When not making photos, one of my favorite things to do is take a walk and cuddle with my beautiful stray dog Izzy. Since I was a young boy I have always loved animals, but especially dogs. The feeling of true unconditional love is just amazing. The only thing we can do is love them back as much as possible. So when me and my wife found Izzy at the side of the road in Crete there was no doubt this was meant to be. A little cute fur ball abandoned by her owner and left at the side of the road, only to find certain death. We took her home, back to the Netherlands. Probably one of the best decisions of our lives. In 2018 we were back in Crete and found another stray dog tight to a tree. A skinny two-year-old boy, that we called Wolf. Also dumped by his former owners. We had no choice than to cut him loose and we spend the rest of our holiday caring for him and finding him a forever home. And we did. My wife’s former employee at Wild At Heart Bridal adopted Wolf and since then he has the most amazing life.
Great stories about two stray dogs getting an amazing forever home. But sadly this is not the case for every dog. Not only in Greece but also in other parts of the world, stray dogs and cats are a major problem and many die alone on the streets or end up spending their life in a shelter, far away from love and warmth. Every year I’m supporting global animal shelters. Shelters that get animals of the street, nurture them and find them a loving home.
One of those shelters is Refugio Animal Holbox, in Mexico. We have visited this shelter twice now, and during our last visit I offered to photographer all the dogs that are up for adoption, because I believe that a good photograph can make the difference. And from what I’ve heard, it did!
But just photo’s are not gonna cut it. The need supplies, they needs hands, and yes: They need money to keep the shelter the way it is and to offer aid to all the dogs that are living there. That’s why, from every wedding I photograph, I am donating 50,- euro to this animal shelter
This is my way to give back to those that love us unconditionally.
