As all three of our pups are adopted through rescues, I’ve always been passionate about animal welfare and rescue work and try to give back any way I can. I’m always happy to donate gift certificates for fundraisers, but one of the ways I feel truly active in the community is by photographing adoptable pets for rescues’ websites, promo materials, and anything other projects that need high-quality images. Up until now, though, I have only ever photographed adoptables from no-kill organizations. For some time, I have been wanting to help at an animal control facility where their need is literally a matter of life and death.
I felt I had some idea of what to expect — I knew it would be very emotional — and last week I had the opportunity to visit Fulton County Animal Services in downtown Atlanta. It was an experience that will stay with me forever. I had trouble sleeping for days after and as soon as I got home, hugged my pups for a long, long time.
First, I do want to say that I was really amazed at what a wonderful job the staff at Fulton County are doing — the facility is very clean (cleaner than some doggie daycares I’ve visited!) and the staff is very attentive and great with the dogs. Everyone is helpful and friendly, and the dogs are treated with dignity and respect. The coordinator I worked with knew the shelter’s stats up and down and works hard to get as many dogs as they can into rescues and foster home programs.
What I was not prepared for was the sheer number of dogs I would see, and the impact of knowing that number when I looked back into those pleading eyes behind the gates. Each year, Fulton County takes in between 8 and 9 THOUSAND animals and 45% never make it out.
In the section of the kennel I visited, there was one long row with cells on both sides, and each pen had at least three dogs in each one. I expected a lot of barking and jumping behind the gates, but even was worse was the silence. Some would stand when you passed and wag their tail tentatively; others would cry, whine, or bark in desperation, throwing themselves against the gates. And some would just look up from their curled position and not even dare to hope.
Even more heartbreaking? After walking down this aisle, I found out that none of these were even on the adoptables list that I was going to be photographing — that was yet another row of pens. With the help of the staff, I was able to photograph 19 dogs that day for their website and each of their photos is included in the slideshow below. If you are in the Atlanta area and know anyone looking to add a dog to their family, please let them know about the dogs desperately awaiting homes at Fulton County. It was a harrowing thought that I tried to keep from my mind that not all of these dogs will ultimately find homes.
My heartfelt thanks go out to the tireless volunteers in our communities who work day and night to re-home these sweet souls and to educate the public about responsible pet ownership, spay and neuter programs, and the joys that come from choosing to adopt.
[Click anywhere on the slideshow below to begin.]
If you are in the Atlanta area and know of any ways to help get these photos distributed more widely, please email me and let’s work together to get the word out!
by Leesia
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