Every single dog in this contest is a winner. Seriously. From amazing rescue stories, creative pictures, beautiful poems, pure *happiness* pics, and big stinkin cute faces – you are ALL winners.

Of course in every contest – there has to be the “Grand Winner”. I choose a Grand Winner, Runners Up and an Honorable Mention. Please see below.

The “fab” prizes:

Grand Prize Winner – One hour photo session + $75 photo credit

Runner Up - 10% off any photobook

Honorable Mention – Kisses from my dog Doc (seriously – keep reading below)

All Contestants – (1) FREE 8×10 print (I feel like Oprah right now at her Favorite Things episode)

*You will get an e-mail in the next 7 days with a gift certificate for your category above. All gift certificates expire December 31, 2010.

Grand Prize Winner – To his amazing story of being a Seeing Eye dog and therapy dog for children + seniors, his travels around the states, his obvious devotion to his mom and his fan base (honestly – I think this dog has more fans then the average celebrity).

Hudson is the Grand Prize Winner! Congratulations Hudson! Your mom will receive a call from me this week to set up your photo session!

Runner Up - “First to Sign Up” – Jeter.
Jeter’s parents were on it. They were the first to enter the contest (we got to give them something for that?)

Runner Up – “Second Largest Fan Base” – Kaiser.
He was right up there with Hudson with a huge fan base (4 comment difference). I look forward to seeing this “Weimie Race Track” business in the snow.

Runner Up – “Largest Entry” – Deacon.
Deacon is a GIANT mastiff weighing a full 210 lbs. (Holy cow!). I cried when I read that Deacon showed all of the foster dogs “the ropes” at his house. I can totally picture this.

Runner Up – “Most Creative Picture” – Lu + Max.
I just could not stop thinking about this picture! Lu 4-wheeling through this snow was just too much. Stinkin cute mini-pins.

Runner Up – “Most Touching Story” – Ponca.
This was probably the most difficult category. Many of you had touching stories that made me smile or stop for a moment. Ponca’s story of her infected eye, her lost eye and being dumped in a field. Just awful. Ponca has a new life that can never be taken away from her now. Loving moms and a warm home – and that snowplow thing (I just have to see this).

Honorable Mention – “Long Lost Sibling Reunion” – Koufax.
So I received a picture of a yellow lab that was the spitting image of my dog “The Doctor”. I did a double take. I could not believe how much this dog looked like my dog! It ends up that Koufax shares the same dad as “The Doctor”. They were born a month apart and their dad was “Rascal’s Big Deal”. (Who comes up with these names?) Koufax + Doc are going to have a reunion and see who can focus on a tennis ball longest this weekend. Thank you Liz for entering Koufax! Wonderful story also.

Whew! Thank you for supporting this contest! It was such a journey from reading all of your wonderful comments, meeting Doc’s half-bro, reconnecting with a brief acquiantance when I first started my biz in 2008 (Dublin’s dad), to reading personal e-mails from family members across the nation cheering for their favorite grand-doggie. Thank you everyone for the fabulous pictures and heart-warming stories.

Also – if you want to see ALL of the contestants – here is the gallery: http://jaimerowephotography.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=11282623&AlbumKey=QoT87

Thank you for participating in the “Release Your Inner Snow Dog” Contest 2010. Thank you Loyal + Woof-Tastic Fans!

The Moral of the Contest:
Your dogs are ALL winners because they have warm loving homes with you.

More info + pics: www.jaimerowephotography.com