El Rey Fido began in 2002 as a feel-good spin on the already long-established Fiesta Royalty title of a similar name: Rey Feo. But what began as a pun has since evolved into an annual fundraising competition that raises tens of thousands of dollars each year for countless needy dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS).
Who will be El Rey Fido XVIII? The fundraising competition’s top fundraising dog will be bestowed the honor of the crown, with four runner-ups joining the Royal Court.
It all leads to Fiesta® San Antonio and the SAHS’s El Rey Fido Coronation, an official Fiesta® event, in April where San Antonio’s top dogs have the opportunity to be dressed in true royal attire (velvet, sequins, and all).
Don’t miss your chance to support homeless pets in your community and become a part of seventeen years of SAHS Fiesta tradition!
List of contestants
Donate toward this year’s fundraising participants and help them become El Rey Fido XVIII!
This list updates as participants sign up.
F.A.Q
Questions? Special thanks to: Who is El Rey Fido (ERF)?
El Rey Fido (ERF) is the title bestowed upon the dog that raises the most funds during the fundraising competition. Four runner-up dogs join ERF’s Royal Court, and all five dogs have the honor of being recognized at the ERF Coronation (an official Fiesta® event) in April.
What happens to the funds raised during the competition?
All funds raised during the ERF fundraising competition are used to shelter, care for, and medically treat dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society.
How old does my dog need to be to participate?
All dogs must be 6 months of age or older and up to date on vaccines to participate. For other doggie requirements and rules of conduct, please review the official rules of the ERF fundraising competition!
Does my dog need to be an adopted shelter/rescue dog to enter?
No, all dogs 6 months of age or older are eligible to participate, so long as they satisfy all requirements and rules of conduct.
Does my dog need to be spayed/neutered to participate?
Yes! ERF and Royal Court members are ambassadors of the SAHS and its mission. We believe spaying/neutering your pet(s) helps ensure every dog and cat born has a forever home waiting for them. For other doggie requirements and rules of conduct, please review the official rules of the ERF fundraising competition.
Please note: all ERF competition winners will be required to show proof of spay/neuter surgery, registered microchip, and current rabies vaccine at the mandatory meeting (Saturday, March 28, 2020).
Is my cat able to participate in the El Rey Fido fundraising competition?
While we’ve had the fortune in the past to have two cats on the Royal Court, due to the increasing amount of travel done by ERF and Royal Court to media opportunities and events, we’ve decided that it is in the best interest of our feline fans to make them ineligible to join the ERF fundraising competition. Cats are creatures of habit, and they aren’t overly fond of disrupting their routine—yes, even for Fiesta!
Please consider entering our cat-friendly Purr-fectly Fiesta Photo Contest! One festive feline will be crowned King/Queen of the kitty cottage. Find more contest info here!
How and where do I raise funds?
You have the ability to raise funds online (Click & Pledge), in-person, or through the mail via check. After reviewing the official rules and creating a fundraising page, supporters are able to donate online through participants’ fundraising pages, in person at the SAHS front desk, or through the mail via check. Please note, all checks must legibly indicate which ERF fundraising participant/dog they are donating to!
Any fundraising tips or tricks?
This is the time for you and your pup to get creative! There are plenty of ways to raise funds for the SAHS, these are just a suggested few:
• Be sure to provide plenty of pictures and information on your dog’s Click & Pledge fundraising page! This can include a mini-bio or a list of “Top 10” reasons to support your campaign.
• Utilize social media! Start your dog’s very own Facebook or Instagram fan page! Friends and followers can be easily notified and reminded to donate towards your dog’s campaign. Don’t forget to link to your Click & Pledge fundraising page!
• Send a personalized e-mail or postcard from your dog (or doggie campaign headquarters!) to your friends and family, and ask them to help support your mission to raise the most funds for the pets at the SAHS!
• Have a bake sale, a BBQ plate sale, or a rummage sale with all profits going towards your dog’s campaign to raise the most funds for the pets at the SAHS!
• Have an “election” or “campaign” party for your dog and provide access to a computer or Wi-Fi connection where guests can make donations to your dog’s Click & Pledge fundraising page.
• Start a collection at work with a donation box decorated with a colorful display of your dog’s photos!
• Make t-shirts, buttons, yard signs, or stickers emblazoned with your dog’s name or photo claiming: “I voted for the next ERF!”
How can I donate to the participating dogs?
Donate towards participating ERF contenders online at their fundraising page, in-person at the SAHS front desk, or through the mail via check.
Please note: all checks must legibly indicate which ERF fundraising participant/dog you are donating to!
When is the ERF fundraising deadline?
Online and in-person donations must be made and at the SAHS by 6:00 PM Wednesday, March 25, 2020.
What happens after my dog wins?
If your dog is named ERF or a member of the Royal Court, you will be notified on Friday, March 27, 2020 at the contact number you provided when registering your fundraising page.
Winners MUST attend a mandatory meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2020 in the SAHS Education Building and the 18th annual ERF Coronation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2020.
ERF and Royal Court members will participate in various media appearances and events as SAHS ambassadors, so we do ask that participants make themselves available during these times!
When and where is the ERF Coronation?
The ERF Coronation will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at the historic Sheraton Gunter Hotel. It is free to attend and open to the public. Well-behaved dogs accompanied by their owners are welcome to attend and festive attire is encouraged!
Donation Information
Donations are not taxed. The online donor site charges a credit card processing fee of $.35 + 3.75% for each donation. Donors have the option of paying the processing fee (which is tax-deductible) for the SAHS to allow more funds to go toward shelter programs. Covering this fee for the SAHS is not required. The total amount that the donor is charged will be counted towards their fundraising goal.
Please contact our public relations manager at PR@SAhumane.org.
Renee Spade Photography, Official El Rey Fido and Royal Court Photographer
Renee Spade Photography is one of Texas’ premiere pet photographers and her work has been featured in San Antonio Magazine, Texas Dog and Cats Magazine, Scene in SA, FHOX Magazine, Sincerely Fido greeting cards, and the San Antonio Express-News. It is her hope that her work brings joy and happiness to animal lovers for many years to come. Renee is a strong animal advocate, and she has worked with the SAHS since 2006 as the official photographer of the ERF fundraising competition.
Cheryl Trevor, Mistress of the Grr-robes
Cheryl designs for and owns the business Furry Tail Fashion, a dog clothing shop that specializes in custom orders. Each year, Cheryl meets and measures our new ERF and Royal Court members and decks them out in their festive and hand-made Royal Grr-Robes. Growing up her Cheryl’s family always included dogs, cats, and birds, and she fondly remembers Duchess, a Basset Hound/Dachshund mix, as a very special family pet adopted from the SAHS. Today, her family includes two Bichon Frise dogs, Rosette and Cherie, who love to help model the dog clothes she designs.
Adam & Jenny from Magic 105.3
Adam & Jenny host the morning show on Magic 105.3 here in San Antonio! Every weekday morning, they get you to work with A LOT of music, fun contests, and the hottest trends in celebrity news! Both Adam & Jenny live in San Antonio with their adopted pets. Adam has two dogs, Murphy & Frasier (SAHS alumni), and Jenny has two cats, Kitty and Catniss (SAHS alumni). For the last two years, Adam & Jenny have proudly teamed up with the San Antonio Humane Society to feature an adoptable pet each week and find them a forever home. While they are music enthusiasts, they are also pet-lovers, and beyond excited to be back hosting El Rey Fido! ¡Viva Fiesta!
