JUNE 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 51
PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS
PETS
PET AIMING FOR ADOPTIONS
BY ALLISON MATOS
The public misconception that pit
bulls are ill-tempered has caused
an abundance of the breed awaiting
adoption at local animal shelters, but
photographers are trying to address
the issue one click at a time.
Sophie Gamand is an award-winning
photographer and animal advocate
who travels around the United States
photographing shelter dogs for free
to help bring awareness to their fate
and help them get adopted. For the
past several years, she has been photographing
shelter pit bulls wearing
flower crowns, in a project called Pit
Bull Flower Power, helping hundreds
of these dogs find homes while combating
their unjust reputation.
“My work explores the complex dynamics
between humans and dogs,”
says Gamand. “By photographing
shelter dogs and
telling their stories,
it’s humans
I am trying to
unde r s t a nd
better.
“We created
dogs ,” she
continues. “We
made them
who they are
through genetic
manipulation,
training, by
subduing an
entire species.
This should give
us a tremendous
responsibility
toward them.
Yet an estimated 3.9 million dogs
enter animal shelters every year
in the U.S. That’s one dog for 83.5
inhabitants.”
She notes that there are many reasons
for dogs to end up in shelters,
but when it comes to pit bulls, things
are even more difficult because
these dogs are last to be adopted.
Many landlords ban them from their
residences, or insurance companies
refuse to insure households with
these dogs, and some entire cities ban
these dogs. But even when they aren’t
legally banned, it can be incredibly
difficult for a family to find a place to
live if they have a pit bull or pit bull
mix.
Gamand has visited several Long
Island shelters and rescues including
the Town of Hempstead Animal
Shelter and the Town of Brookhaven
Animal Shelter, and has assisted in
the adoption of hundreds of dogs.
Sophie’s Pit Bull Flower Power coffee
table book, which includes 250
pages of portraits and the touching
stories of shelter pit bulls on their
way home, is available for purchase
online at sophiegamand.com/store.
Follow @SophieGamand on Instagram
for dog portraits!
Photographer Sophi Gamand helps get animals in
shelters adopted by giving them pro photo shoots.
2019
NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA’S
LEWYT HUMANE AWARDS LUNCHEON
Celebrating 75 years of
NO-KILL action and compassion
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019
12:00PM - 3:00PM
at
L E O N A R D ’ S PALAZZO
555 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, NY
Be a part of this wonderful event where you'll enjoy:
Hands-on shopping
experience for unique fashion
and pet related items
Bid on exclusive auction
experiences and packages
For more information or to make
a reservation please visit
animalleague.org/2019lewytluncheon
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