About 365 Shelter Dogs

Thank you for visiting 365 Shelter Dogs, where a new photo of a dog taken at a shelter will be posted for 365 consecutive days beginning on Christmas Day, 2019, ending on Christmas Eve, 2020.

The goal of the 365 campaign is to raise awareness about the number of animals in the shelters in the United States.

365 Shelter Dogs PRESS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Fort Mill, South Carolina- December 25, 2019

Veteran News Photographer Begins Christmas Campaign to Post New Shelter Dog Photo for 365 Consecutive Days to Raise Awareness for Homeless Animals

The photo campaign, titled 365 Shelter Dogs, is the result of a 15 month project by Fort Mill, S.C. resident Alison Kirkconnell. Mrs. Kirkconnell was a news photographer for more than 10 years before relocating to the Charlotte, N.C. area in the fall of 2018. She photographed business, politics and spot news for The Windham Independent where she started the popular Pet of the Month feature in 2012 highlighting dogs available through local rescues.

The urgent nature of animals in the southern United States became immediately apparent upon her first visit to the York County Animal Shelter.

According to the 2108 York County Animal Control annual statistics they took in 4,020 animals in 2018. They have recently achieved no kill status and the fates of the animals are improving, in part due to the efforts of volunteers.

“I was shocked by the volume and condition of the animals. I personally drove 2 starving skin and bones dogs to a rescue up in Huntersville, N.C. the first day I visited the shelter. It’s something I’ll never forget.

“Photographing dogs in a shelter is not easy. The noise, sight and smell distractions can be overwhelming for me and for them. I’ll photograph as many as I possibly can within an hour or 2, usually between 20 and 30 at a time. It’s emotionally and physically exhausting.

“These are good dogs that are victims of circumstance in the same manner people are. Their owners get sick or lose their job or they are in a domestically abusive relationship or any other number of factors beyond their control. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to imagine how they must be feeling.

“The upside is that I know my photos save the dogs’ lives. There is a direct correlation between good photos and dogs being adopted or going to rescue. So I feel it’s a critical component of animal rescue and I’m happy to use my skills for them,” she said.

Animal advocacy is a family affair. Mrs. Kirkconnell’s aunt Susan White co-founded the Lancaster Animal Shelter Supporters non-profit in 2013 (LASS). The group is largely responsible for securing $3 Million for Lancaster County’s new animal shelter, currently under construction and set to open in the spring of 2020.

###

Contact:
Alison Kirkconnell
365shelterdogs.com
alisonkirkconnell.com