FAQs
How do I enter?
To enter your dog, visit newtopdog.com, select the “Shelter Name Contest” button located under your preferred area/shelter. This will take you to the shelters’s contest site, where you can follow a few simple prompts to enter. It’s that simple! Registration begins September 8th, 2023.
Which shelters/rescues are participating in NEW Top Dog 2023?
- Lakeshore Humane Society (Manitowoc, WI)
- Misfit Mutts (Green Bay, WI)
- Neenah Animal Shelter (Neenah, WI)
- Mit Liebe German Shepherd Rescue
- Oshkosh Area Humane Society (Oshkosh, WI)
- Sandi Paws (Fond du Lac)
Who are the participating breweries and their partner shelters/rescues?
- Bare Bones Brewery (Oshkosh Area Humane Society)
- Barrel 41 (Neenah Animal Shelter)
- Fifth Ward Brewing Company (Mit Liebe German Shepherd Rescue)
- Fifth Ward Brewing Company (Sandi Paws Rescue)
- Cocoon Brewing Company (Misfit Mutts Dog Rescue)
- Sabbatical Brewing Company (Lakeshore Humane Society)
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Are there any requirements/guidelines for the photo I submit?
The following are requirements for all submitted photos:
- Accepted formats: .jpg or .png.
- Dogs only, please. No humans or other pets in your photo.
- One dog per photo.
- Must not be altered, other than minor adjustments to contrast, brightness, etc.
- You must own and possess all rights to any photo that is submitted into this contest.
- Must be in good taste.
The photos which are most likely to perform well will:
- Have great resolution – the higher the resolution the better!
- Be focused (not blurry).
- Be close enough that we can see the expressions on your pet’s face.
- Not have cluttered backgrounds (e.g. In the case of the couch potato, avoid capturing the unfolded laundry).
Why was my photo removed?
My dog passed away, am I able to enter him/her (in memory)?
First, we’re sorry for your loss. Recent or distant, we all know that dogs bring us happiness that lives in our hearts forever. We’d be honored to have your pet’s memory shared in the NEW Top Dog contest! Another way to memorialize your pet during the contest is to submit votes that celebrate their life. All photo guidelines apply to memorialized entries.
Can I enter my dog in multiple contests?
Yes, you can! The $10 to register will be required for each contest that you register in. It’s also worth mentioning that each local contest will crown an individual winner. Therefore, votes for your dog will be kept separate for each contest. They will not be added together across multiple contests. If you’re trying to maximize your total votes to win prizes, you may wish to enter just one contest. If your goal is to help more than one of the benefiting shelters, you might consider voting in multiple contests as an alternative to registering in multiple contests.
I don’t live in Northeast Wisconsin - can I still enter the contest?
Absolutely! There are no geographical boundaries for entering this contest.
Can I enter someone else's dog?
Because winners of the contest will be relied upon for promotional material, it is important that the dog belongs to you. Of course, if you know somebody that needs help submitting their entry, please feel free to submit it on their behalf!
Can I enter my cat (or insert any other animal)?
NEW Top Dog is a dog photo contest. But there is some good news for cat lovers! All of the benefiting shelters do help cats; some even have services to help small mammals. Either way, a vote for any dog is a vote for other pets (and kids too)! Visit newtopdog.com to make a difference.
How do I vote?
To vote, visit newtopdog.com, select the Shelter Name Contest” button located under your preferred area/shelter. This will take you to that areas contest page. From there follow the prompts to vote. It’s super easy, and it’s just $1/vote.
Can I vote in more than one shelter’s contest?
Absolutely! There is no limit to the number of votes you can purchase, the number of times you vote, and/or the number of shelters whose contest(s) you vote in! Every dollar generated from voting and entries goes towards helping pets and kids, so the more, the merrier You can use the same sign-in name and password for all contests, but you will need to sign-in each time you visit another contest, as each contest has its own contest site. This means votes can’t be moved or banked across contests.
Can I vote more than once?
Absolutely! There is no limit to the number of votes you can purchase, the number of times you vote, and/or the number of shelters whose contest(s) you vote in! Every dollar generated from voting and entries goes towards helping pets and kids, so the more, the merrier!
How do I view my entries and/or votes?
Within one of the contest sites, use the site navigation menu on the upper right hand corner and click “Manage My Account.” From this screen, you will be given the option to view your entries and/or votes.
What is the vote bank?
The vote bank is an infrequently used option. This feature allows voters to purchase all of their votes (for a single contest) at one time on a single credit card transaction. Banked votes can only be used in the contest they were originally purchased in. Once you’ve banked your votes, you can allocate them to multiple entries (within the same contest), or you can save them for allocation at a later date (again, within the same contest). Banked votes must be used before the contest ends. Any unallocated votes will be considered a contest donation.
How are the proceeds allocated?
For each individual contest, proceeds from entries and voting will benefit the named shelter and Kiwanis. The net proceeds from each shelter contest is split 50/50 between the shelter (to support pets) and the Kiwanis (to support kids) after expenses.
How do winners collect prizes?
The Event Coordinator will attempt to notify winning participants by email or telephone within 14 days of the contest end date. Prize winners will be given instructions about where to pick up prizes (as per the schedule noted below).
- All winners will be contacted by October 14th, 2023
- If the winners cannot be reached within the aforementioned 14-day window, that winner will forfeit their prizes.
- Any prizes that are unclaimed after October 21st, 2023 will be forfeited.
When will the NEW Top Dog 2023 beer be released?
All six NEW Top Dog beers will be released in Spring (2024). Stay tuned for more information!
How do I get a receipt for my contributions?
A receipt will be automatically emailed to you from info@newtopdog.com after each contribution to any of the contests. These receipts will show your contribution amount to NEW Top Dog – Oshkosh Mid-Morning Kiwanis Foundation, Inc., which is the charitable 501c3 organization collecting and redistributing the funds to participating shelters/rescues and Kiwanis.
Receipts can also be printed from your “My Account” tab on the shelter contest page.
Who is Oshkosh Mid-Morning Kiwanis?
Club officers and members of Oshkosh Mid-Morning Kiwanis are the organizers (and a beneficiary) of the NEW Top Dog 2023 contest.
The Oshkosh Mid-Morning Kiwanis Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to “Serve the Children of the World.” Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
Help! I accidentally entered the wrong contest. How do I move my entry into a different shelter’s contest?
Once entries are created, they cannot be moved. You will be asked to confirm the shelter you are participating with when creating your entry profile.
Can I change my dog’s photo after entering the contest?
If you need a different photo uploaded to your existing entry, email the photo to
contest@newtopdog.com. Use “New Photo- (your dog’s name)” as the subject line and please include the email address you registered under if not using that address to send the email. All new photos must still meet the contest criteria. Please allow up to 24hrs for your request to be
processed.