Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez is inviting residents to showcase their pets’ unique personalities in the “Caught on Paw-mara” Pet Photo Contest, a fun and engaging online photo competition taking place ahead of the upcoming Paws at the Park community event in February.
The “Caught on Paw-mara” Pet Photo Contest encourages pet owners to capture real, unfiltered moments of their furry companions while helping promote awareness about responsible pet ownership, including proper care, training, health, and lifelong commitment.
| Paw-rents may submit photos in one or more of the following four categories: |
| Pets at Work |
| Bad Hair Day |
| Caught Being Sneaky |
| Couch Potato |
Photo submissions will be accepted from Friday, January 9 (9 a.m.) through Wednesday, January 14 (12 p.m.). Public voting will take place Thursday, January 15 (9 a.m.) through Thursday, January 22 (12 p.m.), on the @JudgeCortez Facebook Page, with winners determined by the highest number of Facebook reactions (“likes” and all other reactions). Comments and shares will not be included in the vote count. Using voting bots may disqualify your entry.
Winners from each category will be announced during the Paws at the Park event on February 7, 2026.
The contest is open to Hidalgo County residents age 18 and older, and pets of any age may be entered. Each photo must feature only one dog, be clear and unedited beyond minor color or lighting adjustments, and must not include text, artwork, watermarks, or copyrighted material. Dogs may be entered into multiple categories, provided a different photo is used for each entry.
For full contest rules, submission details, and event updates, residents are encouraged to visit the Paws at the Park page or see the images below:
