Donna Joseph
GSRNE Photographer
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After I adopted Red, my heart dog from
Boston Animal Shelter, I yearned to
help others like him. Sometime later,
I read a distressing article written by Janice Ritter, which lead me to
GSRNE. During its sixth year of operation in 2002, I joined a small group
of highly passionate, wholly devoted, GSRNE volunteers. It wasn't long
before I found myself venturing out for transports, signing up for
fundraisers, and opening up my home, and heart, to foster dogs.
Eventually, Victoria Abrams, one of the
board members at the time, trained me for a new coordinator position. By
the end of the day,
she mentioned visiting Wren, a foster dog located near
her home, and asked if I'd like to join her. While there, I asked if she'd
like me to grab a few photos for the website, since I had just purchased a new pocket digital camera.
Ultimately, I was called upon repeatedly to
photograph new dogs for the website. One
of them was Bailey, a senior
shepherd who had been in a foster home for one year, with poor quality
photographs on the website, and no interest from the public. But after a
successful photoshoot resulting in some endearing images for the website,
the rescue eagerly informed me that they
had received a flurry
of calls on
her, and then later told me that the foster home decided the new photos were
actually 'family portraits' now, and they could never let her go. It didn't
take long for me to realize my primary role in GSRNE would best be served
behind the camera, and so I became the first 'official' photographer for the
rescue.
In reflecting back to my heart dog Red
again, I remember locking eyes with him while I was surfing Petfinder one
night. By early morning, I was frantically banging on the door of the
shelter, terrified someone else might have also discovered the most
beautiful dog in the whole world.
 The next few days were spent following
all their requirements to insure we were a good match, although I was
certain from the moment his cyberspace eyes met mine that we were destined
for each other. Through the years, 'til sadly, death did us part, I never
experienced such an amazing connection with a dog, and it all began with my
attraction to him through that one shelter photograph.
In other words, as we know, first
impressions can be very powerful. Photographs can convey, in a way no words
can, the unique beauty, intelligence, nobility, loyalty, and affable
nature of each dog. These pictures often trigger many raw emotions,
prompting us to smile and sometimes giggle, weep or sometimes wail, and
celebrate or sometimes worry sick. They can even inspire some to reach out
to a dog they've never met, because the photograph fosters an attachment.
Not surprisingly, our pictures have not only helped find forever homes and
foster homes for our dogs, they have helped recruit new volunteers, helped
with fundraising, and have helped raise public awareness.
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In summary, I've been very blessed to have
found GSRNE, which serves as both an organization that saves my favorite
breed, as well as a platform which nurtures my creative side. I'm also
fortunate enough to find myself working alongside another volunteer,
Loueen Lavallee, who is tremendously invested in the area of photography. She
brings a unique style and innovativeness to our rescue. Although I've taken
a step back lately to pursue a few personal goals, such as publishing, I've
always had a vision of possibilities in terms of how photography could
benefit our rescue. I look forward to watching those visions come to
fruition, as other members continue to come forward and find their own
creative niche in GSRNE.
To see more of Donna's photos, check out her
story of
Nanni Millie |
