Washington Animal Rescue League Gala at Union Station

I began volunteering at WARL in January, walking dogs and assisting in the clinic.  When I learned about their big fundraiser event, the annual Rescue Me Gala held at Union Station, I offered to shoot it pro bono. WARL receives no taxpayer dollars and relies exclusively on private support. What impressed me most about the organization is its cutting-edge approach to rehabilitating animals that have been neglected and abused. Their entire facility, which includes a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, four or five outdoor dog parks, and a cageless cat kennel (take my word - it’s cat paradise) was designed with the perspective of the animals in mind. I’m not talking about day spa for pets. This isn’t a load of anthropomorphic bull: it’s good science.

The evening began up in the V.I.P room

The lovely Diane Rheme (little Maxie was at ground level)

I normally work behind the scenes, quietly and unobtrusively. It’s a little like bird watching, or fly fishing. It requires a lot of patience and stealth and a Border Collie-like obsessive fixation. I wanted to try something different for a change, so I set up a small portrait studio downstairs in the ballroom. I thought I would casually wander into the ballroom and pull people into the studio. I wasn’t sure if people would want to pose or how the dogs would react, but from the second I stepped into my little alcove studio, I had a line of people the entire night. One dog reached into my camera bag and pulled out an envelope with a stack of my business cards! You can not make this stuff up! I had so much fun interacting with the people and their pets.

Riley, the three-legged dog

Yesterday, I jumped on my olive-green scooter and in the blazing sunshine of a glorious spring afternoon, rode down to WARL to deliver the CD with the photos. I hadn’t realized when I was taking the picture that the puppy only had three legs. Riley was one of three puppies rescued by WARL on a cruelty case. The owner had left a rubber band tied around her leg, which became embedded in the skin as she grew. The resulting injury was so severe that the leg had to be amputated. Sometimes, I think I take pictures because if I didn’t, I would be consumed with rage and despair, or incapacitated by the creeping numbness I feel when I think about all the stupid cruelty associated with our species. I find some comfort in the fact that an organization like WARL exists.

The end of a wonderful evening