ELIGIBILITY

The Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry (the “Entrant” or “Entrants”).  Employees, contractors and interns of The Herald-Dispatch (including, in each case, immediate family members) are not eligible to enter the Contest. For purposes of this Contest, “immediate family members” is defined as spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, whether as "in-laws", or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, co-habitation or other familial extension, and any other persons residing at the same household location, whether or not related. In order to enter the Contest or win the prize, the Entrant must comply fully with these official rules (the “Rules”), and by entering agrees to be bound by these Rules and the decisions of The Herald-Dispatch, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects.

CONTEST RULES

1.         The object of the Contest is to showcase to the Publication audience a “Perfect Pet” (the “Pet” or “Pets”) and raise funds for Education Outreach.

2.         Professional photos will be accepted.  When submitting professional Photos, a copyright release from the photographer (the “Copyright Release”) must be submitted to The Herald-Dispatch.  If the Photo contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the Photo, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the Photo in the manner set forth in these Rules without additional compensation.   The Entrant will be required to submit copies of any releases and consents to The Herald-Dispatch upon request. 

 3.         There is no limit to the number of entries an Entrant may submit during the Submission Period but each pet may only be entered once.

 4.         The Photo must not have been published or be under consideration for publication or prizes elsewhere.

 5.         The Photo must be of the pet only.  No other pets or people should appear in the Photo.

6.       The Photo must be in natural color or black and white.  Sepia tone and duotone Photos are not acceptable. 

7.       Photos that have been altered, manipulated or enhanced using computer software programs will not be accepted.  Minor adjustments to the Photo such as lightening or darkening areas of the Photo, slight contrast or color adjustments and cropping are acceptable.  If The Herald-Dispatch determines a Photo has been altered, manipulated or enhanced, the Herald Dispatch reserves the right to disqualify the Photo. 

8.       The Photo must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of The Herald-Dispatch, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content (collectively, “Inappropriate Content”).  The Herald-Dispatch retains sole discretion as to what constitutes Inappropriate Content.

9.       All Photos become the property of The Herald-Dispatch and may be used by The Herald-Dispatch for marketing or any other commercial purpose.   

VOTING PHASE

Each Photo submitted to the Publication must be approved for posting on the Website by staff of the Publication. Only those Photos that are approved for posting by the Publisher of the Publication will be deemed eligible to win the Contest.

 All Photos submitted during the Submission Period and approved by the Publisher of the Publication will appear on the Website and be eligible for voting beginning at 12:00 a.m. EST on May 29, 2014, and ending at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, June 20, 2014 (the “Voting Phase”).  Members of the general public will be invited to view the Photos by going to the Website and voting for the Pet they think is the cutest, prettiest or otherwise most perfect (the “Vote” or “Votes”).  Voting ballots will also be available at The Herald-Dispatch’s office during regular business hours.  Each ballot is counted as one (1) Vote.  The voting fee for the Contest is 4 votes for $1.00; 25 votes for $5.00; 60 votes for $10.  Voting is limited to persons eighteen (18) years of age or older (the “Voter” or “Voters”). The voting phase will end at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Friday, June 20, 2014.

 Voting results for the Photos will be displayed on the Website during the Voting Phase, except during the last forty-eight (48) hours of the Voting Phase.

 The Herald-Dispatch will not be responsible for misdirected Votes.  The use of robotic or automatic devices to submit Votes is prohibited and the Herald-Dispatch reserves the right to nullify any and all such Votes and to disqualify the responsible individual from voting.  Entrants are prohibited from obtaining Votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public, as determined by The Herald-Dispatch in its sole discretion.

  WINNING PHOTOS

At the conclusion of the Voting Phase, the Photo to receive the highest number of Votes will be declared the winning Photo.  In the event of a tie, a random drawing among the tied Photos will be conducted at the offices of the Publication to determine the winning Photo.    The winning Photo will be announced in The Herald-Dispatch by June 25, 2014. 

 The Herald-Dispatch reserves the right to take more time to determine the winning Photo as it deems necessary in its sole discretion. 

  PRIZES

The Entrant who submitted the winning Photo (the “Winner”) will be awarded a prize package of gift certificates and merchandise worth approximately $500. The entrant with the second-highest vote total will be awarded a prize package worth approximately $200. The entrant with the third-highest vote total will be awarded a prize package worth approximately $100. Any ties will be broken by random drawing from the tied entries.

Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Photos and eligible Votes received.

 The Winner will be notified by phone or overnight mail in accordance with the contact information provided on the Entry Form.   The Winner must sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release in order to be eligible to accept the prize.  Prizes must be picked up by winning entrants at the offices of The Herald-Dispatch, 946 5^th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701, during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, no later than the close of business on July 31, 2014.

No substitution or transfer of the prize will be allowed, except at the sole discretion of The Herald-Dispatch.  The Herald-Dispatch reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.  All local, state and federal taxes incurred by accepting a prize will be the sole responsibility of the Winner.    

All decisions of The Herald-Dispatch regarding the Contest are final.

 CONDITIONS

By entering, Entrants agree to comply with these Official Rules and the decisions of The Herald-Dispatch, which are binding and final, and release The Herald-Dispatch, and each of its divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and anyone associated with the production of this Contest, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injuries, losses or damages (including attorneys fees) of any kind arising out of their participation in this Contest or resulting from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize.

NAME OF WINNER

To obtain the name of the winner, contact The Herald-Dispatch at (304) 526-4000.

 ADMINISTRATOR