March Adoptables
Two and a half years ago, I started a monthly initiative called Foster Photo Day.
My goal was to offer up my services complimentary to rescues and shelters across the Triangle who have longtime dogs that need a bit of a photo and marketing refresh to help them be seen and valued among the millions available for adoption.
My focus has been during that time to put a more strategic focus on dogs that:
Are older (usually 5 years of age or older)
Might have medical needs
Potentially have some kind of behavioral issues, like reactivity or needing to be the only pet
Are a restricted breed, like bully breeds
Are black in color (Black dogs are much less likely to get adopted in the shelter in a very common phenomenon called Black Dog Syndrome)
Or have just been overlooked for one reason or another
Have been in foster for a significant period of time; typically months, if not, years
These photos sessions are complimentary to any rescue or shelter across the State. In that time, Foster Photo Day has worked with at least a dozen local rescues / shelters and photographed over 150+ dogs in foster.
Not only does the dog receive new images to help drive a resurgence of interest in them, but the rescue also has access to these high-quality images to promote the animal on social media and their online profile. Plus, I’ve noticed that by having professional images, it increases the credibility of an organization, thus, encouraging volunteer, foster, adoption, and donation interest.
In other words, as you guys have heard me say again and again, images save lives.
So, from here on out, I am going to do my best to not only photograph those pups, but feature them in a monthly blog post that can be shared to help these dogs gain further exposure and (hopefully) find their forever family.
If you’d like to learn more about Foster Photo Day, you can do so here. If you’d like to learn more about our Mission to help reduce animal overpopulation and homelessness in our state, read more about that here.
Now, on to the cute faces I want to share with you this month!
LILLY - PAWFECT MATCH
Lilly is a year and a half old Lab mix available for adoption at Pawfect Match! Not only will she still your heart (and your treats) with that angelic face, but this girl loves to adventure. Her foster has said that she is great on the leash and is a wonderful walking / hiking companion.
Lilly also resides with both cats and other dogs! She loves to romp and play as well as cuddle. She would do best in a home with a dog who is also playful, but respectful of her space.
She is also great with kids, house trained, and crate trained. Fitting in a frisbee or soccer session daily is one of her favorite things! The reason this perfect sized babe (at just 43 pounds currently) hasn’t been scooped up yet is that her spine is a big different than other dogs causing some neurological issues on her backend, which the vet isn’t sure will impact her lifelong and doesn’t seem to slow her down one bit.
Lastly, Lilly is a bit nervous about going down stairs after a fall when she was younger, so while she’s comfortable going up the stairs, she would require a ramp or home with very few stairs.
I know, I know what you’re thinking, HOW HANDSOME IS BENTLEY?
I mean seriously, how did this 100% very good boy spend over a year in the shelter before being pulled into foster.
Estimated to be about 2-3 years old (but I think maybe about two), Bentley has already spent half of his life in the shelter, but let me tell you, that doesn’t seem to have phased him. This calm, collected guy is eager to please, very food motivated, and affectionate.
In our time together, he enjoyed snuggles from me along with sniffing around the park. His foster noted that he loves other dogs even play bowing towards another dog we were close by there. All of his reactions of both people and kids walking by were positive. He was very eager to want to meet anyone who came in our general proximity.
He doesn’t seem to know much, but with his food motivation, I bet would be willing to learn. His foster said he is great in the house, but loves to chew, so a plethora of toys, chewies, and plushies would be a must.
I honestly have nothing to say but good things about Bentley, who was so gentle and polite during our session.
He is available through Caswell County APS, but is currently in foster in Durham.
Don’t let the frosty face fool you, Flo is a little spitfire!
She is a big snuggler according to her foster where she would be content to hang out with you on the couch throughout the day, but she does require her short morning and evening walkies that she adores so much!
While Flo is missing a few teeth, that doesn’t slow down her appetite. She demanded lots of treats during her photosession!
At ten years old, Flo does have some arthritis and requires monthly injections for these that have been a game changer for her. Any adopter would be asked to continue her injections to keep her quality of life. She would also do best in a home with no stairs.
While she does get along with other low key, respectful dogs, Flo must be in a home without any cats.
Relish has had a long and difficult journey. After bouncing in and out of the shelter system as a puppy, he found himself as part of a cruelty case last Fall where he endured countless injuries and atrocities at the hands of other dogs in the same facility.
Fortunately, Second Chance came along and helped this boy on his path towards a new, healthy, happy journey.
For this reason, Relish requires to be the only pet in the home. He still struggles with fear and reactivity surrounding other dogs being in his space, which is totally understandable.
While other dogs may be off the table for him, he loves his people including older kids. He’s extremely affectionate, playful, and great on the leash. His favorite activities include playing with a tennis ball, so a home with a fenced in backyard would be ideal for Relish.
During our time together, I noticed how sensitive and demur Relish is. He will definitely draw you in with those soulful eyes that have clearly seen a lot in his young life.
So, here’s hoping that Relish’s future family sees a resilient, courageous pup with a lot of life and love left to give. Relish is currently in foster with the Dog Program Manager at Second Chance NC.
Weighing in at just nine pounds, Syd is chock full of character. She not only loves to go for her daily walks, but snuggling is one of her love languages.
She might be seven years old, but this (young) senior is energetic, polite, well mannered, and just super cute with her underbite.
Syd was also super photogenic and enjoyed working for treats during her photosession. Can you even with that face?
Her foster have noted that Syd is also wicked smart picking up tricks quickly and easily. She enjoys to learn!
From snuggle buddy to your four legged adventure buddy, Syd definitely fits the bill. Syd is currently in foster through Hope Animal Rescue in Durham.
Beautiful Bailey is available for adoption through WakeGov Pets and is currently in foster in Durham. This two year old cutie is great with other dogs and people along with being house and crate trained.
Little critters are way too exciting for her, so she would do best in a home without any small creatures, like bunnies, cats, etc.
While Bailey loves other people, it does take her a minute to warm up to them. Once she does, though, she’s all tail wags and booty wiggles and will show you how affectionate she is.
She prefers the company of her favorite toys and absolutely loves to keep herself entertained. I also noted that she’s very food motivated, which made it quick work for her to acclimate to me and my camera. I imagine she would be easy to work with for any training you’d like to do and to help build her confidence.
Lastly, Bailey has those pesky Heartworms, which are totally treatable. She even has a $400 sponsorship from Friends Of Wake County Animal Center towards her treatment.
