It’s getting rather chilly out there. Finally, the leaves are turning and it’s really autumn! It’s my favourite kind of weather: brisk, crisp, windy, and nippy. But while I love the cold, I do also like staying warm. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate do wonders to heat me up on those windy fall days. Still, sometimes that doesn’t seem warm enough…so how about warming up with hope, love, and some good ol’ volunteering! There is no greater feeling of warmth and love than helping to save the world one day at a time 
So…what to do, what to do???
I’ve recently teamed up with Eleventh Hour Rescue in Rockaway. They’re a fantastic organization who help home hundreds of dogs and cats to their new forever families! I’ve always wanted to do work with a rescue, no matter what level of involvement it has always been something on my to-do-list. This no-kill shelter/rescue has a high turnover rate from rescue to rehoming, one of the best I’ve heard! There are dozens of dogs at the kennels and even more in foster homes throughout the surrounding areas. I wanted to do what I could to help ensure that the numbers are maintained (or better yet, for adoption rates to start climbing!), but I don’t have any money to spare, experience as a vet tech or trainer, and I’m not able to commit to a certain amount of hours. What on earth was left for me to offer these wonderful folks and sweet-faced animals???
Durrr, Ellen…How about PET PHOTOGRAPHY!
I have been interested the option of becoming pet photographer by profession, but as with any other style of photography, I still need to build a portfolio of clients and references. Since I’m now on this path of “DO IT OR DIE” determination, I sent out an e-mail offering my photographic services to EHR. I got an e-mail back within a day or so to meet a volunteer and start my first day as a dog photographer!!! I’ve gone twice in the last two or three weeks and it has just been a wonderful opportunity to give back while getting ahead with starting a business on my own.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I can say with great honesty that this is quite possibly the greatest thing I have ever done. The dogs are wonderful, the people at the rescue are wonderful, and the entire experience has been rewarding and enlightening.
That being said, it has also been one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I was emailed this week to do feature photos of one of the rescue’s newest residents. Little Kramer just about broke my heart when I saw him. Poor guy has a case of highly contagious mange that can be transferred to human or animal…meaning this sweetie pie has been denied a chance of romps with other dogs and intense human-to-pup contact. He is an older dog and a poor weathered soul who just wants to live out his senior years in a comfortable, loving home. He needs expert medical care to get him on the road to a speedy recovery and I wanted so badly to be the one to do that. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. So I left the rescue with tears in my eyes, knowing he would have to stay there yet another day. I cried most of the drive home, I can’t lie. I went to work furiously on editing and uploading all of his images so they could be sent out for his “Pet of the Week” features. That little dog is going to stay in my mind forever. I only hope someone comes along soon with a generous heart and generous wallet and gets him back up and running to the fiesty, best ever dog I know he is inside!!!!
(I, uh, I also apologise to anyone whose inbox I flooded with GIANT PHOTOS of this sweet-faced little mutt <3 I just love him so!!!!!!)
Anyway, ending on a happy note…the rescue has been just as wonderful to me as well they are to their dogs. I’ve had a gallery featured both on their page and over on Liberty Humane Society’s facebook! It’s a great feeling to know my work is for a greater good than just my own satisfaction. Thursday’s session inspired me ot get my butt moving, call my references, and send in my paperwork to become an official volunteer. This is definitely the start of something GREAT!! I’m looking REALLY forward to the Howl-o-ween parade in Boonton on the 30th!!! Promises to be a roll-licking good time. Teeheeee!! 
