“Happy” was a fitting name for this sweet Husky/Akita mixed breed girl. She was surrendered by her owner to the animal shelter on August 27, 2019. Her owner said she was  great girl that could sit, stay, speak and lay down. She also loved riding in cars, no doubt putting her beautiful blue eyes out the window for the wind-in-the-face that all dogs love! She was already spayed and microchipped.
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She got her outdoor glamour photo session on August 28, 2019 and was put on the animal shelter’s adoption website. Happy was rescued on 8/30/19 by Second Chance Habitat Rescue! Her freedom ride was sponsored by pledges to the rescue from Anne, Nancy​, Cindy and an Anonymous supporter. 

Damon had a bit of a chop-job on his ears, but he wore them well. He was a stately and handsome looking Pitbull Terrier that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 27, 2019. The shelter was encouraged when the scanned him and found a microchip. But unfortunately, the woman registered on the chip said she gave him away and didn’t have the current owner’s information.

Damon, his real name was "Demon", but the shelter wasn’t about to post that, had his photography session on August 28, 2019. He was rescued on September 4, 2019 by Wags N Wiggles Rescue! He was sponsored by pledged donations to the rescue from Alice, Becky, Dana and Anne.  

Poor Rebel. One of the local mobile home parks was being condemned and shut down. Rebel got caught up in the drama. When his owner was forced to move, he couldn’t find a new rental that allowed dogs on such short notice. It isn’t often you see a grown man cry, but Rebel’s owner was truly upset as he was signing him over to the animal shelter on August 27, 2019.

​Rebel was a bit older, but already neutered. Being heartworm positive and a pitbull mix was going to make his re-homing a bit more challenging. I wasted no time and did his Furtography session first thing the next morning. 

Dodger was a super-playful young pup, about 8-months-old, that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 23, 2019. He was a mixed breed, but had the gorgeous steel blue coat of a Weimaraner.

He had his pet adoption photography session on August 28, 2019. Getting this happy boy to calm for photos was a bit of a challenge. But I let him “shake his wiggles out” and he finally settled for a few good shots. His majestic Weimaraner side came through in a few of his photos. His ears weren’t quite as large and velvety as a pure-bred Weim, but he did perk them up as best as he could in a few of the photographs!

​Right away after replacing his intake “mug shot” with the new outdoor photos, Dodger began getting interest. One adoption application and two rescue inquiries came in almost immediately. He was adopted into a new home on August 30, 2019!

Lee was scared to death in the kennel. This shy guy would retreat to the back of his kennel whenever someone walked by. But the shelter staff could see he was just insecure and not aggressive.

When I entered Lee’s kennel, I sat on the floor and talked sweet to him. It didn’t take more than 30 seconds for him to start wagging his tail and gently approach me. After gaining his confidence, we went outside for his photo session and he was a transformed dog!

Many of the dogs get “shell shocked” in the kennel and just need some TLC. Once they are brought outdoors in a quieter, calmer environment, you can see their true personality. And just like Lee, if you let them calm down and decompress before starting the photo session, you get some wonderful results.

​Once Lee’s new, happier photos and video were posted, he got immediate attention. He was adopted within a few hours! But sadly, he was returned the shelter the next day because the adopters dog wouldn’t accept him in the household. Lee was sponsored by pledged donations from Anne, Jason, Eileen, Kay and Judy. 

​Bethany was a beautiful Black Labrador Retriever that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 22, 2019. Surprisingly, no owner had showed up for her and she had her dog rescue adoption photo session on August 26, 2019. She was rescued by Atlanta Lab Rescue on August 27, 2019. She was sponsored by pledged donations to the rescue from Anne and Jason. 

​Ellie was a pretty female American Bulldog and Pit Bull Terrier mix. Her one blue eye really stood out against her gorgeous white coat and brindle spots. She was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 23, 2019. She had her pet adoption photography session on August 26, 2019 and was rescued   by Athens Canine Rescue the following day! Her rescue was sponsored by pledged donations from Kay, Alice, Jason and Anne. 

​Nova was brought to the animal shelter on August 26, 2019. She had been left in a local boarding facility by her owner earlier in the summer, but they never came back for her or paid their bill. Poor girl was a sweet dog, even after being cooped up in a boarding kennel so long.

The shelter called her owner a couple of times but they still didn’t come for her. She had her dog rescue photography session on August 26, 2019. Nova's owner eventually came to the shelter and claimed her on September 4, 2019.

“Hair and Makeup!” Just like Hollywood, sometimes the shelter dogs need a bit of help!

“Rico” was a hound mix that needed a little touching up for his photos, and a rescue for some vet care. This poor guy’s eyes were quite goopy when he came in and one looked to be ulcerated. He didn’t seem too old, so I wasn’t sure what he had gotten into.
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He was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 20, 2019. Judging by his condition, I doubted an owner would come forward for him, so I wasted no time and did his photo session the following day.

​I spent a good bit of time trying to gently clean out his eyes for his photo session.  He cleaned up just enough for his sad, brown eyes to show in the photograph. Shooting from overhead is also a way to enhance those “sad puppy dog eyes” in a pet photograph. 

On August 27, 2019, Rico was finally rescued by Second Chance Habitat! His freedom ride was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Judy, Kay, Eileen, Kim, Jason, Anne and Lisa. 

​“Trina” was a happy Husky mixed breed dog that came into humane society shelter on August 13, 2019. This little girl just wanted to play with anyone and everyone, dog and human alike! With her pretty blue eyes, I was surprised she sat so long without any interest from adopters. When her only adoption application fell through, it was time take her out for a photo session. She was finally rescued on August 23, 2019 by Niagara Dog Rescue. She was sponsored by donations from Cindy, Jason and Anne. 

“Traelin” was a 5-month-old puppy brought in to the animal shelter on August 19, 2019 by a woman who said she saved him out of a bad situation. Only problem was, her landlord wouldn’t let her keep him. And it was true, he really seemed neglected. He was severely underweight and had patches of hair loss on his head and elsewhere.

Poor Traelin was also quite skittish and nervous when he got to the shelter. Who knows what he had been through. He sat huddled in the corner of his kennel doubting everyone’s intentions. But if you watch his short video, you’ll see how quickly he warms up to a kind voice. He is just looking for some love and security.

A few days after intake, Traelin gave us a bit of a scare. That morning his kennel had a bit of mild diarrhea and blood. Immediately fearing parvo, a highly contagious virus, we tested him and thankfully he was negative. A few doses of dewormer and he was already on the mend. 

Traelin got better and better as he received TLC at the animal shelter. He was photographed on August 22, 2019 and put on the shelter's adoption website. Thankfully he got another chance at a happier life when he was rescued on August 23, 2019 by Washington-Wilkes DAWGS Rescue! His rescue was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Polly, Cindy and Anne. 

"Harley" was a nervous girl that was surrendered to the animal shelter by her owner on August 15, 2019. But who can blame her? These dogs live their lives comfortably in a home and are used to one family. Then all of a sudden they are in a loud kennel with a bunch of other dogs. She perked up a bit outdoors for her dog rescue photos, but just needed a secure loving home to unwind in. 

I was a bit worried when Harley's only adoption application fell through. But thankfully she was picked up by a rescue on August 23, 2019 with some help from donors Jason and Anne. 

"Walker" was a loving and playful dog that came into the animal shelter on August 13, 2019. As his adoption video shows, this boy absolutely loved having his belly rubbed. And it was his antics on Youtube that got him a new home! He was rescued by WW DAWGS Rescue on August 21, 2019. His rescue was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Valerie, Eileen, Kay, Jason, Alice and Anne. 

“Dad, it’s so easy! You just click this right here, upload the video and photos, mute the audio and press ‘create movie’.” That’s how this old dog (me), learned a new trick. My introduction to video production came from my 15-year-old daughter!

I’ve carried a camera since the 1900’s. That was later than the gold-rush and railroad days; but not too much later. And it was a 35mm film camera at that! When digital first came out, I could be quoted as saying, “It will never catch on. Nobody will leave the quality of film.” This old dog wasn’t up for a new trick. But eventually I had to roll over and now couldn’t imagine going without my digital camera.

When it came to video, it just wasn’t my thing. I’d stick to my still photographs and leave all that up to the videographers. But necessity is the mother of change. While they loved the glamour photos of the animal shelter dogs, so many rescue groups and potential adopters wanted a better feel for an animals size and temperament. Often, that can’t be conveyed in a still photograph. Reluctantly, I began posting video footage on the pet adoption website.

Sitting in a tent in the Okefenokee Swamp after a day of paddling and wildlife photography, I watched as my young daughter edited and posted her GoPro footage on her phone and straight to her YouTube account. “It’s that easy?” I asked. And after just a ten minute tutorial, I was up to speed on making videos for the dogs needing adoption and rescue.
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They aren’t the best videos. I haven’t put as much time and money (yet) into learning video production as I have photography, but the results have been great. The rescue and adopters have commented how much even these short, 1-minute videos have helped with adoptions. I guess it pays off for the dogs when an ‘old dog’ finally learned a new trick!