giving back

All of my dogs over the years have been ‘rescues’.  Some were genuine rescues … like my first boy, Murph, rescued from a drug house and landing with me when I was residing in Baltimore … or Merrick, rescued directly from a puppymill farm after a lifetime of being used for breeding. Morley and Matea were both from Ontario shelters … and my current sidekick, Matlin, was the result of a very long drive to a rescue in Dallas several years ago.

 You will see most of these heart-dogs of mine sprinkled throughout the scruffy dog portfolio. Not only are they a constant inspiration in my work and life in general, they are a testament to the sheer joy and gratitude that come with rescue dogs.

Each of them has their history – including the cats who have shared the scruffy dog studio over the years – and their individual stories can be found under the about section.  All are shining examples of what a little love and leadership can do for a battered or thrown-away soul.

 As someone who has only ever had ‘rescue’ dogs, it has always been my mission to support and assist animal rescue organizations however possible. Annually, scruffy dog has worked on special projects with various rescue organizations, helping to raise thousands of dollars over the years for rescue and shelter animals, as well as raising awareness of rescues and puppymills.  Also, countless silent auctions and pro bono shoots for rescue and dog organizations make up another big part of scruffy dog’s ‘giving back’ each year.

Please consider supporting your local shelter or rescue group. More importantly, please consider adopting your next companion.

To read an interview with Illona about giving back to the rescue community, you can check out her guest feature in the I Heart Faces blog series on Photographers Giving Back!

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