For a dog living in a rescue shelter, they can't wait to be struck by cupid's arrow and find the love of a forever home. The St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey, knows this well and is trying to find its longest residents their perfect matches. For Valentine’s Day 2023, St. Hubert’s created a campaign for the dogs who still hadn’t found their special someone. It involved a pink boa, sunglasses, treats, and the keen eye of photographer Kelsey Dubinsky.
The sweet portraits include shelter dogs donning feather wraps and wearing funky sunglasses—all against a bubblegum pink backdrop. “We wanted to get a little creative so they would get more attention on our website and on social media,” Diane Ashton, the director of communication for St. Hubert’s, explained.
Dubinsky brought the props, and the resulting photos are a playful way for these pups to shine. Because of their age, older dogs—like some of the crew at St. Hubert’s—are often overlooked and take longer to get adopted. But there are many benefits to rescuing an adult dog. One is that they are more likely to have basic training and be housebroken. They are often content with taking it easy (their regular walk is fine) and you’ll know what you’re getting into when you adopt them because you'll see their full-grown size and personality right away.
The Valentine’s Day-themed photos have helped spread the love about these dogs online, but many of them are still available. To see all of St. Hubert’s adoptable dogs, check out its website.