I did a quick photo shoot at Shelter Hope Pet Shop in Thousand Oaks the other day and met just a fabulous group of people and dogs.

The "shelter" is at Janss Marketplace off of Wilbur Avenue. What's unique about this shelter is that when the shop closes up at night, the dogs go home to their foster homes.

They are of course looking for a family that they can live their lives out with but in the meantime they are in a very great situation. It's a non-profit shop staffed by volunteers. Sales of merchandise from their retail shop goes directly back into the organization.

They really have the most adorable adoptable dogs. The facility is as nice as any i've seen and the staff is truly fabulous.

I scouted a location just across the street from Janss Marketplace on a small slope that was overlooking a parking lot (ironically, the parking lot of the office building I used to work at 15 years ago!). It was covered in purple lantana and green grasses and even a pink pepper tree that I love so much. The volunteer working with me, Rhonda, just gave me her all. She ran back and forth bringing dogs in the short amount of time I had to work with them and we photographed four dogs in an hour.

My wish? Well, look at these faces. Yes, my wish is they all find their homes. Good homes. And if my photographs help facilitate that in any way, well, how happy would I be. I'll tell you. Very happy.

BEST Pet Photography

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