Rules?! We know what you’re thinking, but there are certain times in life when rules are necessary, like when they help you win contests! Yes, that’s right: These few short rules—if followed correctly—can actually help you win the fabulous contests we have here at PETAKids.com. So read the following and start entering (and keep in mind that we have the right to alter these rules at any time).

Entering any contest more than once will not increase your odds of winning, because we will promptly delete any duplicate entries. A duplicate entry is any entry with the same e-mail address or the same name and street address as another entry. This means you shouldn’t enter five extra times using your brother’s, sister’s, mom’s, dad’s, and best friend’s e-mail accounts. We’ll still know it’s you.

All winners will be notified by e-mail or telephone, and all decisions we make are final. If you do not respond to the notification within five business days, you forfeit your prize and another winner will be chosen. So when we notify you, don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you forget to reply.

In contests in which winners are picked at random, the odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. In contests in which winners are chosen based upon skill or accomplishments, winners will be selected by PETA Kids on the merits of each entry, in PETA Kids’ sole discretion, and the odds of winning such a contest may depend upon the other entries received.

We’ll try our hardest to get you your winnings, but PETA Kids cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen prizes. And please make sure you double-check that you’ve included your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number when mailing in an entry or, if it’s an online contest, before you hit “Submit.”

Also, if a specified prize becomes unavailable for any reason, we may substitute a prize of like or equal value, and we reserve the right to end any contest at any time without prior notice. It’s not because we want to; it’s because sometimes things happen. If you win a contest and we give you a blue T-shirt and you want a black one, tough luck—winners may not request substitutions of prize winnings. All winners are solely responsible for any and all taxes and/or fees as well as all additional costs that may be incurred. Also, neither PETA Kids nor our sponsors, employees, volunteers, agents, or assigns may be held liable for any warranty, costs, damage, injury, or any other claims incurred as a result of the usage of a prize by any winners once the winner has taken possession of the product. We are not liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with any contest promoted by PETA Kids.

You must be under the age of 18 to enter PETA Kids contests. If you lie about your age, don’t get mad at us if you win and then we have to take your prize away.

Any and all photos, text, posters, and other content or information submitted by you will become the property of PETA Kids, and we will have no obligation to preserve, return, or otherwise make available to you or others any photos or info you submitted. So if you want a copy of that photo, drawing, etc., that you send us, be sure to make one for yourself because we don’t have to share.

Since we’re being so nice and giving away all these awesome prizes and not keeping them for ourselves, for some contests, we may want to give the winner’s name, city, and state to the media. If we do want to do that, we’ll contact your parents (or legal guardians) beforehand to make sure it’s OK with them. If you feel comfortable doing so, we may also ask you to speak to members of the media in the event that they are interested in interviewing the winner about his or her good fortune.

We can also use, reproduce, edit, display, transmit, borrow from, modify, publish, and otherwise make use of any photos, text, and other content or information you submit to us in any and all media, whether now known or hereinafter created, throughout the world and for any purpose without compensation to you of any kind (and to enter our contests, you have to agree to hold us harmless from and against—and hereby waive any right to pursue—any claims of any nature arising in connection with PETA Kids’ use of the photos, text, or other content or information submitted by you to PETA Kids and used in any manner in PETA Kids’ sole and absolute discretion). Just look at it as another way to get your 15 minutes of fame and inspire community members to get active to help animals!

No purchase is necessary in order to enter this contest.

Void where prohibited by law.

Now, although following these rules has been proved to increase your chances of winning by 50 percent, it does not guarantee a win. If you want to up your chances of winning, just sign up for PETA Kids E-News so that you can be the first to find out about all new PETA Kids contests.