12/08/2024
Gunner's Transformation
After photographing hundreds of abandoned and surrendered animals at the shelter, you'd think I've seen it all. I learned at my last photoshoot that I will continue to be confronted with heartbreaking animal situations that boggle the mind and defy normal logic. It was on this day that I met Gunner, a spunky and energetic Poodle puppy. When I approached him, he was not shy at all! With his excitement in full display, Gunner stood up on his hind legs and used his front paws to grab me as if to ask if I was there to take him home. In just those few seconds it was readily apparent that he is a good dog and has so much love to give, but sadly no one to give it to. And that is why I came to see him. To capture Gunner in photographs that will make him look his best and in turn attract the attention of someone looking to adopt a dog into their life. But Gunner has a major roadblock that he must overcome before that can happen....
Gunner's coat was neglected by his previous owner and because of this, his fur has become extremely matted. The poodle breed needs regular grooming every 4 to 6 weeks in order to maintain a healthy coat. Gunner's owner couldn't keep up with his grooming needs and surrendered him to the shelter. It should be stated what some of the risks are for dogs whose coats are severely matted. Matted coats can cause a variety of skin and health problems. Matted fur does not allow for air circulation to the skin, causing hot spots, bacterial and fungal infections. Fleas, ticks, maggots and other parasites may be lurking in the coat causing further skin infections. Matted fur also pulls and binds, causing pain to the dog when they move or lay on the mats. The skin underneath is usually raw and inflamed. Matted coats also will not dry properly and can lead to rotting fur and skin.
If a dog is extremely matted, the dog’s hair may need to be shaved extremely short to the skin and may show signs of skin irritations and sores due to the matting, wet undercoat, and dirty coat. In order to take care of a dog that has not been groomed often enough and is matted, the required grooming sessions may be long, stressful, or painful. More than one grooming session may be required if the dog is severely matted. There is a strong possibility the dog's skin can become irritated during the clipping process. The matted hair rests tightly against the skin and the only way of removing mats is to use a short blade to clip between the skin and mats. The dog could be nicked and cut because the groomer has to work so closely to the skin to remove the matted coat. Groomers are very careful, but the possibility of injury exists.
Matted fur is a serious adversary that can negatively affect skin, health, comfort and well-being. Fear not! A plan of immediate action has been put in place to positively change Gunner's life. First, I was there to take "before" photos of Gunner, to show the state he was in when he arrived at the shelter. Next, he would go to the groomer where his matted fur would be shaved and then he will experience the first "spa day" he has ever had! Next, I will photograph Gunner after the grooming session and then the shelter can promote his glamour shots on their website and social media pages.
Now that the "before" photo sessions are complete, Gunner was groomed a few days later and then I returned to take the "after" photos. Gunner's transformation was unbelievable! The difference was so drastic you wouldn't know it was the same dog! One thing that did stay the same was Gunner's showering of love and affection towards me. He was so excited and he looked like he lost 20 pounds due to all of the fur that had been shaved away. But more importantly Gunner seemed to understand that he was free from the confines of all of that fur and he could now run around and have fun the way all dogs should. The vibe of the "after" photoshoot was so positive and I was having so much fun as I watched Gunner happily model his new look to the shelter staff and I. So without further adieux, let's take a look at the new Gunner!
Gunner is housed at The Simon Foundation, Inc. in Bloomfield, CT. Their website has a write-up on Gunner that reads...
"Gunnar is a larger than life happy boy! He is a 9 month old poodle who was surrendered by his family because they did not want to manage his grooming needs. His breed requires grooming every 6 weeks to maintain coat and skin health. Aside from that he is a very easy going boy. He absolutely loves people and seems very interested in having canine companion as well. He would be fine in a home with kids however he does jump since he is still a puppy and should undergo basic obedience training as any pup should. He is very goofy, loves his walks and playtime but would give anything for some cuddles too. He puts a smile on everyone's face and will make any adopter a very lucky person to have him in their life. If you are interested in meeting Gunner please fill out an application via our website."
If you are interested in adopting Gunner, or know someone who might be, please refer them to The Simon Foundation, Inc. or call them at (860) 519-1516.
Here are some photos of Gunner.
