Twinkle's Story - The power of an adoption photo

In November 2013, I received an urgent message from a local dog rescue group I'd been working with, taking adoption photos for about an exceptional pup. Today I'm sharing her story because it is one of the reasons I'm so passionate about donating my time and skill as a Hearts Speak Artist to help local rescues with great adoption photos to help great pets find their perfect home.

Her name was Twinkles. She had been in care for over three months, and despite having photos up of her on the adoption sites, not one person had paused and taken a look at her photo or story.

That was when I was contacted by the rescue, asking if I had time to take some photos to help this sweet girl find her forever home. My answer, of course, was a resounding YES! So I got in touch with Twinkle's foster parents, who lived close by, and arranged to meet up the following afternoon to take some photos of this beautiful pup.

We took a stroll around Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford, taking our time to get to know one another and capture her enjoying a simple walk in the park with this adorable pup. I remember I kept thinking to myself at the time, why has no one even looked at her page? She's such a doll! Anyone would be lucky to adopt such a sweetheart. We stopped along the way at various spots to capture some moments, and we enjoyed a relaxed and fun hour or so, lending time and skill to help this girl find her happiest of tails.

As soon as I got home, I immediately emptied my SD card, opened my digital darkroom, and got to work. In a few hours, I started sending the rescue group images to use and posting them, as well as her information on my social media pages and crossed my toes for this special pup.

It didn't take long before I got the most fantastic news. Of course, it was news I wasn't expecting quite so soon, but it taught me a lesson I've never forgotten.

The rescue was inundated with applications for this girl, so much so that it wasn't long before they had to ask people to stop applying to adopt her. Within 24 hrs of having her session - this girl found her forever home.

I was overjoyed. I was stunned. I was shedding many happy tears and doing quite an ecstatic dance for Twinkles!

Now, I tell them her story whenever anyone asks me what good it does to take a photo of these adoptable pets seeking happy tails. It reminds us all how essential and powerful something as "simple" as a photograph can help a rescue pet find its happiest of tails, even when no one has looked at her page in three months.

Stories like Twinkles are why I'm so passionate about helping local rescues. Taking those photos that capture the essence of the furkid seeking their happy tail, be it a dog, cat, or even a horse, can help them find their homes up to 60% faster; or, in Twinkle's case, even faster.

If you're a local animal rescue group in the Triport area or even one with foster parents in the Triport area and require some great adoption photos, please don't hesitate to give me a bark!