Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes
Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes
By Emily Landau | July 7, 2014
By Emily Landau | 07/07/2014
(Image: Fred Ni)
The folks at Toronto Animal Services have many virtues, but they can be strangely inept when it comes to promoting adoptable animals: the low-res, anemic photos on their site, often taken in cages and kennels, make the dogs look sick, sad and skittish. The organization found a terrific unofficial publicist in Fred Ni, a computer animator who volunteers at TAS. While walking dogs on his lunch hour, Ni realized that the ones that seemed stressed and jittery in the shelter would loosen into furry fun bundles as soon as they were out in the park. To prove that shelter dogs can be as cheery and well adjusted as any pet, Ni began shooting the pups on their walks, bounding into leaves and burying their faces in snowdrifts, eyes bright and tongues wagging, and then posted their backstories and photos to his blog, IWantAPoundDog. The blog has become a viral phenomenon, attracting more than two million page views since 2009. To date, Ni has featured more than 600 shelter dogs—large breeds and lapdogs, purebreds and mutts, puppies and seniors. Many of them are adopted within days of appearing on the site. One dog, a one-year-old Lab-husky cross named Basquiat, had spent his entire life in a Quebec pound. The morning after Ni posted his photos, there was a line out the TAS door to meet him—and a High Park couple adopted him within the hour.
273723 <strong>Mya,</strong> a chihuahua-dachshund cross, adopted by a couple at Lansdowne and Dupont (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-01-mya-e1399901493234-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-01-mya.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-01-mya.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-01-mya/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-01-mya 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273724 <strong>Sophie,</strong> a St. Bernard, adopted by a Forest Hill couple (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-02-sophie-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-02-sophie.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-02-sophie.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-02-sophie/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-02-sophie 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273725 <strong>Junebug,</strong> a golden retriever, husky, collie, German short-haired pointer cross, adopted by a woman in Scarborough (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-03-junebug-e1399901472633-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-03-junebug.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-03-junebug.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-03-junebug/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-03-junebug 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273726 <strong>Sasha,</strong> a husky-Samoyed cross, adopted by a couple in Greektown (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-04-sasha-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-04-sasha.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-04-sasha.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-04-sasha/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-04-sasha 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273727 <strong>Lou,</strong> a Shar Pei–pug cross, adopted by a family in Mississauga (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-05-lou-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-05-lou.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-05-lou.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-05-lou/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-05-lou 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273728 <strong>Nico,</strong> a Rottweiler, shepherd, Lab and hound mix, adopted by a family in Mississauga (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-06-nico-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-06-nico.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-06-nico.jpg 1000 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-06-nico/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-06-nico 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273729 <strong>Gunner,</strong> a beagle-Dachshund cross, adopted by a couple in Corso Italia (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-07-gunner-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-07-gunner.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-07-gunner.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-07-gunner/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-07-gunner 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273730 <strong>Tyra,</strong> an English mastiff, adopted by a couple in Victoria Park (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-08-tyra-e1399901528413-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-08-tyra.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-08-tyra.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-08-tyra/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-08-tyra 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273731 <strong>Bentley,</strong> a Portuguese podengo, adopted by an Etobicoke couple (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-09-bentley-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-09-bentley.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-09-bentley.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-09-bentley/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-09-bentley 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273732 <strong>Tallulah,</strong> a miniature pinscher–beagle cross, adopted by a couple in East York (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-10-tallulah-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-10-tallulah.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-10-tallulah.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-10-tallulah/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-10-tallulah 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
273733 <strong>Willy,</strong> a West Highland white terrier, adopted by a woman in Minesing, Ontario (Image: Fred Ni) Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes Reasons to Love Toronto 2014: #5. Because These Pound Dogs Found New Homes https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-11-willy-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-11-willy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-11-willy.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/reasons-to-love-toronto-2014-because-these-pound-dogs-found-new-homes/slide/reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-11-willy/ reasons-to-love-toronto-animal-services-11-willy 0 0
(Image: Fred Ni)
I completely agree with this. My dog Bob (black lab) came from Animal Services in Etobicoke, and he’s the absolute best. His photograph, on the other hand, showed only one wild eye in a sea of black – a horrible shot really. Great to see someone has taken this on to help these dogs find the homes they need and deserve.