08/26/2026
World’s cutest throwback on World African Painted Dog Day!
2018: How it started… My first time filming African painted dogs was when 23 pups were born at the Endangered Wolf Center!
Growth is the theme today! For these pups and for me as a camerawoman! Back then, I was shooting on vintage lenses I bought at an estate sale for $25/each- no autofocus, no tripod, all manual settings (that I didn’t quite nail 😂).
2026: How it’s going… these painted dogs have gone on to support the conservation of their species through the African Painted Dog SAFE program. Many of them have transferred to other accredited facilities, like the Cincinnati Zoo to start families of their own.
The photographs are from a recent shoot with Michelle Steinmeyer and her amazing Photography Tours that she hosts to raise funds for the EWC’s conservation work.
These were shot on a Sony A1 with a 200-600mm.
It’s been really neat to see these pups grow over the years, and especially to see people who visit and learn about this species fall in love with them.
