Pet Competition T&C’s

Rules of the competition

We, Herald News (UK) Ltd, are the organiser and promoter of the Pembrokeshire Best Pet Awards 2022,

1.     The winner will be the picture or video, which, in the opinion of the judges, combines the best technical excellence with the most amusing content and caption.  The judges’ decision will be final, and we will not enter into any correspondence concerning the final decision or the way the competition is organised.

2.     Anyone can enter this competition as long as the law in their country of residence allows them to do so and neither they nor any member of their immediate families are employed by us or the sponsors or are professionally involved in any way with the organisation or administration of the competition.  By entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and to claim the prize.  We may require you to provide proof of such eligibility.  There are no age restrictions, (except in the Junior category) but we will need the written confirmation of a parent or guardian of any child under 18 that we and our sponsors can exercise the rights referred to in these rules, and that the overall prizewinner and accompanying person can take up the main prize.

3.     To enter the competition, you must visit our website, whether by mobile device or computer doesn’t matter, http://www.pembrokeshire-herald.com, complete the online entry form, pay the entry fee and upload your entry(ies) before the deadline of 2300 HRS UK time on May 31 2022.  We do not control the internet, and are not computer geeks, so we can’t take responsibility for any technical problems.  It is up to you to ensure your entries reach us on time, no excuses.

4.     Once you have paid the entry fee you can enter your images, each of which must be in JPEG format, under 4MB per image. (If you reach the finals, we will also require high resolution versions and the raw images or the original format of the photograph.)

5.     You must have taken the picture yourself within the last 50 years. Seriously you wouldn’t believe what people try and submit these days.  Although there no restrictions on entering images which have been published before, images which have already won other competitions are not eligible.  However, you must be the copyright owner, must have obtained all (if any) permissions needed to take the picture (including, for example, from the owner of the premises where it was taken, or from any person or the owner of anything else featured in it), and must be free to grant us and our sponsors the rights mentioned in paragraphs 14 and 15 below. I know that sounds complicated, but if you have taken the picture you are more than likely the copyright owner, but not necessarily, so please check and make sure and, if the picture has already been published elsewhere, check and make sure you have not already granted publication rights which conflict with those mentioned below.   We will look to you to cover us for any liabilities and costs we incur if anyone brings a claim against us alleging that any of the requirements of this paragraph have not been honoured.

6.     Animal welfare is a crucial part of this competition and very close to all our hearts. Each image entered will be assessed for ethics, welfare and health. This means that, if we get a sense that any animal has been disturbed, harassed, traumatised or humiliated, demeaned or shamed in any way, or forced into unnatural behaviour or situation to ‘get a laugh’ or of course hurt or injured in the process of you getting your picture, you will be disqualified and banned from entering the competition. While we enjoy these pictures we want to laugh along with you and your pets, and not at them. We do not allow any props, which are not normally used by that creature, in the photographs. All images will be assessed by a vet and any animal showing signs of disease or ill health will not progress in this year’s competition. Some other areas to keep an eye out for which we will not allow entered into the competition: No docked dogs even if it is an exempt breed by law, no cropped ears, no dogs that are so hairy they cannot see, raise hackles or communicate. No hairless varieties of any animals. No animals being carried in handbags. If entering photos of social small pets like rabbits, Guinea pigs, mice, rats, gerbils, degus should all be photographed with other animals of the same species unless in a clearly clinical setting where you would expect them to be alone. No animals in clothes unless strictly for a genuine reason. Bear in mind that many animals, including dogs and cats, find close human contact like hugging very stressful. Prey animals kept as pets find being lifted up and carried very alarming. Do not use pictures of children or adults hugging pets or holding animals off the ground. Photos of humans and pets interacting should always be as passive as possible. This is not a wildlife photography competition so only pets recognised as domesticated in the country the images were taken will be considered.

7.     Entry to the Junior Category is free but you MUST be 16 years or under on May 31 2022.  We reserve the right to ask for written confirmation together with official ID, such as a passport or ID card before the entry can proceed through to the shortlist and the right to discard any entries from this category, if we are not satisfied.

8.     No captive zoo animals please! This is a pet photography competition and not a zoo creature’s competition, so no animals that live in zoos or other wildlife enclosures or environments.

9.     No digital manipulation. You can of course, make basic digital corrections (including tone and contrast, burning, dodging, cropping, sharpening, noise reduction and minor cleaning work) but DO NOT ALTER THE INTEGRITY OF THE IMAGE.  If you reach the finals, we will ask for the original image and we have the finest team of digital detectives on the planet to make sure every image is verified. These guys are serious pixel Sherlocks, so pay attention, no cheating!  We reserve the right to disqualify any entry which we consider to break any of these terms and conditions, or otherwise to be contrary to the spirit or intention of the competition.

10.                        Prizes provided by our sponsors are final.

11.                        If your image has been successfully passed into the final round, we will send an email on or before 13th June 2022 to the email address you provided in the online entry form to inform you of this.  We will likewise send an email on or before 13^th June 2022 to inform you if you have won a prize. We accept no responsibility if these emails do not reach your inbox on time or at all for any reason.

12.                        You agree that, if you are one of the prize winners, we may publish your name, image and town or county of residence when announcing the finalists & winners of the competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional purposes.  These details will be published on our website from June 2022.  You also agree to participate at our expense in any reasonable publicity we may require promoting the competition.

13.                        As mentioned in paragraph 6 above, you must be the copyright owner of the image(s) you enter. By entering the competition, you agree that we and our sponsors and partners may (but do not have to) reproduce and publish the image(s) at the Awards event, in our annual portfolio book and calendar and in any other media (including, but not limited to websites, social media, magazine and newspaper articles, exhibitions, brochures and flyers) in connection with and to promote the competition. We will assert your moral right to be identified as the photographer and will credit you wherever possible, but we cannot be held liable if, in error, credit is not given. If there are occasions when your images are requested for other purposes, not related to the competition, or for other merchandising not related to beforehand, then the photographer will be contacted directly, and permission and license obtained.

14.                        By entering the competition, you agree that any personal information provided by you with the competition entry may be held and used by us and our partners, sponsors, agents, and suppliers as specified in these rules, and generally to administer the competition.  We will not use it for anything else unless you have consented to our doing so by ticking the relevant box on the online entry form.

15.                        Insofar as is permitted by law we, our agents and distributors exclude all responsibility or liability in any circumstances to compensate the winner or any other person for any loss, damage, personal injury, or death occurring because of taking up the prize, except where this is caused by the negligence of ourselves or of our agents or distributors. Your statutory rights are not affected.

16.                        This is an international competition, but we must be governed by someone’s laws, so we have chosen to have the CPPA governed by the laws of England. Any disputes which may but of course, hopefully will not arise will be sorted out by the courts of England.

17.                        We reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or amend the competition for any reason, but why would we do this unless it becomes necessary?

18.                        You must think Raspberry Beret by Prince one of the greatest pieces of popular music to get your parents dancing… just kidding.

19.                        You must absolutely and unequivocally and with great haste rush and like us on Facebook and Instagram….Definitely not kidding this time.

20.                        You must absolutely follow us on Facebook and Instagram… (Seriously, do we really have to write that?)

21.                        CONGRATULATIONS! You have read the whole Terms and Conditions! Well done indeed! First time?