How Single Photographs Are Saving The Lives Of Shelter Animals Across The Country

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/one-picture-saves-a-life_n_4810738.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Megan Griffo [e-mail]

Posted: 02/21/2014 2:04 pm EST Updated: 02/21/2014 3:59 pm EST

A terrified dog walks into a rescue shelter. He's dirty, disoriented and unsure of what's about to happen. A person he doesn't know stands over him with a camera, snaps a photo and posts it on an adoption website.

Most likely, no one will call about him.



"That's the photo that forever represents the pet," explains Liz Baker, the executive director of GreaterGood.org, an organization which provides financial support to charities around the world.

A year ago, Baker's team and photographer Seth Casteel decided they needed to put an end to "that one photo." So they created an initiative called One Picture Saves a Life, to provide shelters with resources to properly groom and photograph shelter pets.

FULL story and lots of photos at link.

[exboyfil]

1. Our little girl Aussie looked

miserable and hid in the back of her kennel when my daughter saw her. My daughter saw something special. Another family was expressing an interest in her, so I gave my daughter the go ahead sight unseen. I am so thankful that I did.

Two years ago my daughter won top Jr. Handler and 4th place overall with her at a national dog agility trial. She has had some injuries, but she still competes at a high level (her body was never built for agility but her heart is the most competitive I have ever seen). The two are inseparable.

My big boy border collie came from a loving home when he ended up in the shelter (how I don't know), but he still looked a little scruffy when we adopted him. He is a magical dog in his own way as well - the kindest dog you will ever meet.

[classof56]

6. Two wonderful stories that made my day better.

Thumbs up and congrats to you and your daughter. Lucky dogs they are, to have found such loving, caring owners!

[appleannie1]

2. This is a good thing. Some people don't realize that most of the animals in shelters are scared or

depressed and their expressions show it as a result. They don't look beyond those expressions to an animal that will appreciate every fragment of love you give them and return each 10 fold.

[BrotherIvan]

3. They got it right!

I make sure to take the best possible pictures, gazing right into the eyes, of any animal I am trying to adopt out. People don't know or can't imagine that your adopted pet can and will be every bit as beautiful as any you could buy from a breeder or pet store. That you know you are giving a furbeing a second chance at life is just gravy.

Yay for the pets!!!!!!!!

[laundry_queen]

4. This is especially important for dark and black colored dogs

They are less likely to be adopted and are very difficult for amateurs to photograph. Here's a good website for amateur photographers who understand a bit of the lingo: http://clickitupanotch.com/2013/02/pet-photography-photograph-a-black-dog/

[woo me with science]

12. What a great bunch of tips.

Thank you.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. k&r for the animals

[Jetboy]

7. Timing is so important in life. These animals are terrified having their world turned

upside down and at that very moment they are supposed to look all cute for the important picture used to help them get adopted.

This is a fantastic program that helps with this problem.

I believe there are 5,500 animals killed in shelters in America every day. All of us need to do what we can to reduce that number down to zero.

[brett_jv]

8. This is way trippy ...

This was the first link I stumbled upon in this DU visit, and as it turns out, the wife and I *just* got back from a pet adoption place here in Gilbert AZ (they're called Furrever Friends, really great people).

Her mom just had to turn over her dog to them (they're a no-kill shelter) earlier in the week because she can no longer take care of him (he's a very strong and active Pit, and she's about 65 y.o.), so we'd gone by to say 'Hi' to the big guy and take him for a walk. As it turned out, there was a nice family there (H/W and their 7th grade twin boys) visiting him for the 2nd time already, so we all took him out for that walk together, we answered the families questions and sorta 'pimped' what a great dog he is.

I have a feeling our randomly happening to show up there at the same time could very well have made the difference between whether or not Octavius gets himself a happy new home in a surprisingly quick fashion.

Anyways, the work these folks (both furrever friends AND these photographers) are doing is AWESOME, so glad there's folks out there that care enough to do this. There's no question whatever that they're saving the lives of a great many beautiful animals by doing this. My wife was tearful when we got back (she'd grow quite attached to her mom's dog), and seeing this story made her stop crying

[red dog 1]

9. K&R...Thanks for posting.

Thanks also to Liz Baker and GreaterGood.org,
as well as to Megan Griffo of Huffpo for the article

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. Aww, did you see the EARS and EYEBROWS?

I don't like to anthropomorphize, but really, this sweet doggy's ears and eyebrows say it all! And he's got his tongue hanging out like, "HEY, what's UP!?"

[Heidi]

11. Kick!

[woo me with science]

13. K&R

[catbyte]

14. Awesome!

[toby jo]

15. Another great thing folks do is volunteer to take a dog out for a walk.

I was at a shelter in Akron, Ohio, adopting a dog and met a high school friend who showed up every day at this shelter to take a dog out for a walk. They had a program for just that - it was the humane society. Great guy! - and it puts a smile in those dogs that carries them over.

If you have time go to your local shelter and volunteer to take a dog for a walk once in awhile. It's easy and they'll love you for it.

[myrna minx]

16. I got a little something in my eye.