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Touching Portraits of Homeless People and Their Dog Companions

By Jenny Zhang on May 29, 2014

In the heartwarming multi-media project Lifelines, photographer Norah Levine and audio producer Gabrielle Amster teamed up to document the stories of homeless people and their faithful animal companions. Many people who live without permanent shelter rely on pets for companionship, protection, and for their emotional and psychological well-being. Oftentimes, homeless pet owners use what little resources they have to care for their companions instead of buying material goods for themselves, prioritizing their animals' needs over their own out of love.

Levine's touching portraits portray the close bond between homeless people and their pets, as the subjects cuddle, smile, and hold each other close. While the homeless people and their pets may be living on the streets or in makeshift shelters, the animals all appear happy, well-fed, and neatly groomed, showing the selfless love and dedication of their owners. The photographer says, “It's supposed to feel good when you look at my images. I'm a happy photographer. The subject matter of homelessness it not a happy one, but I wanted to find the joy that existed in the subject matter.”

To learn more about the project and to listen to audio recordings of each subject, be sure to check out the Lifelines website. All profits from the project will benefit the Animal Trustees of Austin's 4PAWS Program, which is dedicated to providing wellness care and spay/neuter surgeries to pets belonging to the homeless population of Central Texas and beyond.

Above: Lynn with Charlie Maggie and Eric with Dixie and Reptar