It's no secret that shelters across the country are overcrowded with animals in desperate need of homes.
But while all animals have the potential to make great additions to the family, some are more popular with humans than others.
Typically, the younger the animal, the more likely it is to be adopted, meaning puppies have an easier time finding forever homes, while older dogs can wait in shelters for years — and sometimes forever.
That's what photographer Stacey Gammon found when she started volunteering at her local shelter, where she met incredibly sweet, but incredibly lonely, senior dogs that were just looking for love, even in dire circumstances.
And that's when Gammon knew she had to do something.
So she created a project called The Gift of Golden Years, in which she takes portraits of these sweet, elderly dogs to show that just because they aren't puppies doesn't mean they don't have love to give.
Take a look at her beautiful, touching photos, and if you or someone you know is thinking of adding a furry friend to the family, consider adopting a senior!
(h/t: My Modern Met)
It all started when Stacey wanted to adopt a dog of her own, but her landlord wouldn't allow it. So she started volunteering at her local shelter to spend time with dogs. There, she met a number of senior dogs that were waiting for homes.
Because of their age, people were less interested in adopting these older dogs. They were more interested in puppies.
Besides their advanced ages, some of the dogs had health issues, which also put people off from adopting them. Stacey felt for these dogs, and decided to help people see how wonderful they were.
Using her talents as a photographer, she started taking pictures of them. Soon, she learned about the Mr. Mo Project, a New York–based charity that seeks to place elderly and sick dogs in forever homes.
The Mr. Mo project finds old, sick shelter dogs facing euthanasia and matches them with homes. In addition, the organization covers all the dogs' medical expenses for the rest of their days, so no financial strain is put on their adopters. It's a win for everyone!
The first dog Stacey photographed, a blind bulldog named Bella, was one of these dogs. Things were looking grim for Bella, but luckily, the Mr. Mo Project found her a home.
However, not all dogs are so lucky. That's why Stacey and the Mr. Mo Project want to spread the word about adopting a senior dog. For her part, Stacey has photographed many Mr. Mo dogs in the hopes of inspiring others to adopt seniors.
Mr. Mo Project founder Mariesa Hughes is happy to have Stacey on board. 'This photo series shows that love is ageless and beauty comes in all breeds,' she says.
People who have adopted Mr. Mo Project dogs want to help out as well. Many of them have brought their dogs to Stacey's studio to have their new friends photographed, some even making three-hour journeys to do so.
And it's been a touching experience for Stacey, too. 'These dogs, as I witnessed during their photoshoots, are so full of life,' Stacey says. 'They have love left to give.'
So while they might not be vibrant little puppies anymore, these sweet dogs are still full of love. And they're waiting for homes in shelters everywhere.
You can see more of Stacey's pet photography on her website and Facebook page, and be sure to check out the Mr. Mo Project for more information about adopting senior dogs or donating to help out.
Please SHARE if you think all dogs deserve love and a good home!
