Laurie Ruth Photography

Please! I will warn you in advance, I’m a little passionate about this topic. We all know my love for my furry four-legged son, Charles Woodrow, but did you know he was once a stray and I am actually his 8th owner? How grateful I am that he was able to picked up by animal control and through a very long story, fell into my hands and my heart.

Yesterday was quite an amazing day spent with the Fort Worth Animal Services. My goal is simple; get these animals faces out there to the public. The more exposure an animal has, the more likely they will be able to be adopted – I decided to adopt Charlie after being sent a clear picture of him. To start this project of mine (which I think just might last a lifetime), the shelter, the city and I all collaborated to shoot their new promotional campaign, using animals that are currently up for adoption in addition to employees and their healthy happy now-adopted dogs. These images will grace their lobby, amongst other advertising spots around the city and I couldn’t be more honored.

We started the day with the dogs currently in the shelter and I have to say how overwhelmed I was at how beautfiul these dogs were, and how loving. These animals were grateful to be out, to be held, to be fed way too many treats, and just to be loved on for an afternoon. I can’t imagine what a home would mean to them. These dogs were so well behaved, so beautiful and so desperate for a friend to take them home. So many of them knew all of their tricks and I could tell that someone, somewhere had loved them. It broke my heart when the animal control officer said around 100 dogs a day are being surrendered to them. 100. Don’t waste your money buying a dog from a breeder, give a loving dog a second chance at a new home, a new life.

There was a lot of hope in this room, a lot of positivity that we were doing something that would matter.

Without further ado, I give you a small sample of what comprises a shelter dog today.  More information on these animals (and so many many more), can be found at:

http://fortworthtexas.gov/animals/adoption/

And here is a success story. Meet Henry!  Seven months ago, this sweet baby was found as a stray, half his bodyweight, near death from pneumonia, and on his way to euthanasia.  The director of code compliance was visiting that day and just knew that he was the dog he had been looking for.  Today, Henry is a happy, healthy, slightly spoiled dog who goes to work with his dad everyday and by going to city meetings and visiting schools, is an ambassador of shelter dogs, and what they can become.  Look how he shines!  No really, he has the shiniest coat I’ve ever seen.

Henry and his dad!

Was it a coincidence that I came across a stray and terribly starved dog running along a busy street on my way home?  No, I don’t think so.  She climbed right into my car, drank about a gallon of water, and spent a night in a warm home.  I hope we can find her a home soon, she has so much potential!