Do You Know an Animal Hero? Nominate them

Every year, Pet Rock Fest honors extraordinary people and animals whose actions have made a difference in the lives of animals.

Now entering its 28th year, Pet Rock Fest is seeking nominations for the 2026 Pet Rock "Juno" Hero Awards, one of the festival's most meaningful traditions.

We're looking for individuals who have gone above and beyond for animals — whether through rescue, advocacy, education, fostering, volunteering, veterinary care, wildlife rehabilitation, community service, or a simple act of compassion that changed an animal's life for the better.

You don't have to run a rescue organization or save dozens of animals to be a hero.

Sometimes a hero is someone who quietly devotes years to helping animals in need. Sometimes it's a volunteer who never seeks recognition. Sometimes it's a neighbor who stepped up when an animal needed help.

We're also seeking nominations for an Animal Hero Award, recognizing an animal whose actions have inspired, protected, comforted, or even saved the people around them.

Pet Rock Fest Hero Awards are presented during the festival on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, at the Lancaster Fairgrounds. Recipients are selected from the pool of nominations received and may include both human and animal heroes. 

Past honorees have included rescuers, advocates, first responders, shelter volunteers, animal welfare leaders, and everyday people whose kindness made an extraordinary difference.

If someone has touched the lives of animals — or if an animal has touched the lives of people — we want to hear their story.

To submit a nomination, email petrockfest@gmail.com with "2026 Hero Nomination" in the subject line.

Please include the nominee's name and a description of why they deserve recognition.

Help us shine a spotlight on the people and animals who remind us what compassion looks like.