We already suspected that photography can help even the most timid and emotionally withdrawn shelter dogs find homes, and now we have further proof that it works: Roanin, a shy and fearful mutt who was recently rescued by a Florida shelter, was adopted earlier this week, after one woman saw photos of the reclusive dog and quickly inquired about bringing her home. The three-year-old pup, who will now go by Rosie, was featured by Pawsitive Shelter Photography, an organization that aims to bring out the personality in shy dogs and help them get the love and attention they deserve. The photographer, Lauren Eggert, appears to have accomplished her goal with Roanin.
"The last dog that we saw in the shelter that was [as] timid and shut-down [as Roanin] is now sleeping in my bed," Eggert told an Orlando NBC affiliate. "Roanin really is a sweet dog. And she's going to make a wonderful companion for someone who wants to love her."
Thanks to Eggert's photos, we now know that person is Liz Adams, the Vero Beach woman who was so moved by the emotion in Roanin's portrait. Adams brought two of her daughters to visit Roanin at the shelter over the weekend and says she knew immediately that they'd be bringing the lonely pup home. As Roanin cowered and shivered in her cage, Adams knew she was the dog's only hope. "There was no chance she was going to be one of the dogs people who were there this weekend would want to adopt," Adams said -- but she knew otherwise.
Adams and her daughters brought Roanin out to a grassy patch behind the shelter, and suddenly the dog began to open up. Since coming home with the family, Roanin is "already blossoming" and has become friendly with Adams's two other dogs. Adams says her new dog is living up to the potential that had already shined through in Roanin's photographs.