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Shelter Dogs
In this book, photographer Traer Scott presents over fifty endearing and frequently heartrending portraits of shelter dogs. These images capture the genuine spirit of dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds, and temperaments, whether playful, proud, inquisitive, or shy. Above all, these photographs reveal the strikingly intense emotion, dignity, and even humor that Scott saw in each face, despite the dog's circumstances. By documenting the soulful, unique characters of just a few of the hundreds of dogs she has encountered in her volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue and welfare causes, and particularly the need for more adoptive homes for abandoned animals. This collection of portraits is a tribute to all dogs and will appeal to animal lovers every where.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
1239 people want to read
About the author
Traer Scott
17 books25 followersTraer Scott is an award winning fine art and commercial photographer and author of five books. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Life, Vogue, People, O and dozens of other national and international publications. She was the recipient of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts 2010 Photography Fellowship Grant and the 2008 Helen Woodward Humane Award for animal welfare activism. Recent exhibitions of her work have been held at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, the Shanghai Photographic Arts Festival, the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel and the Irene Carlson Gallery. Traer lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and pit bull.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 8, 2011
This is a wonderful photography book of dogs who've unfortunately found themselves inside of animal shelters. The expressions on their faces are more than merely cute, they're magical and seem to be able to silently speak a thousand words about their life and current predicament. I can't say enough positives about the simple, yet touching photos. But, be forewarned, if you are a softie when it comes to animals (like I am) and you tend to be emotional and cry over them, you may want to skip over the back few pages of this otherwise enjoyable dog photo book, since it lists each dog by name, and whether or not they were adopted. Traer Scott really did a remarkable job "celebrating" the life of a type of animal that may not be a pedigree, but still deserves to be honored, no matter where he or she came from.
August 3, 2014
So I am not gonna lie. I love seeing such bumper stickers ::
- A True Friend Leaves Paw Prints On Your <3
- Home Is Where My Dog Is
- My Therapist Has a Wet Nose
It is a truism that the best things in life are rescued. This singular book speaks to the meaningful cause of animal rescue. The photos of these abandoned dogs are impressive, jarring even. And beautiful.
Adopt. Adopt. Adopt.
- A True Friend Leaves Paw Prints On Your <3
- Home Is Where My Dog Is
- My Therapist Has a Wet Nose
It is a truism that the best things in life are rescued. This singular book speaks to the meaningful cause of animal rescue. The photos of these abandoned dogs are impressive, jarring even. And beautiful.
Adopt. Adopt. Adopt.
April 8, 2015
This book proves, a picture is worth a thousand words. The photographs of these dogs really touch at the heartstrings. Their eyes are just begging someone to love them. Sadly, some of the dogs photographed, weren't able to have that dream come true.
The photographs are beautiful and help give a face to dogs right now, who are in the exact same place as these dogs were.
The photographs are beautiful and help give a face to dogs right now, who are in the exact same place as these dogs were.
January 30, 2022
Beautiful photos of shelter dogs. Their stories follow after the pictures. Only occasionally are the endings sad most are heartwarming. This is an older book so some of the dogs were found/rescued in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Yes many included are pit bulls or mixes because they represent a large percentage of shelter dogs. They do have great smiles that they display in their portraits.
March 18, 2012
This book is a tear jerker! The photographs of the dogs are both moving & beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at their expressive faces. The author has included a "Who's who" at the back of the book. I found my eyes glancing to the last line of each life-story as instinctively I wanted to discover if it had a happy ending or not before investing myself in the details! Self preservation I suppose. I trained my eyes back & read each one from beginning to end. Most were happy endings & all were worth reading.
October 24, 2008
The photos are excellent. This is primarily for a photography book so there is not a lot of text. However, the text that it does contain does an fantastic job of highlighting the problem of unwanted animals in America.
Dog lovers will find it touching and very sad, but it also does a great job of spotlighting the problem so many of us dog lovers already know.
As an added bonus, a portion of the profits go towards the shelters.
Dog lovers will find it touching and very sad, but it also does a great job of spotlighting the problem so many of us dog lovers already know.
As an added bonus, a portion of the profits go towards the shelters.
February 17, 2011
A phenomenal book. T.S. does a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of "shelter" dogs and bringing their stories to life... Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. (Not to mention - beautiful photos!!) And a great way of saying, "Please think twice before BUYING a dog!" Don't shop... Adopt!
January 24, 2008
Mainly photographs, this book documents the lives (and in many unfortunate cases the death) of dogs at a shelter in Rhode Island. The back includes information about each of the dogs - the reason they were brought to the shelter, personality traits, and what came of them. It is a very moving book for animal lovers and anyone who has any experience with a shelter. I appreciate the photographer's attempt to not let these animals lives' go unknown. Every animal is as worthy as any human and it's so unfortunate that thousands die each year in our country without ever having known love or kindness, and with no one left to miss or remember them.
July 12, 2018
I think that the strategy of taking multiple pictures of dogs so that prospective adopters can get a better idea of the dog's personality is excellent.
The pictures are charming and I really enjoyed reading about the dogs that were successfully adopted and shown with their new families.
I was able to read this book through Netgalley.
The pictures are charming and I really enjoyed reading about the dogs that were successfully adopted and shown with their new families.
I was able to read this book through Netgalley.
January 11, 2011
Adorable pictures of shelter dogs. I only wish the little "bio" and outcome of each dog was part of the main picture and not listed as a side note in the back.
November 28, 2017
This broke my heart and made me cry but succeeded in making people want to save shelter dogs.
February 4, 2019
The photos alone in this book make it worth it!
August 17, 2019
What beautiful and touching pictures. Have passed this along to my shelter rescue friends. Left quite the impression.
March 14, 2016
2.5 stars --Like the author’s similar book STREET DOGS, this portrait book contains close-up b&w photos of a variety of homeless canines. However, since this book is set in the US where there is considerably less tolerance for free-roaming dogs, the artist has turned her camera to those held at animal shelters.
This isn’t a collection of miserable-looking pups staring out from chain-link fencing. Instead, they are distraction-free images that sensitively display each animal without excessive comment.
When it comes to animal welfare issues, Scott is more worldly and educated than many dog-and-cat people. Unlike those who thoughtlessly hold barbeques to raise funds for animal rescue, the author says she protested fur and animal testing and became a vegetarian at a young age, along with rescuing strays. The pet rescue world needs more “compassion crossover” such as this.
"I have always been fanatical about animals," Scott explains, but, like so many in the animal rights and welfare world, she does not consider the impact the proliferation of fighting-breed dogs has had on other types of pets, as well as human animals.
The author discusses the sheer number of pit bulls and their close mixes in shelters, and many of her photographs showcase these dogs. However, instead of taking a difficult look at the reasons why so many of these dogs are bred and end up in shelters, the author simply repeats the familiar talking points of pit bull ownership advocates, which look nice on the surface but are for the most part myths and half-truths easily debunked.
"Nine out of ten [pits] are sweet, loyal, playful dogs, but no one wants to adopt them," the author insists, a common refrain that seems to be just plucked out of the air. Animals 24-7, an animal welfare news site that seems to have actually done some research into this issue, paints a different picture:
Retrospective data collection has established that pit bulls have accounted for half or more of all fatal dog attacks in every 10-year time frame since 1844, while making up less than 1% of the U.S. dog population for most of that time, and less than 6% now.
I’d also like to point out that because of their uniquely grievous “grip, hold, shake” bite style, honed for dogfighting, the outcome of a fighting breed’s bad day is often far worse than that of a non-fighting/gripping breed. It is also worth noting that even if it were true that only 1% of a certain type of dog were problematic, it can be very difficult to say which pit will snap and exercise the genetic cues that were bred into him. Dogs who kill people are just as cute as dogs who don’t. Therefore, it makes sense that when choosing a family pet, to research different breeds’ safety records.
As a quick aside, pit advocates need to stop blaming dog caretakers for not adopting more pits. With only a quarter of dogs of this breed in the US being spayed and neutered—a stunningly low compliance rate—pit bulls are being bred far faster than homes can be found. Even if pit bulls weren’t a problematic breed, we simply can’t adopt our way out of the tidal wave of these dogs. Yet pit bull advocates almost unanimously reject mandatory spay/neuter of these dogs—seemingly the only thing that could reduce the overbreeding and outrageous euthanasia rates—as the dreaded “BSL,” or breed-specific legislation.
Of course, in pit bull fans’ eyes, all of the breed’s troubles are to be blamed on one source—the media, which the author refers to as "sensationalized," "biased," and "reactionary" all in one sentence. Fighting breed advocates not only blame the victim in every dog attack story, they also often blame the news outlet for reporting it--this can frequently be seen in the comments section on news sites. I’m of the opinion that a dog mauling someone to death is newsworthy, and if more of these stories tend to mention pit bulls more than other breeds, it’s because, well, these dogs are more likely to launch a fatal attack than other breeds. It’s also worth noting that a considerable segment of the media lean more heavily toward favorable depictions of pit bulls, even omitting mention of the breed from attack news stories when pressured by pit fans. I guess these news and entertainment outlets can also be condemned as "sensationalized," "biased," and "reactionary?"
“Any dog can bite,” is a common refrain of pit bull advocates, and they are not afraid to point fingers at other breeds for being vicious—the tiny Chihuahua seems to be the breed most often cited for being more vicious than pit bulls. Perhaps it’s not surprising that the author includes the line, "I have been bitten by a dog only twice in my work at shelters--once by a poodle and once by a Chihuahua." Most readers have, I think, the rationality to differentiate between a bite from a tiny-mouthed dog normally smaller than an adult cat and a mauling from a fighting breed, but here’s a graphic representation for those who need it. The fact that the author is still alive and has all of her limbs from her poodle and Chihuahua encounters is also of note, while numerous victims of far more dangerous dogs cannot say the same.
Speaking of shelter pits, "not one has ever so much as bared its teeth at me," the author argues. Aggression in a shelter setting is one important facet of understanding a dog’s temperament, but it isn’t the whole story. Last year, a pit bull who had passed temperament tests and showed no aggression while being held at the Asheville, NC Humane Society, went to his new home and shortly thereafter killed a 6-year old boy. How can this happen? First, the alien shelter environment and even temperament testing cannot replicate everything a dog will experience in the real world. And while many breeds of dogs will bite when frightened, the mauling behavior of a fighting breed is an in-bred trait that the dog is more likely to engage in while feeling more confident, much like a retriever fetching.
At the same time, the author doesn’t seem serious enough about canine aggression in general. "Watching through a lens as a dog lunges straight at my face is a very humbling yet cinematic experience," she writes, adding that no "real damage" has been done "so far." Later in the book, she is critical of a new owner who returned a Rhodesian ridgeback mix to the shelter for attacking her. Personally, I don’t think we should redefine our centuries-old relationship with the dog as one in which unexpected attacks, fear and violence are the norm.
At the end of the book, the author briefly mentions the need to research breeds before adopting a pet, a sentiment with which I couldn’t agree more. The proliferation of pit bull-type dogs makes this more important than ever. And no, this doesn’t just mean visiting the pro-pit bull ownership sites the author lists at the end of the book (the only breed-specific groups she cites). It also means researching the victims’ stories and the history of fighting breeds’ creation. When potential owners only see the hyped-up, cutesy side from those wishing to push a particular type of dog out the door, everyone loses, especially the dog.
This isn’t a collection of miserable-looking pups staring out from chain-link fencing. Instead, they are distraction-free images that sensitively display each animal without excessive comment.
When it comes to animal welfare issues, Scott is more worldly and educated than many dog-and-cat people. Unlike those who thoughtlessly hold barbeques to raise funds for animal rescue, the author says she protested fur and animal testing and became a vegetarian at a young age, along with rescuing strays. The pet rescue world needs more “compassion crossover” such as this.
"I have always been fanatical about animals," Scott explains, but, like so many in the animal rights and welfare world, she does not consider the impact the proliferation of fighting-breed dogs has had on other types of pets, as well as human animals.
The author discusses the sheer number of pit bulls and their close mixes in shelters, and many of her photographs showcase these dogs. However, instead of taking a difficult look at the reasons why so many of these dogs are bred and end up in shelters, the author simply repeats the familiar talking points of pit bull ownership advocates, which look nice on the surface but are for the most part myths and half-truths easily debunked.
"Nine out of ten [pits] are sweet, loyal, playful dogs, but no one wants to adopt them," the author insists, a common refrain that seems to be just plucked out of the air. Animals 24-7, an animal welfare news site that seems to have actually done some research into this issue, paints a different picture:
Retrospective data collection has established that pit bulls have accounted for half or more of all fatal dog attacks in every 10-year time frame since 1844, while making up less than 1% of the U.S. dog population for most of that time, and less than 6% now.
I’d also like to point out that because of their uniquely grievous “grip, hold, shake” bite style, honed for dogfighting, the outcome of a fighting breed’s bad day is often far worse than that of a non-fighting/gripping breed. It is also worth noting that even if it were true that only 1% of a certain type of dog were problematic, it can be very difficult to say which pit will snap and exercise the genetic cues that were bred into him. Dogs who kill people are just as cute as dogs who don’t. Therefore, it makes sense that when choosing a family pet, to research different breeds’ safety records.
As a quick aside, pit advocates need to stop blaming dog caretakers for not adopting more pits. With only a quarter of dogs of this breed in the US being spayed and neutered—a stunningly low compliance rate—pit bulls are being bred far faster than homes can be found. Even if pit bulls weren’t a problematic breed, we simply can’t adopt our way out of the tidal wave of these dogs. Yet pit bull advocates almost unanimously reject mandatory spay/neuter of these dogs—seemingly the only thing that could reduce the overbreeding and outrageous euthanasia rates—as the dreaded “BSL,” or breed-specific legislation.
Of course, in pit bull fans’ eyes, all of the breed’s troubles are to be blamed on one source—the media, which the author refers to as "sensationalized," "biased," and "reactionary" all in one sentence. Fighting breed advocates not only blame the victim in every dog attack story, they also often blame the news outlet for reporting it--this can frequently be seen in the comments section on news sites. I’m of the opinion that a dog mauling someone to death is newsworthy, and if more of these stories tend to mention pit bulls more than other breeds, it’s because, well, these dogs are more likely to launch a fatal attack than other breeds. It’s also worth noting that a considerable segment of the media lean more heavily toward favorable depictions of pit bulls, even omitting mention of the breed from attack news stories when pressured by pit fans. I guess these news and entertainment outlets can also be condemned as "sensationalized," "biased," and "reactionary?"
“Any dog can bite,” is a common refrain of pit bull advocates, and they are not afraid to point fingers at other breeds for being vicious—the tiny Chihuahua seems to be the breed most often cited for being more vicious than pit bulls. Perhaps it’s not surprising that the author includes the line, "I have been bitten by a dog only twice in my work at shelters--once by a poodle and once by a Chihuahua." Most readers have, I think, the rationality to differentiate between a bite from a tiny-mouthed dog normally smaller than an adult cat and a mauling from a fighting breed, but here’s a graphic representation for those who need it. The fact that the author is still alive and has all of her limbs from her poodle and Chihuahua encounters is also of note, while numerous victims of far more dangerous dogs cannot say the same.
Speaking of shelter pits, "not one has ever so much as bared its teeth at me," the author argues. Aggression in a shelter setting is one important facet of understanding a dog’s temperament, but it isn’t the whole story. Last year, a pit bull who had passed temperament tests and showed no aggression while being held at the Asheville, NC Humane Society, went to his new home and shortly thereafter killed a 6-year old boy. How can this happen? First, the alien shelter environment and even temperament testing cannot replicate everything a dog will experience in the real world. And while many breeds of dogs will bite when frightened, the mauling behavior of a fighting breed is an in-bred trait that the dog is more likely to engage in while feeling more confident, much like a retriever fetching.
At the same time, the author doesn’t seem serious enough about canine aggression in general. "Watching through a lens as a dog lunges straight at my face is a very humbling yet cinematic experience," she writes, adding that no "real damage" has been done "so far." Later in the book, she is critical of a new owner who returned a Rhodesian ridgeback mix to the shelter for attacking her. Personally, I don’t think we should redefine our centuries-old relationship with the dog as one in which unexpected attacks, fear and violence are the norm.
At the end of the book, the author briefly mentions the need to research breeds before adopting a pet, a sentiment with which I couldn’t agree more. The proliferation of pit bull-type dogs makes this more important than ever. And no, this doesn’t just mean visiting the pro-pit bull ownership sites the author lists at the end of the book (the only breed-specific groups she cites). It also means researching the victims’ stories and the history of fighting breeds’ creation. When potential owners only see the hyped-up, cutesy side from those wishing to push a particular type of dog out the door, everyone loses, especially the dog.
June 24, 2015
I love great photography, especially when the subject is a dog! Traer Scott's "Shelter Dogs" is a perfect addition to your library, featuring gorgeous dogs in need of homes. The portraits are sometimes heart-wrenching, other times funny - this photographer is always able to capture the dogs' emotions and personalities. Be warned, the portraits may make you cry (each dog's story is given at the end, and some of the dogs do not end up finding homes...), especially if you're a sap like me, but it's worth it for such a beautiful book. And $.50 of each copy sold goes straight to the ASPCA.
May 11, 2021
Heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. The kind of book you're almost afraid to open. The looks in these dogs' eyes make you feel like humanity is overrated.
I was so happy to see that so many dogs (at the end) found loving homes. And for the ones that did not (oh Riley, poor boy! I wish I could have brought you home!) I'm glad that at least they'll be remembered.
ed. to add, May 11 2021, just as sad for Riley today as I was 9 years ago. RIP, brave boy. 💔
I was so happy to see that so many dogs (at the end) found loving homes. And for the ones that did not (oh Riley, poor boy! I wish I could have brought you home!) I'm glad that at least they'll be remembered.
ed. to add, May 11 2021, just as sad for Riley today as I was 9 years ago. RIP, brave boy. 💔
June 2, 2014
Shelter Dogs shows the spirit of these dogs in shelters via black and white photographs. Some of the pictures have a few words about the animal but most don't (For information on each individual dog - you have to read the Who's who section at the end of the book - I wish this had been included with the full page-size photos). You'll be happy and heartbroken by how their stories turned out, but this book does a very good job at showing the reality shelter dogs face.
January 4, 2019
The pictures spoke volumes, & some of their stories were heart-wrenching. It amazes me how many people discard their dogs like an old piece of unwanted furniture. Fortunately, dogs are much more forgiving than humans, or they would never get over the emotional, physical, and mental tragedies they endure. Unfortunately, some never get a second chance with a forever family because of the over-crowded conditions.
March 1, 2015
I appreciated that the photographer took dignified shots of these shelter dogs. As she pointed out in the foreword, there's nothing wrong with shooting shelter dogs in their kennels to show what they go through, but these shots showed respect to lovely animals that often don't get any.
If you're a dog person or someone who has a heart for shelter animals, you'll appreciate these dog portraits.
If you're a dog person or someone who has a heart for shelter animals, you'll appreciate these dog portraits.
December 15, 2010
I adopted a shelter dog over 5 years ago and now volunteer at a local animal shelter. A piece of me falls in love with some aspect of every dog I walk and see come through the shelter. I loved reading about the happy endings of these dogs and bawled at some of the sadder stories. I wish more people realized what wonderful animals there are at shelters!!!!!
August 30, 2008
Touching images and stories of these beautiful, homeless dogs. Breaks my heart that some were put down, but it makes me happy that others found great homes. The only thing I'd change is that there are too many photos of the same type of dog. I'd like to see different breeds.
November 13, 2008
Heartbreaking but also wonderful that Traer has taken the time to give dogs that would otherwise have been lost to time/memory an identity. Portraits of both the adopted and euthanized dogs are powerful.
November 29, 2008
Great book about dogs in shelters. I own a pitbull named Frank Nitti and it's so sad that most of these dogs are pits. Great book to read about shelter dogs that get adopted and find homes, but also some of them are not so lucky.
Great pictures of dogs and follow up stories about each animal
Great pictures of dogs and follow up stories about each animal
July 31, 2011
Wonderful, heartbreaking book. Hopefully more people who are looking to have a dog as part of their families will look to animal shelters to find the right dog for them, a dog in desperate need of a loving family. Especially the bigger dogs that most people don't seem to want.
July 17, 2012
Traer Scott captures the heart & soul of every dog so beautifully. By giving these dogs a new look, some were able to be saved, sadly not all were. Highly recommend this book. It tells a wonderful story even with the few words that are printed in it.
March 24, 2013
Beautiful and very moving black and white portraits of man's best friend. Some of these faces will definitely make you smile, laugh out loud, and, of course, tear-up. The back of the book reference page even includes the best animal shelter in the world! :) http://www.animalleague.org/
October 15, 2018
"Shelter Dogs" by Traer Scott reveals a series of photos of shelter dogs, and information about each one. Traer captures the moment in each photo. It is beautifully written, and so touching. A FABULOUS job well done.
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
March 10, 2008
The texture, lighting and, yes, subjects of these photographs make this book unforgettable. Inspiring.
May 9, 2008
Author narrates her experiences volunteering in a Providence, Rhode Island animal shelter. Beautiful, moving, and heartbreaking photographs of the dogs.
February 2, 2011
A must have for dog people ...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews