Contest Parties
South Florida’s Top Dog Search (“Contest”) is presented by The Big Woof Festival in partnership with The Pet Journal Magazine and Sponsors. The Big Woof Festival, The Pet Journal Magazine, and Sponsors may collectively be referred to as the “Contest Parties.”
Contest Period
The Contest begins September 7, 2026, and ends with the announcement of the winner on November 1, 2026. The Contest consists of three stages:
The Contest Parties reserve the right to modify dates or deadlines, if necessary, with notice provided through the Contest's official communication channels.
Who May Enter
The Contest is open to legal residents of the State of Florida who are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. Dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, and backgrounds are eligible to participate. The person submitting an entry must be the dog's owner or have authorization from the dog's owner to enter the dog in the Contest.
A valid entry requires that the participant and/or dog follow @thebigwooffest and @thepetjournalmagazine on Instagram and must be following both at the time that the Top 10 Finalists are announced.
Employees, officers, directors, and immediate family members of the Contest Parties and their respective affiliates, advertising agencies, and promotional partners may be excluded from participating.
Top 10 Finalists
Following the Entry Period, 10 dogs will be selected as finalists. The selection of the Top 10 will be based on the information and materials submitted with each eligible entry, including the dog's story, personality, individuality, and overall appeal.
The Contest Parties' selection of the Top 10 finalists will be final. The Top 10 finalists will be notified using the contact information provided at the time of entry and will be announced through official Contest and/or partner channels.
Social Media Voting
Top 10 finalists will participate in a social media voting competition. Each finalist will be featured through designated social media content and/or voting posts. The public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist. Voting procedures, including the voting platform, number of votes permitted, and voting schedule, will be communicated when the Top 10 finalists are announced.
Votes must be submitted through the official voting method established by the Contest Parties. The Contest Parties reserve the right to disqualify votes that are determined to be fraudulent, automated, purchased, generated through unauthorized means, or otherwise in violation of the Contest rules.
Determining the Winner
The finalist receiving the highest number of eligible votes during the official voting period will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the Contest Parties will determine the tie-breaking procedure and communicate it to the tied finalists.
The winner will be announced on November 1, 2026 through the official Contest and/or partner channels. The Contest Parties' determination of the winner will be final.
Grand Prize
The winning dog will be crowned: South Florida’s Top Dog & The Big Woof Festival Mascot.
The winner will receive:
The Pet Journal Magazine cover feature is subject to the magazine's standard editorial, photography, production, and publication schedule. The winner's owner agrees to participate in reasonable photography, interviews, social media, promotional activities, and other publicity related to the Contest, The Big Woof Festival, and The Pet Journal Magazine. If the participant cannot attend the in-person photoshoot, the participant must submit a "cover quality" photograph for their dog.
Top 10 Finalist Benefits
Each of the Top 10 finalists will receive:
Finalists must be available to attend The Big Woof Festival and participate in the Opening Ceremony. If a finalist is unable to attend, the Contest Parties reserve the right to select an alternate finalist.
Dog Health and Safety
All participating dogs must be healthy, appropriately vaccinated, and comfortable participating in public activities. Dogs must be under the control of their owners or handlers at all times. Aggressive, dangerous, or unsafe behavior will not be permitted. The Big Woof Festival reserves the right to remove any dog or participant from the festival if necessary to protect the safety and well-being of people or animals.
Disqualification
The Contest Parties reserve the right to disqualify any entrant or finalists who:
Release and Waiver
To the fullest extent permitted by law, participant releases and forever discharges Contest Parties, venue owner, sponsors, vendors, municipalities, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, and volunteers (“Released Parties”) from any and all claims or liabilities related to participation in the Contest except to the extent caused by a Released Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or where rights cannot be waived by law.
Indemnification
Participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of: (a) the acts or omissions of the participant or its dogs; (b) injury to persons or damage to property caused by its dog; and (c) breach of this agreement.
Photo/Video and Publicity
Participant grants Contest Parties a non‑exclusive, royalty‑free license to photograph, film, and record the dog and participant in Contest and at the festival and to use names, likenesses, and recordings for festival publicity and documentation in any media, worldwide, in perpetuity. Participant acknowledges and agrees that The Big Woof Festival shall be permitted to film, sound record and photograph the festival, which may include, without limitation, filming, sound recording and photography featuring participant's dog and personnel, if any (“Content”). Participants acknowledge and agree that The Big Woof Festival is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights in the Content and hereby waives any and all: (i) rights in and to such Content, and (ii) claims that participant may have related to or arising from the Content or its use. Without limitation, The Big Woof Festival shall be permitted to use the Content anywhere in the world for promotional and other purposes, without any payment or compensation.
Independent Contractor
Participant participates as an independent contractor, not an employee or agent of Contest Parties.
Governing Law
The Contest is governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. Organizer, entrants, and Participant agree that any disputes in any way relating to or arising out of the Contest shall be submitted to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) for arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the rules of AAA then in force and effect as the sole and exclusive remedy for resolving such disputes. The parties agree that the decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding and that a judgment may be entered on such arbitration award in any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties agree that any such arbitration shall take place in Miami, FL. The prevailing party in any such arbitration shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with such arbitration.
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