3 WAYS RESCUING A PET WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Recently, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in pet adoption (of dogs in particular). I’ve been an avid supporter of animal rescue since long before I decided to become a pet photographer. Throughout high school and college I volunteered for shelters and rescues; helped raise puppies from a rescued pregnant lab and found homes for several animals.
Fast forward to 2017; a sweet little beagle mix was found as a stray. She was found with a dog that looked like her with a spray painted number on the dog’s side. This clue meant they were probably stray hunting dogs. They were brought to Richmond Animal Care and Control. I am sure she was confused going from free roaming to confined in a shelter kennel.
Then, one Saturday, me and my husband of 4 months found our way to RACC. We looked at a couple dogs and finally right before closing time they brought a beagle mix out for us to meet. We left. That night I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The next morning I told my husband I wanted to go back, and that was it! It was the very first day of the new me, the person that belonged to Hannah, the sweet little beagle mix.
Three things I learned from adopting a pet
I learned THREE really important truths:
1. I have more patience than I realize (Hannah had probably never lived in a house before. So, the learning curve was quite large before she finally settled in and learned how to conduct herself in a home with people who love her. She has that down pat now!)
2. Morning is a beautiful time of day (Being a photographer I kind of already knew that… but being forced to wake at 6am everyday with a howling beagle next to my ear is good incentive to enjoy mornings more. Which I actually really do. It’s become the most peaceful part of my morning; and I have the best alarm clock that doesn’t have a snooze button)
3. The love you receive from a pet is unlike anything else on earth (I also already kind of knew this. But, Hannah was the first dog I adopted myself aside from being a family pet. Being that primary person to her and experiencing the bond I have with her is different than anything else and there really are no words to explain how important it has been in my life.)
Now… Hannah has become the well known neighborhood beagle. She’s the one with the beautiful singing voice and the one who will steal any food she can. She’s the one who will hunt all the lizards and let you know if there is a rabbit around. She travels with us almost everywhere and brightens not just my day, but everyone she meets.
It’s safe to say that Hannah was a primary influence for my business. (Not to mention she’s gotten a little too used to being my model. Anytime I need or want to test something out, she’s happy to oblige… if there’s a treat involved that is). Her personality is more distinct than any dog I’ve had. So, capturing that personality on camera to remember forever has become very important to me. This is the aspect of photography that I love sharing with people; capturing the personality of their best furry friends.
Interested in Adoption?
For more information about animal rescue and adoption around Richmond, VA I highly recommend these wonderful organizations.
Did you adopt your pet? I’d love to hear about your adoption journey!
Join our facebook group and tell us about your adoption journey. www.facebook.com/groups/belovedpetsofrva
I’ll leave you with a little picture timeline of Hannah…
