Heartbreaking Photos Show How Much Living In A Dog Shelter For 6 Years Changes A Dog
Photographer Sophie Gamand has been volunteering at animal shelters and rescues for about 9 years. Gamand travels around the country and takes pictures of dogs in need to help them find homes. One of her most known projects is called Pit Bull Flower Power, where she perfectly showed the gentle side of these often misunderstood doggos.
In 2016, Gamand visited the Calhoun County Humane Society in Anniston, Alabama. There, she photographed 54 dogs and most of them have since been adopted. But not Grey. In fact, he was brought there a few years before Gamand visited the place. And he’s still living there.
Recently, Grey sat down to pose for Emily Covington of Wags to Riches Photography, a group of volunteers who provide free photography services to shelters and rescues to increase positive outcomes for homeless animals.
When you put his newest portraits right next to the old ones, you immediately notice that the fur around Grey’s eyes and muzzle has become white, and his expression has gotten a bit more serious. Grey is getting older, and, sadly, it’s happening at a shelter.
This is Grey in 2016, two years after he ended up at the Calhoun County Humane Society in Anniston, Alabama
Image credits: Sophie Gamand
Image credits: Sophie Gamand
Image credits: Sophie Gamand
Image credits: Sophie Gamand
Grey grew up as a yard dog with his brother and mom but they all ended up at the Alabama shelter. “They had very little life experience,” Gamand told Bored Panda.
His mom and brother were eventually adopted. Perry Carter (Grey’s brother), for example, traveled to NYC, was renamed Judge, and now happily lives with a Chihuahua.
But Grey hasn’t found his forever home yet. “It’s sad to see these brothers’ paths diverged so dramatically over the years,” Gamand added.
And it’s not like Grey is causing difficulties or anything. “He loves people. He loves treats and takes them gently. He has also learned to play, and how to be a doggie over the years.”
“The shelter doesn’t see many adopters because of their location. They are in rural Alabama,” Gamand explained. “They work really hard at placing their dogs with out-of-state rescues, but often rescues will pick dogs who are easier to place.”
Grey’s only issue is that he doesn’t like other dogs. “He can’t have dog friends. He can walk past them OK, but face-to-face interaction has been an issue for him. So he needs to be the only pet at home, and probably won’t be able to have dog friends. That limits the pool of adopters even more. And so the years went by, and other — more adoptable — dogs took his place over and over again. That’s the sad reality for dogs like him, unfortunately.”
This is Grey now
Image credits: Wags to Riches Photography
Image credits: Wags to Riches Photography
Image credits: Wags to Riches Photography
Here’s what people said after seeing his photos
Well this sucked. It doesn't give a reason for him not being adopted yet, but hopefully social media will chage that.
Apparently the reason is that he doesn't socialize well with other dogs.
Load More Replies...
Yeah, I don't usually cry at the sad stories, but this got me. I hope he's adopted soon after some exposure. He needs love.
Load More Replies...
The hope and light has almost gone out of his eyes. Dogs are too good for us!!
The shelter system HAS to change !! Locking animals in cages for 24.5 hours a day would destroy anyone. They need yards to play and exercise in. Fostering is the only shot these poor guys have.
The breeding/buying system needs to change so shelters are hardly needed.
Load More Replies...
He is still in the profile pic of the CCHS's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CalhounCountyHumaneSocietyAL/ And he's still on their blogspot page (though I'm not sure how up to date that is): https://calhouncountyhs.blogspot.com/p/adopt.html Which links to a petfinder page for him that would seem to indicate he hasn't been adopted yet :-( https://www.petfinder.com/dog/grey-47675314/al/anniston/the-animal-shelter-calhoun-county-humane-society-al75/?referrer_id=43175718-802f-4330-b820-5409ad5d909e
Load More Replies...
Poor boy! And a big one at 65 pounds. He is seven years old and affectionate, but has to be in a single pet household.
It's the same for cats :( Really sad, it's like living in prison. A cage with some food and water and a bathroom and nothing to do for hours, days, weeks, months, years.
I had my heart set on getting a kitten but there was a pair of female tabbies about 6 years old that my mom (who went with me) thought we should get. Have had them for 4+ years now and love them soooo much. One of the best choices I've ever made (thanks mom!), and I'm sure the kitten I was hoping to take home with me easily found someone to adopt him. And looking back I don't know how much hope a pair of adult/middle aged cats would have ended up having, so at least I've done one positive thing in my life ;-)
Load More Replies... Every pet of mine has been a rescue. I would never, ever walk into a pet store to buy a pet when millions out there need to be adopted. It pisses me off to see people walking their designer dogs who fit their lives just perfectly. If it’s not an original breed, then they want nothing to do with it.
I adopted my newest dog from a shelter. It was an event called my Furry Valentine. Mega adoption event they do over 800 adoptions in two days. A little from a back story of him lived on a farm, humane society came in and took all the pups. Not sure how long he was at the shelter. He had no idea how to be a dog. He panted all the time, I am sure he was nervous constant eye gunk. Luckily he had a great teacher in my other dog, Roamer, who I found roaming the streets (hence the name). He was 10 when I brought legs home. He is the sweetest little fellow. Once they told me hi\e was brother just got adopted, I had to take him.
A dog without a human is tragic..As the photos show. Crying for this dear Baby 😭
.....without a loving, caring human, ......there are many abusive, evil "humans" out there, unfortunately.
Load More Replies...
I have another puppy (adopted from Alabama) already or I would snatch him up! Lets get his story out there and get him a home. I'm from rural Alabama and most just don't treat their animals well. He deserves a great forever home.
My heart just shattered. Six years is too long though thank goodness he hasn't been PTS to free up space. This doggo needs a home and someone to love him so he can smile again.... before it's too late.
Well this sucked. It doesn't give a reason for him not being adopted yet, but hopefully social media will chage that.
Apparently the reason is that he doesn't socialize well with other dogs.
Load More Replies... Yeah, I don't usually cry at the sad stories, but this got me. I hope he's adopted soon after some exposure. He needs love.
Load More Replies... The hope and light has almost gone out of his eyes. Dogs are too good for us!!
The shelter system HAS to change !! Locking animals in cages for 24.5 hours a day would destroy anyone. They need yards to play and exercise in. Fostering is the only shot these poor guys have.
The breeding/buying system needs to change so shelters are hardly needed.
Load More Replies... He is still in the profile pic of the CCHS's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CalhounCountyHumaneSocietyAL/ And he's still on their blogspot page (though I'm not sure how up to date that is): https://calhouncountyhs.blogspot.com/p/adopt.html Which links to a petfinder page for him that would seem to indicate he hasn't been adopted yet :-( https://www.petfinder.com/dog/grey-47675314/al/anniston/the-animal-shelter-calhoun-county-humane-society-al75/?referrer_id=43175718-802f-4330-b820-5409ad5d909e
Load More Replies... Poor boy! And a big one at 65 pounds. He is seven years old and affectionate, but has to be in a single pet household.
It's the same for cats :( Really sad, it's like living in prison. A cage with some food and water and a bathroom and nothing to do for hours, days, weeks, months, years.
I had my heart set on getting a kitten but there was a pair of female tabbies about 6 years old that my mom (who went with me) thought we should get. Have had them for 4+ years now and love them soooo much. One of the best choices I've ever made (thanks mom!), and I'm sure the kitten I was hoping to take home with me easily found someone to adopt him. And looking back I don't know how much hope a pair of adult/middle aged cats would have ended up having, so at least I've done one positive thing in my life ;-)
Load More Replies... Every pet of mine has been a rescue. I would never, ever walk into a pet store to buy a pet when millions out there need to be adopted. It pisses me off to see people walking their designer dogs who fit their lives just perfectly. If it’s not an original breed, then they want nothing to do with it.
I adopted my newest dog from a shelter. It was an event called my Furry Valentine. Mega adoption event they do over 800 adoptions in two days. A little from a back story of him lived on a farm, humane society came in and took all the pups. Not sure how long he was at the shelter. He had no idea how to be a dog. He panted all the time, I am sure he was nervous constant eye gunk. Luckily he had a great teacher in my other dog, Roamer, who I found roaming the streets (hence the name). He was 10 when I brought legs home. He is the sweetest little fellow. Once they told me hi\e was brother just got adopted, I had to take him.
A dog without a human is tragic..As the photos show. Crying for this dear Baby 😭
.....without a loving, caring human, ......there are many abusive, evil "humans" out there, unfortunately.
Load More Replies... I have another puppy (adopted from Alabama) already or I would snatch him up! Lets get his story out there and get him a home. I'm from rural Alabama and most just don't treat their animals well. He deserves a great forever home.
My heart just shattered. Six years is too long though thank goodness he hasn't been PTS to free up space. This doggo needs a home and someone to love him so he can smile again.... before it's too late.
159
45