Entrant. If the Category Winner resides within a 100-mile radius of destination, ground transportation will be provided in lieu of air transportation and no compensation or substitution will be provided in lieu thereof. Actual value of the Trip may vary based on point of departure. Entrants are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents prior to travel. Sponsor reserves the right to change Event, Event dates, or cancel Event with reasonable notice to all affected Entrants. If required by Sponsor, travel must be made through Sponsor’s agent and/or on a carrier of Sponsor’s choice. Certain travel restrictions may apply. Entrants are responsible for ensuring the safe travel of their Category Winner and for the conduct of such Category Winner (including, without limitation, ensuring Category Winner does not bite or otherwise injure any person or animal or otherwise do harm to any property) during travel and/or in any way connected with the Event. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to require additional documentation verifying Category Winner and/or Entrant are healthy and fit to travel and may prohibit travel and attendance at Event and related activities if Sponsor, in its sole discretion, deems it harmful or not safe for either Entrant or Category Winner.

Trips are “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor. No transfers, assignments, substitutions, credits for changes, refunds or cash equivalents for Trips are allowed except by Sponsor who reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel the Trip. Entrants are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with Trip acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided, including, any additional transportation, meals, luggage fees, gratuities and souvenirs. All Trip details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

Winner Notification

All potential Semi-Finalists will be notified by telephone, mail, and/or email and will be required to complete and sign a Declaration of Eligibility, Liability, and Publicity Release (unless prohibited by law) and any other documents required by Sponsor, which must be returned within ten (10) days of date of such notification. Return of notification as undeliverable, failure to sign and return requested documentation within the specified time period, the inability of Sponsor to contact a potential winner within a reasonable time period, or Sponsor’s determination that a potential winner is ineligible or noncompliant with these Official Rules will result in disqualification and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, a runner-up may be designated as a Semi-Finalist or Category Winner. If any Entrant is at least eighteen (18) but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to designate his/her parent or legal guardian as the Entrant and he/she will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Odds of winning depend upon the number of valid Entries received during Nomination Period, votes cast during the voting period, and decisions of Sponsor.

General Conditions

By participating, each Entrant agrees, for Entrant and for Entrant’s heirs, executors, and administrators: (a) to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to this Contest; (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor, American Humane, Contest sponsors, parent companies, subsidiaries, sales representatives, agents, advertising, marketing and promotion agencies, consultants, contractors, and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives, and each of these companies’ and individuals’ respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”) from, and waive any and all rights regarding, any and all actions, claims, injuries, death, liability, losses and damages (“Claims and Losses”) of any kind arising in any manner, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with or otherwise related to Entrant’s (or Entrant’s Nominated Dog’s) participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity (including but not limited to activity at the Event) or the acceptance, use or misuse of any travel or activity related thereto, and Claims and Losses based on publicity rights, copyright, trademark, defamation, invasion of privacy or any other third party right; (c) to indemnify the Released Parties from any and all Claims and Losses of any kind arising in any manner, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with or otherwise related Entrant’s (or Entrant’s Nominated Dog’s) participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity (including but not limited to activity at the Event) or the acceptance, use or misuse of any travel or activity related thereto, and Claims and Losses based on publicity rights, copyright, trademark, defamation, invasion of privacy or any other third party right; (d) unless prohibited by law, to permit Sponsor and its affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, sales representatives, agents, advertising, marketing and promotion agencies, merchandising partners, consultants, contractors, and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives, and each of these companies’ and individuals’ respective successors, representatives, and assigns and anyone authorized by any of them the use of Entrant’s Entry materials (including but not limited to the name, city, state, narrative and Photograph) and any other materials provided by Entrant (or otherwise connected with the story of such Entry) and any derivations of the foregoing, and grants Sponsor and its agents the rights to publish, use, adapt, edit, modify and/or create derivative works of the elements of such Entry materials and any other materials provided by Entrant (or otherwise connected with the story of such Entry) and any derivations of the foregoing, in any way, for programming, advertising, trade, commerce, publicity, promotional and other purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide and on the Internet, and in perpetuity, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from Entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so whether or not such Entry is selected as a Semi-Finalist or Category Winner, and (e) with respect to each Category Winner, unless prohibited by law or unless approved by Sponsor, not to make any non-Sponsor sanctioned television appearances or contract with a third party for television appearances (including but not limited to in television series and films) other than short news clips, preapproved by American Humane, for a period of one (1) year after the end of the Contest. Submission of a Contest Entry Form further constitutes the Entrant’s irrevocable waiver of any moral rights and assignment and transfer to Sponsor of any and all rights, title and interest in and to the elements of the Entry and any other materials provided by Entrant. By participating, Entrant also agrees not to release any publicity or other materials on their own or through someone else regarding their participation in the Contest without the prior consent of the Sponsor, which Sponsor may withhold in its sole discretion.

BY SUBMITTING A CONTEST ENTRY FORM, ENTRANT REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT HE/SHE HAS ALL NECESSARY RIGHTS TO HAVE THE ENTRY AND PHOTOGRAPH(S) AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED BY ENTRANT POSTED ONLINE, INCLUDING CONVEYANCE OF THE COPYRIGHT TO SPONSOR.

Additional Terms

Any attempted form of Entry or voting, other than those previously stipulated, is prohibited; no mechanically reproduced, facsimile, automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry or voting are permitted. Entries not fully in compliance with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification in Sponsor’s sole discretion. No correspondence regarding Entries will be entered into with Entrants except as provided herein or at the discretion of Sponsor. Entrants waive all rights and remedies at law or in equity for any claim they may have relating to this Contest. Sponsor’s decisions, including but not limited to interpretation of these Official Rules and conduct of all aspects of or related to the Contest whether or not contemplated by these Official Rules, are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. Sponsor and its affiliates have the right to correct any technical or other problems associated with administration of the Contest.

Limitations of Liability

Entrants acknowledge and agree that Released Parties are not responsible for any lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered or garbled Entries or votes, or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Entries, the tabulation of votes, the announcement, notification or the incorrect uploading of any photo, or in any Contest-related materials. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to any person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading materials from or use of the Contest website or Sponsor’s website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Contest or any related website, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, who behave or have behaved in a manner that is not in the spirit of the competition, or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, may be disqualified and all associated Entries (whether or not the applicable Entrant is taking or facilitating such actions) may be voided in Sponsor’s discretion. Should any portion of the Contest be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by fraud, virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, technical or other error, actions by any Entrant(s) or voter(s), problem(s) of any kind or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt, impair or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of Entries or voting, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest (in whole or in part) and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winners from all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to action taken using the judging procedure outlined above. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. Released Parties are not responsible for any failure to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities outside of the control of Sponsor or other “force majeure” event.

Governing Law

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any participant or Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions which would cause the application or the laws of any jurisdiction other than the District of Columbia. Any action or litigation concerning these Official Rules shall take place exclusively in the federal or state courts sitting in the District of Columbia, and each Entrant expressly consents to the jurisdiction of and venue in such courts and waives all defenses of lack of jurisdiction and inconvenient forum with respect to such courts. Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Each Entrant agrees to service of process by mail or other method acceptable under the laws of the District of Columbia. ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND/OR AWARDS AGAINST ANY RELEASED PARTY SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERING THIS CONTEST. ENTRANT HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS OR CLAIMS TO ATTORNEY’S FEES, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ENTRANT, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR NOT AND WHETHER BASED ON NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE.

Official Rules

Rules are available online at www.herodogawards.org/rules (or such other website designated by Sponsor) or by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane Hero Dog Awards® Contest Rules Request, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope. Requests must be received by November 17, 2023. Sponsor may modify Official Contest Rules in its sole discretion.

Privacy Policy

Except to the extent they conflict with these Official Rules, Entry Form or Declaration of Eligibility and Release of Liability/Publicity (publicity portion where legal), any personal information supplied by you to Sponsor will be subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy posted at http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/privacy-policy.html. By entering this Contest and agreeing in the Entry Form to receive communications from American Humane and its approved affiliates, you agree that we may share your entry information (including but not limited to your name, address, email address) with our approved affiliates.

Winners List

Semi-Finalists and Category Winners will be posted on Sponsor’s website, and may be printed in any of Sponsor’s publications, including social media. A list of Semi-Finalists and Category Winners may also be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope to: American Humane, 2023 Hero Dog Awards Contest Winners List Requests, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036. Limit one request per postmarked mailing envelope. Requests must be received by November 17, 2023.

E-Mail:
herodoginfo@americanhumane.org

Phone:
(800) 227-4645

Notable 2023 dates:

Nominations: April 18 – June 6
Semi-finalist Announcement: July 18
2^nd Category Winner Voting: July 18 – August 24
3^rd Winner Announcement: November 10

Please note that all rounds open & close at 12 P.M. Eastern Time

Downloads:

Hero Dog Official Logo (771 KB)

2023 Contest Official Rules