Did you know that October is Adopt A Shelter Dog month? Even though the month is almost over, there are still many dogs (and cats, bunnies and other animals) that are looking for their forever homes.

I made my monthly trip to Alchemy Acres Animal Sanctuary this week and as usual, it was cuteness overload! I had the chance to not only photograph the dogs and cats up for adoption, but a few other animals as well. Cinnamon the guinea pig and Benny the bunny are new to the rescue also.

Once we had all the adoptable animals photographed, the staff at Alchemy asked if I could start doing some “resident” photographs. Because they are a no kill shelter, there are some animals that will live out their lives there. Of course, the ultimate goal is to find every single animal a home. Some pets need very special owners because of what may have happened to them prior to being at the shelter. Whether it is socialization issues that cannot be resolved or extremely abused, some of these dogs and cats have trust issues with humans. Alchemy cares for these animals and offers them the proper behavioral training or therapies while they search for an experienced pet owner who is willing to put in time and effort to acclimate them to human interaction. I had the opportunity to photograph three of the residents this time and I am looking forward to meeting many more of them in the future.

I am putting out my plea for everyone who is considering a new pet to first stop at a rescue or shelter to see what animals are available for adoption. Every time a pet finds a new home at one of these rescues, it opens up a space for another animal to have a chance at a better life.