Ina J Photography has launched the Canberra Paws 2025 Calendar Contest, which runs until 30 June. Now in its fourth year, the Canberra Paws Calendar Contest has raised over $40,000 for ACT Pet Crisis Support.

Ina Jalil of Ina J Pet Photography started the Canberra Paws Calendar contest in 2020, taking inspiration from another pet photographer based in the US. She confided that she had a personal connection for choosing ACT Pet Crisis Support as the charity.

“I lost my dog [Mac] due to heart failure, there were multiple visits to the vet and it was really hard,” Ms Jalil said.

“Thankfully I was able to cover all the vet expenses, but I understand there are a lot of people that aren’t in the same circumstances as me.”

Ms Jalil said she didn’t realise how much money she was going to raise with the contest.

“At the start, I was aiming for $2,000. But in the first year, we raised $10,957.”

To participate and help reach this year’s goal to raise $15,000, you can head to gogophotocontest.com/canberrapaws2025. There is a $5 entry fee to submit a photo of your furry friend. Winners are determined by the number of votes received; each vote costs $1. The site is linked directly to ACT Pet Crisis Support.

“I don’t see any of that money. That all goes straight to ACT Pet Crisis Support.”

What winners get

The top 13 pets with the highest number of votes by the end of the contest period (30 June) will each secure a spot in the 2025 Canberra Paws Calendar and will win:

• A 20-minute professional pet photography session with Ina J Photography
• A social media digital file of the chosen Calendar photo

The pet with the most votes overall will also win:

• The coveted calendar cover photo
• An 8 x 10 inch fine art matted print of a photo of the client’s choosing
• A $250 print credit to spend toward prints and artworks

Entrants will have the chance to win mini prizes each week of the contest, donated by local businesses, including Manneke’s Toys, Peachy Paws Dog Grooming, The Zen Den dog training, Snooter Brown, Ain’t Misbehavin Dog Training, and Meraki Dog Training.

Ms Jalil expressed her passion for pet photography.

“You’ve been given so much unconditional love and to be able to capture a bit of those memories forever. I mean, it just brings joy when I see a photo of my dog on the wall on my wall at home.”

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