Now is the perfect time for San Diego Humane Society’s 31st annual Photo Fundraiser as the nonprofit is breaking records for the number of animals in its care this summer.

Presently with 2,487 animals, SDHS is currently at 163% capacity for dogs and 180% capacity for cats. This July 7, SDHS set a new record with 2,584 animals in care.

The Photo Fundraiser helps raise money for the organization’s vital services, which include animal sheltering and adoptions, investigations of animal cruelty and neglect, veterinary care, the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife and so much more.

Participating is easy. Submit your favorite pet photo at sdhumane.org/photocontest and encourage your family and friends to vote for your pet’s picture through Aug. 31. Prizes include having your pet featured on a full month spread of SDHS’ 2024 calendar, a professional photo shoot for your pet, tickets to the organization’s annual Fur Ball gala on Oct. 7 and other special gifts. All entries with five votes or more are guaranteed inclusion in the calendar or on the collage pages.

“You can make a lifesaving difference for the animals who depend on us by entering this friendly competition and showcasing your favorite pet,” said SDHS executive vice president Brian Daugherty. “We are hoping to raise at least $125,000 to help us save more lives, so please help us encourage everyone to get involved.”
Best of all for SDHS’ annual photo shoot, you don’t have to be a professional photographer to enter – or win. Last year’s top photo vote-getter in the ‘Other Pets Category’ was 10-year-old Jewel Ludden who set up the shot of her “piggies” Rosie and Nibbles with her mom Tawnie.

“The shot we took wasn’t the first try, we had many others but there was always something wrong and it just didn’t feel right,” said Jewel Ludden. “It was either Rosie or Nibbles looking in different directions, or they were eating the flowers next to them. Then, finally, we got a shot that was good enough for the contest. I also believe that the trust between me and my guinea pigs helped them feel more comfortable.”

The idea behind her photo, said Jewel, was “trying to make it look like my guinea pigs were in a flower field. I also was aiming for the month of March. March is my birthday month and it would be awesome to have my guinea pigs shot in the same month. I also knew that March has loads of flowers blooming.”

“How we set it up was easy: We just needed a couch, fake flowers, a fake flower with no stem, and two guinea pigs,” continued Jewel. “We used the couch, and stuffed flowers underneath to create a beautiful scenery, and so they (piggies) wouldn’t hide under the sofa. We needed the flower with no stem to put in front of Nibbles’ ear for decoration, and then we put the guinea pigs in the middle of everything and got the shot.

“Winning the SDHS photo contest was awesome,” said Jewel. “When I found out we won I was stunned,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it. And then I started jumping up and down and couldn’t stop. It was amazing because I thought we would lose, but with all of our family and friends’ support, we were able to help the Humane Society raise much more money than we thought, and because of that, they could help more animals in need. Just thinking about that makes me so happy.”

With campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona, and San Diego, San Diego Humane Society provides animal services for 13 cities within San Diego County. The organization not only cares for more than 40,000 companion and wild animals in its communities annually but also shares the expertise they have gained through their innovative programs with shelters nationwide so they can save more lives in their communities.

SHOWOFF YOUR FURBABY

Submit your favorite pet photo at sdhumane.org/photocontest and encourage your family and friends to vote for your pet’s picture through Aug. 31.