From Mangy Stray to Internationally Recognized Pet Model
from rescue pitbull to internationally recognized pet model
In a heartwarming tale of resilience and second chances, one remarkable rescue dog has defied the odds to become an internationally recognized pet portrait model, all with her pet photographer mom by her side.
A Story of Overcoming Adversity
Our story begins in a small town in rural Georgia, where a young pup named Peanut found herself at the mercy of a cruel twist of fate. Plagued by a severe case of mange, and found roaming the streets alone at 5 months old, Peanut’s condition was so dire that her future seemed bleak. unable to care for her for the length of time needed for a full recovery, she was Scheduled to be euthanized at animal control with no other options but a potential adoption for her, Peanut’s fate hung in the balance between life and death and the ticking clock to find her a family.
but Fate had other plans in store for this determined pup. Just when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of her rescue mom. Enthralled with peanut’s large ears that could be seen bouncing over the chain link kennel in the shelter, it was love at first sight for the two of them. With a heart full of compassion and a desire to make a difference, peanut was rescued from the brink of euthanasia and adopted by her rescue mom who was getting her masters in Physician assistant studies at the time.
A New Beginning
Peanut’s journey to recovery led her to a new home with her rescue mom, far from the dusty and vacant streets of streets of rural Georgia. She found herself in the picturesque city of savannah, and together both peanut and her rescue mom made their way through pa school together. peanut spent countless hours of recovering and recuperating with her mom while she studied with her by her side. from flashcards to practice exams, rotations throughout the state, and even enduring hurricane matthew, peanut and her mom took on all of life’s challenges together.
two years after graduating PA school, peanut’s mom began to look for ways to bring herself back to her artistic roots. she had always loved the arts, her pets and animals, and had always loved photography. together with peanut by her side, a passion was born to start another journey together. Peanut’s mom’s passion for photographer grew and grew over time, and while still practicing as an orthopedic surgery pa, peanut’s mom also became a professional dog photographer, starting her own business. her mom’s passion for capturing the essence of peanut through her lens blossomed into something so much more than just a love for her pets.
The first photo gina ever took on a professional camera was of course, of peanut! october 2020.
from being the original model for ‘flying fido’ sessions, and gracing the cover of savannah magazine, peanut and her mom brought the love of pet photography to so many throughout savannah. however, savannah was not meant to be. peanut’s mom was from maine, and it was time to start another new journey together; the journey back to her home state.
peanut enjoying her ‘flying fido’ sessions at wormsloe plantation, savannah, GA. 2021.
peanut posing with gina, and her feature in savannah magazine, 2021 in savannah, GA.
A Rising Star in the Pet Photography World
after arriving back to portland, maine, peanut and her mom immediate got to exploring the beauty that is maine. as a dog photographer in maine, and especially around portland, there were numerous opportunities for peanut to explore the beaches, rivers, mountains, and woodlands that were so close to her new home. she even got to go for her first swim in a lake, with no fear of alligators lurking beneath! together with peanut’s mom’s loving care and expert eye, peanut’s mangey transformation was a thing of the past, and modeling throughout maine was her new normal. Through countless photoshoots and patient training sessions, peanut learned to expertly pose for her mom. the numerous images that were created together weer eventually entered into numerous international print competitions, with winning results! from mangey pup, to internationally award winning and recognized model, peanut the rescue pitbull had achieved what few others dogs had done. peanut’s portraits, once a symbol of adversity, had evolved into captivating works of art that resonated with pet lovers and print competition judges everywhere.
Peanut posing at broad cove woodland in cumberland, maine. 2023.
A Beacon of Hope
peanuts’ journey from a mangy stray facing euthanasia to an internationally recognized pet portrait model is a testament to the power of resilience, compassion, and the transformative bond between humans and animals. Her story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us all that with love and dedication, even the most challenging circumstances can lead to remarkable outcomes.
peanut’s remarkable transformation from an abandoned pup to an iconic figure in the pet photography world highlights the importance of giving every animal a chance at a better life. Her tale is a reminder that, no matter how dire the circumstances may seem, there's always hope for a brighter future.
Peanut the Rescue pitbull poses at the courthouse in the old port, portland, maine. august 2023.
Does this story sound familiar? That is because it is! This is the story of gina and her rescue pitbull peanut, and their journey together on gina’s dog photographer journey from savannah to maine. this is a reminder that patience, love, and compassion can turn a mangey diamond in the rough to an iconic breed ambassador and professional animal photography model.
Interested in capturing your dog’s own heartwarming tale of overcoming adversity? please inquire here.
want to hear more heart warming stories? check out this feature by Sharon Canovas, a dog photographer from Hamilton, Ontario, as she shares a heartwarming session of a rescue dog from Mexico. Read it here!
