More Than a Pet Community Hero Award Voting and Voting Sweepstakes Official Rules
1. Disclosure
NO DONATION, PURCHASE, OR OBLIGATION OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO VOTE OR WIN. A DONATION OR PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. YOU HAVE NOT YET WON. THE ODDS OF WINNING DEPEND UPON THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED.
2. Sponsor
The More Than a Pet Community Hero Award (the “Award”), the voting for the Award (the “Award Voting”), and the associated More Than a Pet Community Hero Award Voting Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) are sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd Street N.W., Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037 (the “HSUS”).
3. The More Than a Pet Community Hero Award
The HSUS created the Award to recognize community ambassadors for outstanding service in increasing equity in access to pet resources. The HSUS solicited nominations for the Award from the HSUS’s Pets for Life and Access to Care program partners (“Program Partners”). A panel of HSUS staff previously selected three (3) finalists for the Award (each a “Finalist” and collectively, the “Finalists”) from all eligible nominations received during the nomination period. Finalists were chosen based on the following criteria: (1) unparalleled commitment to community support; (2) degree of positive impact on their community, people, and pets; and (3) demonstrated commitment to pet equity and improving access to care.
The recipient of the Award (the “Award Winner”) will be chosen via the Award Voting, which will be conducted in accordance with these official rules (the “Official Rules”). The HSUS will calculate the total number of eligible votes received for each Finalist during the Voting Period (defined below), and the Finalist receiving the most eligible votes will be named the Award Winner. In the event of a tie between any two or more Finalists, the Finalist’s total score from the HSUS judging panel will serve as the tiebreaker.
The Award Winner will be named the 2024 More Than a Pet Community Hero, and the Program Partner that nominated the Award Winner will receive a $10,000 grant from the HSUS to advance its access to pet care work. The Program Partners that nominated the two runner-up Finalists will each receive a $2,500 grant from the HSUS to be used as specified above. Awarding of these grants (the “Prize Grants”) is subject to the Program Partners’ compliance with the grant requirements and policies of the HSUS.
4. Dates
The Award Voting and the Sweepstakes coincide with one another and begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) on March 28, 2024, and ends at 2:15 p.m. EDT on May 17, 2024 (the “Voting Period”). All votes must be received during the Voting Period to be counted, and all entries for the Sweepstakes must be received during the Voting Period to be eligible.
5. Eligibility
To participate in the Award Voting and Sweepstakes you must be a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia and be at least eighteen (18) years of age or the legal age of majority in your state of residence, whichever is older, at the time of your participation. Employees and independent contractors of the HSUS, its affiliates, Tractive LLC, G6 Hospitality, Total Quality Logistics, True Pet Food Project, and/or any other individual or entity involved in the development, promotion, or execution of the Sweepstakes, and the immediate family members and/or household members of each may participate in the Award Voting but are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes or win any prize. By participating in the Award Voting or Sweepstakes, you fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the HSUS’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Award, Award Voting and Sweepstakes. The Award Voting and Sweepstakes are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and are void where prohibited.
6. Voting; Sweepstakes Entry
To cast your vote and help your favorite Finalist become the 2024 More Than a Pet Community Hero, visit https://humanesociety.org/morethanapet (the “Website”) during the Voting Period. Complete all information required on the voting form, click the “Select” button to select your favorite Finalist, and submit your vote by clicking the “Vote” button. Information required on the voting form consists of your first name and email address (“Voter Information”). All required Voter Information must be valid and completed in full or any associated votes will be void.
For each vote you cast, you will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes (each, an “Entry”). You may cast no more than one (1) vote, and therefore receive no more than one (1) Entry, per calendar day (the “Voting Limit”). Votes/Entries in excess of the Voting Limit will be void and may result in the disqualification of all votes and Entries received from the associated voter. Voting must be completed by the actual person casting the vote. You may not vote on behalf of another person or by using an email address that does not belong to you. The exchange of votes/Entries for any consideration or incentive of any kind whatsoever (including the exchange of one vote for another) is strictly prohibited. Any such votes, and all associated Entries, will be void and may result in the disqualification of all votes and Entries received from the associated voter. Votes must be entered manually. Votes generated by script, macro, bot, or other automated means, votes associated with temporary or disposable email addresses or services, and/or votes which otherwise subvert or impair the integrity of the voting process, as determined by the HSUS in its sole discretion, will be void, along with any associated Entries, and may result in the disqualification of all votes and Entries received from the associated voter.
7. Sweepstakes Winner Selection
One (1) winner (the “Sweepstakes Winner”) will be determined through a random drawing, conducted by the HSUS, of all eligible Entries received during the Voting Period. The drawing will take place on or about June 1, 2024. The odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible Entries received.
8. Sweepstakes Prize
The Sweepstakes Winner will receive a prize package consisting of a one-year Tractive Premium Subscription plus one (1) Tractive “Regular” GPS Pet Tracker for either a dog or cat, at the Sweepstakes Winner’s selection (the “Sweepstakes Prize”). The approximate retail value of the Sweepstakes Prize is one hundred fifty-eight dollars ($158 USD).
9. Sweepstakes Prize Terms and Restrictions
The Sweepstakes Prize is not transferable. No substitution of the Sweepstakes Prize is permitted except at the sole discretion of the HSUS, and the HSUS reserves the right to substitute the Sweepstakes Prize or any portion thereof with another prize of equal or greater value if the Sweepstakes Prize becomes unavailable for any reason. No cash prize will be awarded. The actual retail value of the Sweepstakes Prize may vary. The Sweepstakes Winner will not receive the difference between the actual retail value of the Sweepstakes Prize and the ARV. Any federal, state, or local taxes on the Sweepstakes Prize and any expenses related to the acceptance and/or use of the Sweepstakes Prize not specified herein as being awarded are the responsibility of the Sweepstakes Winner.
10. Sweepstakes Winner Notification/Prize Claims
The Sweepstakes Winner will be notified via email by June 30, 2024. The Sweepstakes Winner will be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release, a W-9, and, where legal, a Publicity Release, all of which must be returned within fourteen days of attempted prize notification or the Sweepstakes Prize will be forfeited and, at the HSUS’s sole discretion, may be awarded to an alternate winner. In the event that the Sweepstakes Winner is unable to accept the Sweepstakes Prize, the Sweepstakes Prize will be forfeited and, at the HSUS’s sole discretion, may be awarded to an alternate Sweepstakes Winner. Further, in the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules, or if the Sweepstakes Prize or prize notification is unclaimed or returned as undeliverable, the Sweepstakes Prize will be forfeited and, at the HSUS’s sole discretion, may be awarded to an alternate Sweepstakes Winner. If a dispute arises as to the identity of the Sweepstakes Winner, the Sweepstakes Winner will be deemed to be the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning Entry. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned to an email address by the internet access provider, online service provider, internet service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
11. Additional Terms
By accepting the Sweepstakes Prize, the Sweepstakes Winner consents to the HSUS’s use of his or her name, likeness, voice, and/or biographical information for promotional and other purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
By accepting the Sweepstakes Prize, the Sweepstakes Winner acknowledges compliance with these Official Rules and agrees to release the HSUS, Tractive LLC, G6 Hospitality, Total Quality Logistics, True Pet Food Project, their respective affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, independent contractors, representatives, and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Award Voting or Sweepstakes or the receipt, redemption, or use of the Sweepstakes Prize, including any injuries or damages of any kind sustained in connection with the use, acceptance, possession, or awarding of the Sweepstakes Prize.
12. Conditions of Participation
If, for any reason, the Award Voting and/or the Sweepstakes are not capable of running as planned, or infection by computer viruses, bugs, or tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, actions of participants, technical failures, or any other causes corrupt or infect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Award Voting and/or the Sweepstakes, the HSUS reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any vote, Entry, or participant and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Award Voting and/or the Sweepstakes and, at its sole discretion, (a) determine the Award Winner by tallying all eligible, non-suspect votes, as determined by the HSUS in its sole discretion, validly received prior to the action requiring such modification; and/or (b) award the Sweepstakes Prize from among all eligible non-suspect Entries validly received prior to the action requiring such modification.
The HSUS may prohibit an individual from taking part in the Award Voting or Sweepstakes and/or disqualify any votes or Entries associated with such individual if the HSUS determines, in its sole discretion, that said individual is tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Award Voting or Sweepstakes or otherwise attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Award Voting or Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception, or any other unfair practices (including, without limitation, the use of automated voting programs). Further, any attempt to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the Website may also be in violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, the HSUS reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney’s fees) from any associated individual to the fullest extent of the law, including criminal prosecution.
Releasees are not responsible or liable for printing, typographical, technical, human, or other errors of any kind in any materials related to the Award Voting or Sweepstakes, or for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, or illegible votes or Entries. Releasees are also not responsible or liable for technical, hardware, software, or telephone failures of any kind; lost, interrupted, or unavailable network connections; fraud; incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions; and/or damages or losses of any kind arising out of your access to and use of the Website. By participating in the Award Voting and/or Sweepstakes, each participant agrees that the Sweepstakes is governed only by the laws of the District of Columbia for the resolution of all claims and disputes (excluding any claims against or disputes involving parties other than the HSUS relating to any prize awarded in the Sweepstakes).
13. Privacy
Except as otherwise provided in this section and/or as otherwise expressly indicated on the Website, information submitted in connection with the Award Voting and Sweepstakes will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the HSUS’s privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”), which may be amended from time to time and which is currently available at https://humanesociety.org/privacy-policy. If there is any conflict between these Official Rules and the Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of the Official Rules shall prevail. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, by participating in the Award Voting and Sweepstakes, each participant consents to the HSUS’s use of their Voter Information as required to administer the Award Voting and Sweepstakes and deliver the Sweepstakes Prize.
14. List of Winners
For the names of the Award Winner and the Sweepstakes Winner, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
The Humane Society of the United States
1255 23rd Street, N.W., Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037
Attn: Business Development Office
Requests must be received by September 30, 2024