My article in The Miami Herald.

By Lauren Fischer

Photo by Allison Diaz Miami Herald
South Florida News Service

Cali, a 2-year-old female American bulldog mix, had hookworms, ear infections and weak back legs when Ginger Monteleone met her last August.

The real estate photographer from Kendall said Cali had been adopted and wasn’t being properly taken care of. She said Cali was being muzzled for approximately 12 hours a day because she didn’t get along with the owner’s other dog.

“I immediately felt compelled to go get this dog, so I went and got her that night,” said Monteleone, 36.

After a rescue group called the Homeless Pet Advocates agreed to help with any veterinary bills, Monteleone fostered Cali and treated her with prescribed medication . The she started photographing the dog, intending to use the pictures to find her a home.

Monteleone was used to photographing mansions, condos and yachts for a living. But since becoming a pet owner a year ago, she has taken her professional experience to a new level. She now voluntarily photographs homeless dogs from rescue groups and from the Miami-Dade County animal shelter in Medley in an effort to help them find homes.

Shana and Kevin Smith of Sunrise said they had no intention of adopting a dog until they saw Monteleone’s pictures of Cali on Facebook.

“Ginger is a really wonderful photographer,” Mrs. Smith said. “She really captures the dogs’ personalities.”

The couple wanted to take Cali home the same day they met her at Monteleone’s house, but the photographer was hesitant since she was still administering the dog’s medications and wanted to drive her to their place for a better transition.

Yet the couple challenged Monteleone.

“Kevin and Shana called her [Cali] from my front door saying, ‘oh let’s see if she comes,’ and Cali went, followed them into their car, and sat in the front seat,” said Monteleone, who started photographing dogs last year after adopting Peanut, whom she describes as “half Chihuahua, half beagle and all attitude.”

Monteleone became friends with several dog advocates through Facebook and would see pleas for help from rescue shelters and individuals, ads or links for dogs up for adoption.

“Because I wanted to do something, I offered several rescue groups to take photos for any adoptable dogs,” she said.

They accepted the offer.

For the past six months, Monteleone has been photographing dogs for the Homeless Pet Advocates.

Karolyn Rico, of the rescue group, said Monteleone’s dog pictures help many dogs.

“Without a good picture, it’s not the same,” Rico, 24, said. “That’s why they get adopted so fast.”

That kind of positive response made Monteleone extend her work to the Miami-Dade Animal Services where she started taking pictures of the dogs as well. She said the shelter’s website pictures were not clear enough for people to even notice how big the dogs are.

“Nobody wants to bring home a dog that looks grainy and you can’t tell what it looks like,” Monteleone said. “But when they see a dog smiling up at them in a beautiful photo, it’s exciting, and I think it’s getting a response.”

She then also became a volunteer at Miami-Dade Animal Services, where she now assists walk-in customers in finding a dog that best suits their personality and lifestyle according to breed and size.

Heather LeBoeuf, who lives in Canada, has benefited from Monteleone’s dedication.

She adopted her female American bulldog at the Miami Dade Animal Services shelter with Monteleone’s help.

Monteleone pulled the dog from the shelter, fostered her and took her to the vet, and then shipped her to LeBoeuf in Canada.

“I named her after Ginger because if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own,” said LeBoeuf, 60.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/11/2062509/photographer-helps-homeless-dogs.html#ixzz1JyuEM9YR