Maynard - Rescue dogs: portraits and stories

Dedication

To all the dogs in my lifepast, present, and futurebut especially to Mr. Bojangles for inspiring me to discover my calling and for being my ever-patient muse.

Copyright 2017 by Susannah Maynard.

All rights reserved.

All photographs by the author unless otherwise noted.

Published by:

Amherst Media, Inc.

PO BOX 538

Buffalo, NY 14213

www.AmherstMedia.com

Publisher: Craig Alesse

Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins

Editors: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt, Beth Alesse

Acquisitions Editor: Harvey Goldstein

Associate Publisher: Kate Neaverth

Editorial Assistance from: Carey A. Miller, Roy Bakos, Jen Sexton-Riley, Rebecca Rudell

Business Manager: Adam Richards

ISBN-13: 978-1-68203-299-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017940732

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.

Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the authors experience and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

As a lifelong animal lover I know that, unfortunately, not every animal has a home. Thats why I want to give back to animals in need by using my talents to help them find that home. Photographing rescue pets is an important step in helping them get seen by as many potential adopters as possible. Studies show that pets with an adoption photo are more likely to get adopted than those without. Those same studies also show that the better the photographs and the friendlier the setting is for those images, the less time the dogs will spend waiting to find the right home. Thats why this book, and the pro bono work I do for shelter and rescue pets, is so important.

That is also why an organization like HeARTs Speak exists. HeARTs Speak is a global community of more than 600 artists helping to increase the visibility of shelter animals around the world. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that is what I and the other members of HeARTs Speak are dedicated togiving shelter and rescue pets the best first impression possible. Nothing is more satisfying than to hear someone chose to adopt a particular dog because they saw your picture of them.

While the majority of the dogs in this book have already been adopted or were already adopted at the time I photographed them, it is still extremely important to raise awareness that rescue dogs make excellent pets. You can also see from this book that rescue dogs come in a variety of sizes, ages, and breedseven purebred dogs can be found in shelters and rescues across the country and, in fact, around the world. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters every year; many do not make it out alive. The ASPCA estimates that around 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized every year. That is why this book and what I (and others like me) do is so important.

In this book, you will see a variety of dog images. Dogs photographed outside. Dogs photographed in a studio setting. Dogs photographed in the home. Puppies. Seniors. Dogs with special needs. My goal in sharing these images is to show you as much cuteness and personality as possible from very brief sessions of time with each dog. Some days I would photograph dozens of pets coming in on their freedom rides, and other days it would be a single dog or a litter of puppies at a foster parents home.

I hope that in reading this book you will see that rescue dogs are good dogs that will make great members of your family. If you are looking to add a dog to your family, please consider a dog from a shelter or rescue. If you cant adopt a dog at this time, consider fostering one. If you cant foster, then consider volunteering your time to help a rescue or shelter. If you cant adopt, foster, or volunteer, then consider donating to a rescue or shelter, as they will appreciate any small amount you can give, whether it be money or time. Just like with anything, however, I highly recommend you do your due diligence in choosing an organization to adopt from or support with your efforts. There are many resources available to research animal welfare organizations, such as GuideStar.org, GreatNonprofits.org, and CharityNavigator.org. Read reviews of the organizations. Talk to people in your community who are familiar with them.

Just as with anything else, not all groups are created equal, and some groups are better than others.

Besides giving back to animals in need with my photography, I am also giving back with this book by donating a portion of the proceeds to the following organizations: Recycled Doggies in Cincinnati, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, and HeARTs Speak.

Susannah Maynard is a lifelong animal lover, animal rescue advocate, and pet photographer. Long before she picked up her first cameraher mothers childhood Kodak Brownieshe captured images of the world around her with a pad of paper and a box of crayons. From her early childhood, Susannah was surrounded by a house full of cats, beginning her lifelong love of animals.

After trying a variety of careers, from fundraising to publishing, Susannah was at a career crossroads when, in 2011, she adopted her heart dog, Mr. Bojangles, and discovered there was such a profession as pet photographer. Deciding to turn her love of both photography and pets into a career, Pet Love Photography was born.

Susannah has spent the last several years honing her skills as a pet photographer by photographing hundreds of rescue and client pets. She primarily works on location to make sure that her pet subjects are as comfortable as possible in environments that are familiar to them. She is a member of HeARTs Speak and Professional Photographers of America.

When not out photographing other peoples pets or donating her time to rescue organizations or other pet charities, Susannah spends time with her own pet family of rescue dogs, Stella, Mr. Bojangles, and Paco, as well as her rescue cat, Diana.