Meet Bear
On Saturday, April 12th I started my day at the Lake City Humane Society capturing the setup of what was the first-ever Pitties and Bonnets event. Local businesses volunteered their time as well, setting up tents and tables with what they had to offer, all proceedings going to the shelter. Volunteers who regularly help at the shelter were lending a hand, setting up the games and prizes, and more importantly for the little ones attending; an Easter egg hunt. Among the attendee organizations was also the nonprofit known as the Mystic Jungle Educational Facility from Live Oak, FL. Mystic Jungle brought a variety of animals from reptiles, birds, and even a monkey. The amount of support shown spoke volumes to make the event happen.
When given the chance to offer my time as a photographer I was thrilled! As a big animal lover, I loved their event concept. The whole point of the Pitties and Bonnets Parade was to of course showcase the pitbull breed that was there at the shelter. While in attendance I learned that the pitbull breed is one of the most overlooked groups of dogs because of the negative stigma that surrounds them.
Some people tend to think they are too aggressive, hyper, and mean. This is not the case at all for many of these sweet dogs. During the parade I witnessed many different dogs of the breed either act shy, get super excited and want to be pet, level-headed ones, pairs of dogs who were best friends and would need to be housed together, and even calm friendly ones who went straight to kids and their families to be pet.
I captured many different animals that day as well as some people attending the event. Little did I know that halfway through the day I would meet my new best friend. One of the many volunteers was taking turns bringing dogs out to meet people and let them interact. The second one she brought out was medium-sized, black and white, and sweet as could be. Dressed in a black and red bandanna that said “Adopt me.” He was a little shaken by all the commotion going on and was scared but when you offered to pet him he did not shy away. Despite his fear, he still allowed people to interact with him.
It was not my intention to go into the event looking for a dog but by the time the day came to an end, I could not forget about him. The next day my boyfriend and I went back to adopt him and brought him home. He is now renamed Bear and shares a home with two rescued cats.
If you are thinking about adopting, take time to visit your local shelter. Ask them questions and meet some of the available animals. It is important to remember that any new animal needs time to adjust to their new home. If there are other animals in the household, some shelters offer a meet and greet but it is important to slowly integrate them into the original pet's life. Be prepared for accidents inside, chewing on things that are not meant to be chewed, and maybe some noise like whining or barking. Remember that a pet is a commitment and while they may only be a chapter in your story, you become their whole story when you choose to adopt.
