Waltonpets Furtography Session: Miles

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Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."

​“What breed is ‘Miles’?” That is an email question I receive frequently; especially since I quit listing the breed on our adoptables website. For different reasons, I decided to quit listing my guess at a dog’s breed and let the photos speak for themselves. When it comes down to it, what matters most is not a dogs ‘label’, but the fact that it is in dire need of rescue!
 
With so many mixed breeds that come through the shelter, it can sometimes get tough to pick out a breed mix. Some shelters can get stuck in the rut of calling everything a “Lab mix”, or a “Pit mix”, or a “Chihuahua mix”. In my early days of sheltering, my coworkers poked fun at me because every black and white dog I listed was a “Border Collie mix”! But in truth, how can you really know? I often wonder if those DNA tests are even reliable.
 
Granted, listing a specific breed may help a dog ’s chances of adoption. I remember the flood of phone calls and shelter visits the first time I ever listed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix on the shelter’s website! I think King Charles himself even called the shelter!
 
On the other hand, listing a specific breed might hurt a dog’s chances of adoption. There are several breeds out there whose mention evokes fear and apprehension in many people. Perhaps some of those fears are well founded. But once an individual dog has passed a temperament evaluation, should it be blacklisted by a breed label? That doesn’t seem too fair!
 
Sometimes we shelter folks just get it wrong (although at times, intentionally). When I was in college, I adopted a “Boxer” from the local shelter. The dog trainer gave a chuckle when I showed up for our first lesson with a beautiful American Pit Bull Terrier!
 
The final reason I decided to quit listing dog breeds on our adoptables website was because of the civil discourse generated on social media (yes, that is spoken with sarcasm). I frankly became tired of the critical emails.
 
One cross-poster recently wrote, “It would help me a lot in posting if you could always name the breed or breed mix.  I sometimes can't tell if there is any "pit" in a dog.  As in, "MILES" not quite sure what he is”.  Another not-so-pleasant email spouted out, “TO WHOMEVER CAN HELP THIS,,, I was looking at your shelter list,,, and  PATRICK does NOT look like a pitbull or a pitbull mix at all !! That dog does NOT look one little bit of bully breed.  Can we change that listing? I bet any amount of money that rescuers would LIKE to save him,,, but the "pitbull" on the paperwork is an absolute deterrent”.
 
So, what is my answer? Let the photos speak for themselves! I strive to take quality photos and close up portraits with clear, vibrant eyes that leap off the monitor and grab a potential adopter’s heartstrings! Those eyes can do way more to make a connection. I want someone to fall in love with a particular dog, not to just pick a certain breed.
 
I don’t have a scientific paper to back my findings, but anecdotally, I can prove someone can truly love a mutt even without AKC papers! 

"Miles" was photographed on April 4, 2018 for the Walton County Animal Control shelter and placed on the adoption website, www.waltonpet.net. He was rescued on April 14, 2018 by Boxer Rescue VT!  His rescue was sponsored by pledges from Lane, Anne, Barbara, Alice and Kay!