Shelter dogs have some of the toughest lives out there. They all have faced different things but rejection and pain are often constants for them. Thankfully, there are people and organizations dedicated to helping them and creating a better life for the creatures that are down on their luck.
Sophie Gamond is one of the people who has sacrificed to help the shelter animals who need help.
Sophie is a photographer who has devoted some of her work to helping pit bulls. Sophie used to feel a bit uncomfortable around the dog breed because of the common myths surrounding them. They pervasive rumors about how “aggressive” the dogs are caused some fear to inch its way into her view of them.
After deciding to photograph them, she has since then lost her fear.
Sophie has been photographing pit bulls for over five years now, getting rid of any false notions she had involving the dogs. She now knows the truth about the dogs – that they are so loving! She said:
“I always tell people: if you really want to make up your own opinion about them, don’t just sit at home and read articles: Go to your local shelter and volunteer, be in contact with these dogs regularly, discover for yourself!”
One of her projects is called “Pit Bull Flower Portraits” and is a beautiful work of art.
The entire premise of the project is to paint the breeds in a different light than they are often viewed in. It is intended to honor pit bulls who are in need of rescue and show a different side to them. Blossom is one of the pit bulls who she had a chance to photograph.
Blossom is a cute pit bull with a sad story.
When Sophie got a chance to photograph Blossom, she wanted the shoot to have a somber look. The only issue was Blossom refused to follow suit! She was just too happy, loving, and caring to get the look Sophie intended. It just went to show the personality of the gentle dog.
“Little did I know that her story was going to become more and more symbolic of the way pit bulls are treated by our society,”
Blossom and Sophie were destined to cross paths again, only six years later.
When they finally met again, Blossom was going into her fifth stay in a local shelter. The happy dog had faced rejection after rejection. Blossom’s first stay was when she was found wandering around a shopping center on Long Island in 2013. After being adopted, the family soon returned her when “the resident dog didn’t approve of her” as the family said.
After another failed adoption when a family relocated and two more adoptions and returns, Blossom was now entering her senior years with no home and family.
When Sophie finally ran into the dog again, she could tell something had changed.
“Blossom’s eyes had lost their spark,” Gamand said. “She was shut down, not the excited and happy dog I remember from 2014. Still very loving, but a bit broken.”
The once jubilant dog had been worn down a bit by life. Sophie went ahead and snapped her portrait photos of the senior dog.
With the new photos, she hopes that a family sees the plight of Blossom and decides to adopt.
The goal is to have blossom adopted for a final time to spend the rest of her life with a loving family. While she has seen the depths of the difficulty of life, Sophie knows that Blossom is just as deserving of love as she ever was, maybe even more so now.
Check out this link if you are interested in Blossom!