Photographer Turns Shelter Dogs Into Models

By
Emily Johnson
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Image via trailsandbears/Instagram

Rachael Rodgers is a Canadian artist, photographer, and outdoor enthusiast. On top of that, she’s a dog lover and has two old pups named, Beans and Denali. She also helps shelter dogs to find homes by taking beautiful photos of them.

“There are so many amazing dogs at shelters who can find their perfect forever homes faster when their adoption photos show their wonderful character! I love to show the world how wonderful and unique each pup is with photos and videos. Each shoot involves about five hours of driving. Donations are entirely to sponsor photo shoots by means of fuel. My time, supplies, and vehicle for each sponsored dog are entirely volunteer/donated by me,” she wrote on her website.

Rodgers features not only the physical appearance of each dog, she also takes time to get to know them and highlights their great personalities.

Her pictures made a huge impact on the dog’s lives as many of them already found their homes but more are still waiting to get adopted. You can also help these adorable dogs by making donations here.

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This is Titan. Titan is one. He’s extremely friendly, yet independent. He’s giant, yet gentle. He gets along with everyone and wants everyone to have a good time. He can play wrestle a whole pack and also hold a conversation with a horse. He’s really really ridiculously good looking, but knows there’s more to life. He can do leash, or no leash. When he plays in a group, the others look to him as the leader of the pack. If you know someone looking for a born leader built from humble beginnings, please tag them so they can meet this modest fellow. Titan is staying at Garcia Rescue in Cochrane while he waits for his humble human to realize they deserve him. #adoptable Thank you so much Brad McKnight for helping make Titan’s adoption photos happen. His charm is sure to show through!

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This is Pirate. This handsome little guy is only one, but he definitely acts more mature (usually) than that. Pirate has spent a good chunk of his one year at the Humane Society. I think this is the reason he’s developed into such a well mannered young pup. He gets loads of socializing (dog and human) during his days there. He’s also taken dog classes. He’s still working on his leash and barking manners at times when other dogs are around (he barks his head off in the kennels – probably most of the reason he hasn’t yet found his perfect home). I’ll let the videos speak to how wonderful Pirate is out of a kennel. Pirate is eager to please and stands tall and proud. Even with the excitement of smells and sights on the trail in Kananaskis, he finds the mental calm to sit and stay. He’s cuddly and independent at once. His smile lights my feelings. He’s a photographer’s dream with his looks and cooperation (he made the high jump onto a big rock several times as requested when I didn’t get the shot the time before). Pirate was showing off just how far he’s come with his car riding both to and from the hike. He laid down 90% of the time (and even slept after the hike). If you know someone looking for an excellent adventure companion with a side of cuddles, tell them to look no further. Pirate is staying @cochranehumane while he waits for his equally amazing human to meet him. #adoptable Thank you so much @rachelphoenix for helping me get Pirate out on the trails and document his cool and loving character.

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This is Ayaz. She’s two years old and she’s looking to get into a long term relationship. When I asked her to come for a drive, she was reluctant for a second, then she quickly adapted to my back seat as if she’s always rode there. She laid down and calmly took in the drive both to and from Banff. When we would stop somewhere she’d stand and wag her tail seeming to know something good would happen when she got out. She’s just traveled quite far and is still a tad jet lagged, but that didn’t stop her from hiking cliffs to waterfalls and then quenching her thirst in a glacier fed Rocky Mountain lake yesterday. All the while posing patiently as a strange camera wielding lady took many many photos. Smiling on command is even more tiring when you’re jet lagged… Ayaz curled up in the shade by the falls while I took a look around (she was happy to sit out this part of the falls exploration). #napster #thatsnotwhatthatmeans Ayaz is available for adoption at Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue. If you know someone who would love this amazing easy going pup, alert them of her existence. #adoptable Thank you so much @stephineurope for helping me get this very special young lady out for a day and give her a platform to show her awesomeness. If you’d like to sponsor a dog’s day with a strange lady in the mountains or see other ways to get involved, click the link in my bio 🐕 @trailsandbears 🐶

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This is Ben. He’s one. You can read about his past in his profile on Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue. There’s no arguing that this little guy has been through it. But none of what he’s endured defines him. His outstanding friendliness, patience, and loyalty DESPITE what he’s been through defines Ben. I had the pleasure of getting to know Ben yesterday. He was excited to meet me and introduce me to his friends at the shelter. I played for a few minutes there with a couple happy pups (a situation I find difficult to leave), then we headed into k-country to attempt Grizzly Peak with human friends. I had explained to my friends that I didn’t know how far Ben would/could make it, so we took a separate vehicle in case Ben was hesitant or tired. I didn’t expect to make it far (this is a very steep hike that’s not possible if the dog isn’t an angel on leash, among other requirements). Ben showed no sign of weakness or defeat; I was extra vigilant for this. We made it about 90% to the peak before I made the decision to turn back. I didn’t want to exhaust loyal Ben even if he was willing. He happily drank the water I brought for him from my hand during a few rest stops. We met lots of friendly faces on the trail and Ben loved the introductions (sometimes laying on the trail in very uncomfortable looking spots just for pets and cuddles from strangers). The idea of climbing a mountain just to unclimb it is definitely new to Ben, but he embraced it. #adoptable If you know someone who would love Ben, he can be found at Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue chillin’ with his buddies. Thanks so much @loosescrew_dulltool for helping get Ben out onto the trails! I think he’s found a love for hiking and still loves humans (all the humans Ben met yesterday were so nice).

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This is Kimi. Kimi is that friend who’s good to do whatever adventure you propose… not because she’s small and you have all the say in the matter (actually, you’re sure to include this friend in the decision because she’s so great), but because she is happy and adventurous and easy to please. And she wants to be with you. Kimi is another dog who has never been out even hiking before, so I was astonished at her affinity for kayaking during our day out. Actually, the only time she was a bit apprehensive was in the car en route to Kananaskis Country. It wasn’t the car that was scary, it was the whole situation. With Kimi’s past, a healthy vigilance is standard. As soon as we got where we were going and she got immersed in fun smells and walks in the woods, she was ecstatic. She was the best kayak partner I’ve had yet. She was so relaxed and worn out, she took a little siesta in the kayak. We saw elk and geese and lots of other doggies (holiday long weekend). Kimi stretched out in my car and napped on the way back to her temporary home at Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue. If you’d like to meet Kimi (It would be crazy not to), head to their website to proceed. #adoptable Thank you SO much @nataleesperry for helping me get Kimi into nature and give her a fun and safe outing that she can tell her friends about! [#humanscanbeok]

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Poppy is still waiting for his perfect family and house to call home. In the meantime, we had another great visit. I can’t get enough of this guy. He came to my place to meet the family and see where I live. He can’t negotiate stairs very well, so the 8 inside our front door gave him enough anxiety to induce an episode (Poppy has stress induced episodes that he can’t control. They look and sound aggressive, but he really wants to hide until they pass and shake it off as fast as possible so he can get back to what’s important: cuddles). After the episode, Poppy let me carry him down the stairs. He had more trouble with our low light and hard floors. He fell over a couple times just walking around, which startled him a bit. We made some lunch to take with us and set out for a hike up the creek (he loves hiking AND the creek). Poppy doesn’t have as much trouble on trails as he did in the house. He’s a little uncoordinated and I’m not sure if it’s because he can’t see where he’s going or something else. Poppy is one of a kind. He’s a living legend. He’s a dog who will make your small heart grow three sizes. If you would love this guy and have the patience and consideration to work with him when he needs your help, you’d be silly not to go meet him. He’s at Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue waiting for some interesting people to love. #adoptable Thanks to @mr_nice_guy79 for photos, picnic, and all that you do to help keep me going through the very infrequent moments when I lose my focus.

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This is a very sweet Chica from Mexico. She’s about 11 months old and just made the huge trek to Canada on Friday. We spent a good part of the day yesterday getting to know each other. We definitely struggled with the language barrier, but body language still communicated the important stuff. She was very shy at first and hadn’t eaten her breakfast yet. Most of us can relate to not feeling 100% after a big travel day (and that’s with all the human comforts and reassurances we get). We met one sweet adepted dog on a trail in Canmore. After she got to say hi to that dog she seemed to feel better. Then we met another young pup getting into the car. That pup was from Mexico as well. They jumped and played and talked about the motherland before parting ways. Now Chica (that’s not her real name), really started to open up and even chowed down on some late breakfast. We made a few more stops to meet local welcoming dogs and picnic by the lake before another small hike. She liked the aerial perspective and seemed pretty happy to be there. If you know someone with a young dog who would love a new friend, Chica would love to have someone to play with. She’s at Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue with some friends if you’d like to meet her. #adoptable Thanks so much @rachelphoenix for helping welcome Chica to Canada! She sure opened up quickly when she met lots of happy dogs out hiking and camping this long weekend with their humans.

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This is Dax. Dax is an interesting eight year old fellow. He likes his peace, so he lives in a different part of the shelter than the other adoptable dogs. Due to this, Dax doesn’t meet everyone who comes in to adopt (which is the way he likes it… #introvert) and he’s been kicking back at Cochrane Humane for quite a while now. • Dax is a very particular guy. He likes things a certain way. He likes lakes and rivers, but not to get in them (to look at, and perhaps quench a thirst). He likes getting in the car. He was the most relaxed dog I’ve had in my car for his first ride. He rode laying down, but whenever I turned to check on him he was staring at me (I’d say suspiciously). When I slowed, he’d stand up and excitedly check out the window. He loves getting out of the car to see where he ended up. He is a bit food driven, but not for the snacks I packed. Vanessa at Cochrane Humane supplied me with some dried liver that was much more to his taste. He is not a fan of new people; he needs a bit of time to assess how cool you are. I thought he didn’t really like me much until I saw him tell some elderly fishermen to move along (I think he was upset that they came inside his (our) 8 meter comfort zone). He also protected me from a hiking couple who thought they would say hello to us. • If you’re looking for a pup to help you make friends on the trails, Dax probably isn’t the one. BUT if you can prove to this old pup that you’ll protect him, let him walk (even though he’s small enough to carry), let him smell the grass every few feet (even though he’s small enough to pull away), and change course when he’s uncomfortable in a situation – he will not only let you into his comfort zone, but protect you as his own favorite human. • If you’d like to meet Dax, ask about him at the front desk @cochranehumane • Thank you so much Laura in Minnesota (@zimmermann.laura) for sponsoring Peculiar Dax’s road trip. He was very keen to take in all the new sights and smells. If you’re interested, click the link in my bio to see some ways to help these awesome dogs. #adoptable #seniordog #olddog #peculiardog

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This is Bear. He’s a sweet 5 year old friend. Bear loves the car as it means new adventures. He gets a bit anxious while driving and likes to stick his nose out the window to smell his location. He’s very good on leash. We hiked a very steep trail on Baldy Mountain. Bear patiently waited for me to navigate the steepest parts while he looked around. He’s in the midst of taking off his winter coat (he left it in my car to remember him by #theoldleavebehind). He’s fluffy and sweet and available for some lucky family to adopt. • Bear has been at Cochrane Humane for months. He’s very patient, but he wouldn’t mind moving on to a life of love and adventure and maybe a bed in the corner of the family room. Bear has so much support from volunteers right now; he’s a huge favorite and many are working to help him find his home. He doesn’t present himself the best at the shelter as he’s excited and barks whenever anyone walks by, so there’s usually a sheet over his area to keep stimulus low. He didn’t bark once when we were together as soon as we stepped outside. One volunteer told me of a plan to sit with him in his room on a busy adoption day to show how gentle Bear is. Another volunteer, Linda @embark_embroidery not only sponsored Bear’s mountain adventure yesterday, but is devoting all of her energy to get Bear adopted. She walks dogs regularly at Cochrane Humane and advocates for them in such a loving way. Volunteers like Linda keep the quality of daily life high for animals during their temporary stay at the shelter. My heart feels when I drive in and see the smiling dogs out for walks with the many awesome volunteers. #volunteer

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This is Poppy. He’s about 4 years old and I was told he’s never been on a hike before. I was also warned about Poppy’s neurological issues; he has seizure episodes that show as him biting uncontrollably at the air. I was thus warned not to put hands or face in front of his mouth in case he has an episode. I immediately witnessed Poppy have an episode in my car en route to our hike (see car video). I had leashed him in the back as instructed for everyone’s safety. I learned a lot about dog seizures this year as our own Denali started having them: they aren’t as serious as in humans, and dogs “bounce back” very quick. It’s scary and confusing for the dog, so the best support is a calm presence without restricting their movement. That was the last I saw of Poppy’s episodes. (He was undoubtedly stressed in a stranger’s car.) Once we started our hike Poppy was ECSTATIC! He decided without hesitation that he loves hiking and me! I slowly let my guard down and we had many hugs. Poppy was really excited to see the water flowing in the creek and took many opportunities to drink. (Hydration is also important after seizures). His balance isn’t great, so obstacles on the trail that may seem small took Poppy some figuring. I could see that what motivated him was getting to me. He’s the sweetest loyalist stay-by-my-side dog I’ve met in a long time. He’s good with cats and likes to play with other dogs (as long as they are accepting of his quirks). Poppy has no desire to hurt anyone, but since he can’t control his seizures, he won’t move into a house with any children. Even though everything I was told about Poppy was true, it doesn’t define him. Yes, he needs a special human who understands his quirk, but he brings so much more to the table than he needs in return. It’s rare that anyone makes me feel as much as Poppy does. Thank you @krithmuth for helping me give Poppy this new experience. He is just about the most appreciative dog ever and this truly made him so happy!

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This is Homer. When I picked Homer up from the humane society first thing yesterday morning, he had a huge smile on his face and his tail wagged like a metronome set to 160. I knew right away that I was in for a great day with Homer. . He’s a little shy when getting into a strange lady’s car, but he opened up quickly once inside. The metronome tail never settled for the whole drive and beyond. Homer just seems to be happy about everything. He brings a trusting attitude and loves to be included. He enjoys croissants very much, but isn’t big on apples. He’s very smart (he’s about 3 years old). . We did two short hikes in the sun and then stopped at Mt Lourette Pond for some rehydration (he preferred the ponds over my boring water). In the car, he alternated between smiling, looking at all the sights and laying down content. He’s a calm happy guy who’s looking for someone to have the best days with. If you know someone who would love having the best days with Homer, he’s relaxing at the Cochrane Humane Society. #adoptable . Thank you SO much @krbehr (from me AND Homer) for helping get him out to play yesterday. If you’d like to sponsor a pup’s adventure like Homer’s or see other ways you can help a dog at a shelter, click the link in my bio.

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Otis was so excited to get harnessed up that he couldn’t sit still in his kennel. [thank you SO much Danny McCormack for sponsoring my adoption adventure photo outing!]-Otis. If you’re interested in sponsoring a pup’s photos, click the link in my bio ❤️ ********************************* This is Otis. He’s four years old and wants to party hearty in the outdoors. He took me for a big walk yesterday up Prairie View trail (a place I vowed to never go again sans bike). You walk up an old access road in the woods for 6km. The view is great at the top (and the bike down the other side is great!), but the way up is pretty boring if you lack the right enthusiasm. Otis came armed with exactly the right enthusiasm. He saw squirrels, rabbit and deer tracks, and got to smell a thousand tree trunks that he doesn’t have access to at his temporary home in Cochrane. He was in his element on the trail and he charmed everyone we saw. We met a couple dogs on the trail and although we can’t interact on volunteers hikes, Otis was calm and looked like he wanted to say hi. He’s been gaining weight and getting strong during his stay at the shelter and he’s ready for adventure. If you know someone who’s looking for a pup to party with, let them know Otis is ready and patiently waiting at the Cochrane Humane Society. They open at noon (except Mondays) if you want to go meet this little fella! #adoptable #partyhearty 📷 a nice stranger on the trail

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