Welcome to my new "Local Voice" blog!!!

I'm so glad you stopped by!!

First, I'd like to send a HUGE THANK YOU to the Editor of the Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch for offering this blog space to me - I was absolutely floored by your generosity!  You're AWESOME!!!

Next, I thought I'd kick things off with an introduction, and then we can get down to business...

My name is Kathy - I'm a photographer, blogger, and animal lover, who is passionate about wildlife conservation, and rescue and adoption of homeless pets and companion animals.  As a member of HeARTs Speak, I donate my photography services to local rescue groups and shelters, because portrait quality photos and social networking are instrumental raising adoption rates and bringing awareness to animals in need. 

For the last few months, I have been volunteering with Lilly Pond Foal Rescue in Dunkirk, MD, by photographing their equines who are available for adoption.  Most of their rescues are nurse mare foals, PMU foals, or were pulled from auctions before being sold to slaughter houses in Canada and Mexico for their hides and meat (sadly yes, its true!).  LPFR also works with cruelty and neglect cases, and they take in owner surrenders as well.

More recently, I began working with The Perfect Pet Resort in Lothian, by photographing adoptable dogs who they foster at their facility for several local rescue groups and shelters.  These dogs are special cases that just don't do well in chaotic shelter environments, and who simply need a stress-free place to stay while they're waiting to be adopted.

The portraits that I produce are shared on websites, Face Book pages, blogs, and other social networking sites, and they're used in in newsletters and adoption listings, with the hopes that they'll help in placing the animals in loving, forever homes.  Exposure is the key, and the more, the better.  Each successful adoption not only saves a life, but it makes room so that another animal in need can be rescued.
 
The purpose behind my blog here on the Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch is two fold:  to encourage public involvement in rescue groups and shelters, and to showcase pets who are available for adoption in our local area to a larger audience.  If you're looking for a new animal companion, please consider "the adoption option"!!!  If you can't adopt, you can help by fostering or transporting animals for your local rescue or shelter - even simply visiting and socializing with them does a world of good.  There are many volunteer opportunities available just for the asking.  Donations of cash, food, and/or supplies are always needed and are graciously  accepted.  No matter what type or how small the contribution, every little bit counts - the animals need ALL the help they can get, and their lives depend on us!!

I may occasionally throw in other pet/farm/wildlife related blog posts, because I belong to a pretty large network of friends and associates who are involved with animals as pet professionals, volunteers, conservationists, etc...  and there is always something interesting happening that's worth sharing.  Hopefully I will be writing about a lot of adoption success stories as well!

In closing, I'd like to ask all the Patch readers who see this post, to please share the attached photos of a few adoptable horses and dogs with their friends - we need your help to find them homes!!!  Also, if you're on Face Book, to please go over to the following pages and show them some love:

HeARTs Speak

Lilly Pond Foal Rescue

The Perfect Pet Resort

Thanks again to the Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch for this great opportunity!!  More soon!!