Rules & FAQ

The fine print, in plain English.

1. 1

   How does voting work?

   Every $1 you donate on Pledge.to = 1 vote for the pet you donated to. There's no separate ticketing system. Donate $5, that pet gets 5 votes. Sign in before donating so we can securely attach your vote. Tips and processing fees that Pledge.to charges do not count toward votes — only the donation amount does.

2. 2

   What does it cost to enter?

   $10. The entry donation is paid through Pledge.to and goes to Soul Dog Rescue. The entry donation is non-refundable and does not count as a vote for your own pet. If you only want vote credits, you do not need to submit a pet. Go straight to the donation page instead.

3. 3

   What if I donate more than $10 to enter?

   Your first $10 enters one pet. Extra whole dollars become saved votes in your account. For example: $12 enters one pet and saves 2 votes; $20 enters one pet and saves 10 votes. You can later use saved votes on any approved pet. If you are not entering a pet, a direct donation is just a vote/credit purchase: $10 buys 10 credits/votes.

4. 4

   Can I enter more than one pet?

   Yes. Complete a separate entry form and make a separate donation of at least $10 for each pet. A $20 donation on one form enters one pet and saves 10 votes; it does not enter a second pet.

5. 5

   How do I pay?

   Pledge.to is the only donation platform. If you want to submit a pet, start on the pet entry form and you'll be redirected to Pledge.to to pay the $10 entry fee. If you just want vote credits, skip the pet form and go straight to the donation page. In that path, $10 buys 10 credits/votes for the pet or pets you want to support.

6. 6

   When does my pet appear on the voting page?

   After your $10 entry donation is confirmed by Pledge.to and an admin approves your photo. Approval usually happens within 24 hours.

7. 7

   What if my photo is rejected?

   We'll email you the reason. Common reasons: photo is not of a pet, photo is too dark or blurry, or it contains personal info we can't display publicly. The $10 entry donation still benefits Soul Dog Rescue and is non-refundable.

8. 8

   Is my donation tax-deductible?

   Donations to Soul Dog Rescue made through Pledge.to are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Your Pledge.to receipt is your record.

9. 9

   When does voting close?

   Voting closes September 26, 2026. After the deadline, the leaderboard is final.

10. 10

    What are the prizes?

    First place receives $50, second place receives $25, and third place receives $10. Each winner may choose between cash or a gift card to a pet shop of their choosing.