ABANDONED: PUBLICATION DAY!

Today is absolutely surreal. I have been working on ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, for over a decade. I have been working towards this moment for so long, part of me believed it would never actually arrive. Yet, here it is–publication day!

ABANDONED is being released into the world, today, just in time for National Adopt-A-Dog Month! There are so many generous people who have helped me along this journey, for which I am very grateful and I owe such a great debt.

Most of all, ABANDONED would not exist without Biscuit, pictured above. He was my first rescue dog, a Shetland Sheepdog, who we adopted from a Maryland rescue organization who was left abandoned on the streets. Within a few short months of living with us, I witnessed his transformation into a truly loyal companion whose impact on my life can only be described as extraordinary. He slowly emerged from his shell, and a trusting friendship was formed between us. It was a remarkable and memorable experience. (You can read more about the inspiration for ABANDONED here, published in the Los Angeles Times recently!)

However, our story is not unique. Roughly 3.2 million dogs entered shelters and rescue organizations last year.  2.2 million found homes, however, that means 1 million did not. The dog overpopulation crisis in our country is real.

Because of my wonderful dog rescue and adoption experience with Biscuit, along with my curiosity, Biscuit put me on a path to learn more about abandoned dogs like him. I therefore began a decade-long photography project documenting the fate of roughly 60 dogs, of various breeds, who found themselves living in shelter and rescue organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. I first photographed each dog prior to adoption, and then roughly a year later. And each photograph is accompanied by each dog’s story derived from interviews from shelter and rescue personnel and adopters.

What I found is that not only were the dogs’ lives transformed, but the human companions’ lives were equally enriched. I can attest that my life has changed in remarkable ways because of dog rescue and adoption. And to mark publication day, Victory, our current rescue Shetland Sheepdog is pictured immediately below with ABANDONED. Victory was a steady companion while creating this work, and a constant reminder that this book could help other dogs like her and Biscuit.

My hope is that ABANDONED will help compel people to consider dog rescue and adoption.

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

31 people endorsed ABANDONED including: Dr. Jane Goodall, Sally Mann, Susan Orlean, and John Grogan, to name a few, along with other New York Times bestselling authors, artists, and Presidents of large dog rescue and animal welfare organizations. 

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!