CONCORD, NH — Merrimack County Savings Bank, known as The Merrimack, has named Starsky the winner of its 5th Annual Dog Days of Summer pet photo contest.
The bank said Starsky received the most "likes" on Instagram among the top five finalists, earning a $500 cash prize and a $500 donation to Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter.
The contest invited participants to share photos of their pets wearing The Merrimack's branded bandana. According to the bank, entries first went through a round of internal voting, and the top five then moved to a public vote on The Merrimack's official Instagram page, @merrimackstyle. The bank said each vote also helped fund a local animal rescue through a matching donation.
"We're so grateful for all the love Starsky received and the chance to give back to a local animal shelter," Maria Gibeau, Starsky's owner, said. "This contest was a fun way to show off our pets while bringing attention to organizations doing important work in our community."
The 2026 finalists also included Bella, an 8-year-old mixed breed supporting Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord; Bleu Cheese, a 2-year-old Hound/Terrier mix supporting Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord; Rook, a 10-week-old American Akita supporting Live and Let Live Farm; and Ryder, a 2-year-old Micro Pitbull/Bulldog mix supporting Darbster Doggy.
The contest also supported animal rescue groups in New Hampshire, directing attention to nonprofit organizations chosen by the finalists during the public voting process.
The Merrimack said people can view this year's finalists and learn about future contests and events on its Instagram and Facebook pages. The bank describes Merrimack Style as treating customers, employees and community members with dignity, care, respect and compassion.
Founded in 1867, Merrimack County Savings Bank said it serves people, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities in Central and Southern New Hampshire. The bank said it operates local offices in Bow, Concord, Contoocook, Henniker, Hooksett, Nashua and Windham.
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