Photography Work to Benefit Deaf Dogs!

Sadie

I am a photographer, writer and long-time animal lover who has lived in the Philadelphia area for the last 7 years. I currently live in Manayunk with my beautiful deaf dog, Sadie, who is a border collie/lab mix. I rescued her from the Bucks County SPCA in Lahaska, where she was dumped off along with all of her littermates. Sadie's mother was deaf, her owner neglected to have her spayed, and she passed on her genetic deafness to all of her puppies (all but one who could hear slightly). Sadie was at the shelter for a month and a half before I found her and adopted her. Sadie knows about 20 signs, but most of the time chooses to look away from me when she knows I'm signing something that she doesn't want to "listen" to! ;)

I'm travelling around the United States and Canada, visiting and photographing families with their deaf dogs. The end result will be a deaf-dog photo book, which will be for sale as a fundraiser for groups that educate the public about deaf dogs and/or specifically rescue deaf dogs. I will also be visiting and photographing rescues that work specifically with deaf dogs, as well as visiting city shelters to find out how they treat/deal with the deaf dogs who are surrendered to them. I hope this book will not only raise money for these groups, but also educate the public about deaf dogs, and even be an inspiration for people trying to overcome any obstacles in their lives.

Melissa

Melissa McDaniel
Melissa McDaniel Photography
[the photo book projects]
267.968.9973
info@melissashouse.com

http://melissashouse.typepad.com
http://www.thephotobooks.com
http://www.melissashouse.com

Top Five Causes of 2009!

Trudy Suggs, a nationally known author and editor, has selected Deaf Animal Row as one of the top five causes for 2009, and here's what she had to say about us:

"Rescue programs or shelters caring for deaf animals: Having had two deaf dogs, I can't emphasize enough how crucial it is to rescue deaf animals, whether dogs, cats or others. Thousands of deaf animals are abandoned and killed each year simply because they're deaf – and this tugs at my heart in so many ways. Their experiences, and fate, are so similar to our experiences as a deaf community. Besides, who better to understand deaf pets than deaf people?

One such program is at Deaf Animal Row (deafanimalrow.blogspot.com). Contact your local shelter or rescue program and see if they have deaf animals needing homes or support. Then share what you can, whether it's a blanket, treats, money, or best of all, a home."

The other four listed can be found here at http://www.trudysuggs.com/2009/01/05/start-2009-with-hope/.

Thank you, Trudy, for your support and it is much appreciated! Let's join her in the cause and care for our own deaf animals!