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A request
The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.
The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.
Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.
So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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I have always wondered how you manage to get such nice pictures of such a variety of dogs. Whenever I try to photograph dogs I either get the top down view or if I try to get to their level I end up with noses and butts in my face. How do you convince the dogs to stay at a distance?
The most important thing is to have the dog comfortable with the camera pointing at them and then they will stay relatively still so you can position yourself as required. Barring that, it's snapping as many pics as possible and hoping one or two turn out okay.
she has no name even though someone dumped her? Poor little girl - I know it is hard for ALL dogs but GSDs are so pack-oriented, so family centered - more so than many other breeds, this must be killing her.
Poor girl looks like she hasn't had a brushing in forever... :(
I would like to get a Shepherd, I have cats - so wanted to get a puppy, but this one is beautiful. I live in Alberta though. Lovely dog.
I just spent some more time with her this afternoon. May have some issues with certain other dogs but otherwise an amazing dog. Spirited, friendly, intelligent. Loves people. Very good on leash. She's going to have some dental work done possibly and then she'll be in adoption shortly after that.