No purchase necessary. Multiple submissions accepted, but only one valid entry per pet. Each pet must be entered with a separate photo (and donation, if applicable).

Cutest Pet Contest (the "Promotion") is open to US residents (excluding residents of Puerto Rico, New York, Rhode Island, Florida, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited), who are 18 years or older at the time of entry.

TO ENTER:
Visit www.stltoday.com/contests between August 6, 2012 and August 26, 2012, and follow the links and instructions to submit your entry information.  Each entrant must completely fill out the online entry form in accordance with the on-screen instructions. All entries must be received by August 26, 2012. Failure to submit all required information and submissions in the manner required by these Official Rules may result in disqualification. Online photo submissions are processed with a monetary donation, completed online with a credit/debit card. Submission donations, excluding a small processing fee, benefit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Newspapers In Education literacy initiative, through the Missouri Press Foundation. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the Humane Society of Missouri, Tenth Life Cat Rescue and Gateway Pet Guardians. To enter a submission without a donation, submit an entry form, available at the Post-Dispatch, and a hard copy photograph of your pet, in person, at 900 N. Tucker Blvd. St. Louis, MO August 6-10, 2012 and August 13-17, 2012 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.only. Entrants understand, agree and give Sponsors permission to display Photo online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Promotion.  Each entrant warrants as follows: that the Photo is the original creation of the entrant, has not been copied in whole from any other work, does not violate the rights of any person or company (including but not limited to privacy rights and copyrights), as determined by Sponsors. Photos that do not comply with these Official Rules shall be disqualified. Sponsors reserves the right to edit a submission prior to or after its approval, or refuse a submission deemed inappropriate, or of poor quality. Sponsors reserve the right to edit any submission for any reason. Photo can be black & white or color. Digital photo must be in jpg format of at least 300 dpi. All photos become the property of the Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com and will not be returned.

TO VOTE:
Visit www.stltoday.com/contests between August 27, 2012 and September 9, 2012, and follow the links and instructions to place your vote .Limit one vote per 24-hour period. No donation required to vote. Only one registered account per voter. If multiple accounts are detected for a single voter, they will be disabled and votes disqualified.  Submission may or may not be disqualified. Automated voting of any kind is not allowed. Detection of said automated voting will lead to votes being voided, and the submission may or may not be disqualified.

ELIGIBILITY:
Photos of animals that are NOT pets according to the zoning laws where you live are not eligible and will be disqualified for any prizes should a winner be later deemed ineligible. Check your local and state regulations. Employees of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com, their respective parent, partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising sponsors and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members of each are not eligible. Employees of UPICKEM, its respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising sponsors and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members of each are not eligible.

1.) CONTEST PRIZES: Prizes will be awarded according to popular vote to the top three eligible entries in each of three categories: Dog, Cat and Other. 

All winners in all categories will have their photo published in the September 23 issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (date subject to change).  Photo submitted must be at least 300 dpi, or will be disqualified for prize consideration.

DOG - 1st place (ARV $630)
Three Dog Bakery St. Louis - $175 gift card
Arch Animal Hospital - Three nights pet boarding + bath and brush
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $65 credit toward prints
Petropolis - $225 gift certificate toward boarding at the Dog Hotel

DOG - 2nd place (ARV $190)
Three Dog Bakery St. Louis - $50 gift card
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $50 credit toward prints

DOG - 3rd place (ARV $135)
Three Dog Bakery St. Louis - $25 gift card
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $20 credit toward prints

CAT - 1st place (ARV $686)
Tarot By Julia - One free hour tarot reading for cat at winner’s residence
Petmate - Cat gift basket - large
Hey Kitty Kitty - $50 gift certificate
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $65 credit toward prints
Petropolis - $225 gift certificate toward boarding at the Cat Hotel

CAT - 2nd place (ARV $224)
County Animal Hospital LTD - $25 gift certificate
Petmate - Cat gift basket - small
Hey Kitty Kitty - $25 gift certificate
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $50 credit toward prints

CAT - 3rd place (ARV $110)
Hey Kitty Kitty - $25 gift certificate
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $20 credit toward prints

OTHER - 1st place (ARV $230)
County Animal Hospital LTD - $50 gift certificate
Small Town Traditions - Custom 11" x 14" painting of your pet (from clear, digital image)
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $65 credit toward prints

OTHER - 2nd place (ARV $190)
County Animal Hospital LTD - $25 gift certificate
Small Town Traditions - Custom 11" x 14" painting of your pet (from clear, digital image)
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $50 credit toward prints

OTHER - 3rd place (ARV $85)
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and one (1) $20 credit toward prints

2.) VOTER SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE (ARV $565)
At the conclusion of the promotion, one VOTER will be drawn at random to receive the following:
Jill Heupel Photography - Professional photo package of pet including one (1) sitting and digital rights to package
(Winners in other categories not eligible for bonus prize.)

STLtoday.com reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value.

STLtoday.com reserves the right to restrict the winners to only persons whose primary residence is within a 60 mile radius of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 900 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101.

Each winner is responsible for all federal, state and local taxes and may be required to complete an IRS form W-9. Sponsor reserves the right to withhold prizes until completed form W-9 is received.

Winners will be notified by email and/or phone. If a winner is unreachable after three (3) days, or if that winner is unavailable for prize fulfillment, an alternate winner will be selected. If the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com cannot find an eligible winner for the prize prior to the winner announcement print deadline of noon on Friday, September 21, that prize will not be awarded. The name of the Winners will be posted online after the prizes have been awarded. All results posted are unofficial until winners respond to email or phone notification.

The Sponsors reserve the right to use any and all information related to the Promotion, including information on contestants obtained through the contest, for marketing purposes or any other purpose, unless prohibited by law. 

The Promotion and all of the related pages, contents and code are copyright, UPICKEM, and/or the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com. Copying or unauthorized use of any copyrighted materials, trademarks or any other intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.

Each winner, by acceptance of the prize, agrees to release all Sponsors, and their parent and subsidiary companies, their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, and advertising agencies from all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, or use of the prize.

UPICKEM and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com are not responsible for Internet crashes or slowdowns caused by network congestion, viruses, sabotage, satellite failures, phone line failures, electrical outages, natural disasters or acts of man or God.

The Sponsors are not responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Promotion.  If you have any questions regarding this Promotion please contact us at 314-340-8917 or email evydra@post-dispatch.com.

This contest is not intended for gambling. If it is determined that a contestant is using the contest for gambling purposes they will be disqualified and reported to authorities.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com reserves the right to change the rules at any time.  Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the contest commissioners, which are final on all matters pertaining to the contest.

This contest is officially sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com and Suntrup Automotive Group (www.suntrupvw.com, www.suntrupnissan.com, www.suntrupkia.com and www.suntruphyundai.com).