The coveted Triangle Dog Of The Year Calendar Contest is back for a third year in a row benefitting our amazing friends over at Second Chance Pet Adoptions!

Second Chance Pet Adoptions is actually one of the oldest rescues / shelters in North Carolina! Since 1987, their mission has been to champion homeless cats and dogs who are healthy or treatable in the quest to find their forever homes and engage with our community to promote responsible pet ownership–ultimately reducing future generations of homeless animals.

I’ve had the tremendous pleasure to watch the team over at Second Chance over the past few years and the work they do is absolutely incredible.

From hoarding and cruelty cases to behavioral or medical needs cases to owner surrenders, stray dogs, lost cats and kittens, and more, they are always there to say yes when an animal is in need.

And this year has a special twist! Not only do the top thirteen winners win a session with me and snag a spot in the calendar, but their calendar image will also be on display in a gallery-style exhibit the updated Second Chance Pet Adoptions Facility in Cary, North Carolina.

So, we will be having not only a launch party for the calendar, but also a reveal party for the gallery exhibit! Like I said, I want to make each year bigger and better and I cannot wait to do just that!

Of course, as always, all entries, votes, Reserve-A-Spot and calendar sales all go back to support our friends at Second Chance Pet Adoptions.

So, be sure to follow along with Second Chance Pet Adoptions over on Instagram if you aren’t already and also be sure to follow me, Five Freedoms Photography, on Instagram for contest kick off, updates, and more.

For more contest information, how it works, how to enter, and more, head lower in this post!

HOW DOES THE CONTEST WORK YOU ASK?

You submit your dog’s photo via our online voting platform, ask family and friends to vote, and the top thirteen winners at the end of the contest will receive a coveted spot in the calendar and win a complimentary photo session from me, the digital file for their calendar image, featured in the gallery wall exhibit at Second Chance Pet Adoptions, and bragging rights for being one of 2026’s Triangle Dogs Of The Year. Pretty cool, right? (Check out the previous 2025 Calendar here!)

Additionally, each week we will have mini-contest sponsors, who will give away a prize for the dog that week that received the most votes.

Our wonderful mini-prize sponsors this year include All Dogs Allowed, MOSA Pet Spa Resort + Boutique, Victoria Lowry Art, and Underbite Pet Boutique!

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?

Each entry is $5 and each vote is $1! All entries and votes are tax deductible.

WHO DO THE FUNDS SUPPORT?

This year’s recipient of the 2026 Triangle Dog Of The Year Calendar Contest will go back to our friends over at Second Chance Pet Adoptions. All entries, votes, Reserve-A-Spot, and calendar sales go directly to Second Chance Pet Adoptions in their mission to help homeless dogs and cats across Wake County.

WHEN DOES THE CONTEST START?

Entrants and voting begins on February 11th at 10 AM/EST! You may check out our voting page prior to then, but you will not be able to enter your dog or vote until that time.

WHEN DOES THE CONTEST END?

The contest will run for four weeks and will end on March 9th at 8 PM/EST! During that time you may enter the contest and vote as often as possible for your favorite dog.

DOES MY DOG HAVE TO BE A SECOND CHANCE ALUM TO ENTER?

This is a common question and the answer is that any dog can enter the contest! If you want to support a local non profit and enter to win a photoshoot with yours truly, then we welcome dogs of all backgrounds, ages, breeds, and looks!

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO ENTER THE CONTEST? CAN I STILL SUPPORT SECOND CHANCE?

Yes! We understand not everyone will want to enter their dog into the contest, however, you can help your favorite pup on the leaderboard by voting for them! All votes go directly to Second Chance and help each dog move up on the leaderboard.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHO WON?

The top thirteen pups on the leaderboard with the most votes as tallied by GogoPhotoContest will be awarded one the thirteen calendar spots with the dog with the most votes receiving the biggest prize of the cover photo!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

This is a very brief, abridged overview of the contest itself. If you are looking for more information about what the contest entails, learn about Second Chance Pet Adoptions, read contest rules, or check out the various prizes, you’ll want to head to the link below for our Calendar Contest Page, which lists all of that and more!

You can also head over to Instagram and Facebook to keep up with announcements and contest updates.