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Senior dog poses in an Edmonton photo studio wearing Christmas balls as a collar.

Can you buy love?

Thursday, December 05, 2024 | By: J Shantz Photography

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"You can't buy love, but you can rescue it."

I’m not sure where this quote originated; I’ve seen it everywhere, including on a coffee mug in my cupboard, but it holds a lot of truth for me. Whether it’s through my own rescued dogs or the volunteer work I do with Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCARS), these words resonate deeply.

If you’ve been following my business for a while, you probably know I spend at least two days a week walking rescue dogs at the SCARS Morinville Rescue Centre, just north of my St. Albert home. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either fortunate or unfortunate, but I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many incredible dogs.

Many of these dogs have become my regular walking buddies... beautiful souls, each with their own unique character. Some I’ve known since I first started volunteering, and I’ve grown to love them as if they were my own. I look forward to seeing them every week, but it’s bittersweet. I’m always happy to see them, but at the same time, my heart aches because they’re still waiting. They deserve to be in a loving home of their own.

Last week, I carved out some extra time to take new "headshots" of these dogs. I’m hoping it helps them get noticed because, too often, they’re overlooked.

Everyone seems to want a puppy or a trendy “designer” mix. Meanwhile, the moms of litters get left behind. Seniors with so much love still to give get left behind. Black dogs get left behind. And after spending time with these amazing dogs, I can’t understand why.  

So here they are... the faces of those still waiting. Let’s wish them all the luck that the New Year brings them the homes they so deeply deserve.

You can find all of these faces and more on the SCARS website.  

 Visit my full portfolio here.

A black lab type dog has his head through a festive wreath in an Edmonton photo studio.

Micks

Black pit bull poses on a blue studio backdrop in an Edmonton pet photography studio.

Hammi

A fawn colored Pit Bull poses wearing a collar of Christmas balls in Edmonton's top photography studio

Amber

A white Pit Bul with a back spot around its eye is in a down position on a blue background.  The dog wears a festive holiday collar in a Edmonton photo studio.

Darla

A brown dog stands on a blue backdrop wearing a green bandana.

Tigger

A senior brown tabby cat wears a festive Christmas sweater on a blue and green background.

Hurley

A large brown and white Pit Bull mix wears a a holiday ribbon on a blue studio background.

Barney

A fawn colored Pit Bull mix poses in an Edmonton photography studio wearing a red ribbon.

Ivy

A large brown mix breed dog poses on a blue background.

Murphy

Two yellow lab mix dogs pose sitting side by side on a blue studio background in Edmonton.

John & Dory

A black boxer type dogs sits on a blue background in an Edmonton photography studio.

Goggles

A yellow colored Pit Bull mix sits on a blue studio backdrop wearing a plaid Christmas ribbon.

Dougie

A shepherd type dog sits on a blue background with its tongue partly sticking out.

Kuma

A small mixed breed dog wears a green bandana. Its ears stick out sideways, and it has its tongue partly out.

Molly

A black German Shepard dog sits looking into the camera while wearing a holiday collar.

North

A brown and white Huskey looks off camera to the left on a blue background.

Seema

A black lab stands confident on a blue background in and Edmonton dog photography studio.

Barbi

A senior dog lays on a green blanket wearing Christmas balls as a collar.

Turbo

A yellow Sharpei mixed dog looks at the camera wearing a red bow. Its tongue is partly out.

Summer

A Shepherd mix dog poses on a blue studio background in Edmonton.  It tilts its head at the camera while wearing a red bow.

Axel

A black and white Springer Spaniel wears a s red ribbon and sits on a blue studio background.

Sparkey

A grey and white boxer mix dog stands on a blue background in an Edmonton dog photography studio.

Fog

A black and white Pit Bull wears a green and black bandana. It looks off camera to the left in front of a blue  studio background.

Maggie

A white Pit Bull sits in front of a blue studio background.  It has a black triangle above the its right eye, and its ears stand straight up.

Audi

A yellow lab stands on a blue background wearing a plaid bow.

Zoey

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Award Winning Photographer Serving the Greater Edmonton Area for 26 Years
Crafted by PhotoBiz
St Albert, Alberta, Canada
St Albert, Alberta, Canada
Critter Collections by J Shantz Photography Logo
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St Albert, Alberta, Canada