Susie Carlson poses her two Golden Doodles for photographer Harold Dodson. | Barbara Ball
BLYTHEWOOD – Four top Blythewood and Winnsboro Photographers as well as two newcomers have been donating their time and talents to help the Hoof & Paw Benevolent Society raise what the group hopes will be about $50,000.
The photographers are shooting high end photos of pets (dogs, cats, horses, etc.) that will appear in an upmarket Coffee Table book titled ‘Friends of Hoof & Paw,’ The cost for pets to be in the book, with or without their people, ranges from $200 to $1,000. The money raised will be used by Hoof & Paw to make lives better for those pets who do not have owners who love and care for them. The owners who include their pets in the book will receive a copy of the book at no charge. Book will be available to the general public at cost which the group estimates will be about $60.
Hoof & Paw Board member, Minge Wiseman, who is heading up the book project, said the cost to produce the book will be about $20,000 has been underwritten by Blythewood philanthropist Joyce Martin Hill, who owns Farewell Farm. Wiseman said proceeds from the sale of the photo pages will go to fund spay/neuter surgeries, heartworm treatment and other needs at both large and small animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout South Carolina.
The project began the first of the year and, for the last two months, Wiseman has been scheduling photographers for the pets’ close ups.
Photographers Robert Buchanan, Harold Dodson, Janice Haynes, Kristy Campbell Massey, Kelly Garin, a pet photographer new to Blythewood, and Morgan Ald, a recent graduate from the University of South Carolina with a degree in photography, shoot several settings each week. Some of the photos are taken in the pet owners’ homes, at The Farm at Ridgeway, at Doko Manner and other scenic venues.
Buchanan frequently posts the resulting photos on his Facebook page.
“Hoof & Paw is creating a book of these beautiful creatures as a means to fund those organizations that rescue animals. it is quite an undertaking,” Buchanan said, “and I feel privileged to be asked to participate.”
Another, less expensive way for pet owners to participate in the book project is the cover lottery.
“People can submit photos of their pets to be considered for the cover. Cell phone photos are acceptable. One image will be selected and it will then be painted and that painting will be be used for the cover of this year’s book. The best part is that the owner gets to keep the painting…at no charge.
To submit a photo for consideration, go to www.hoofandpawsc.org. The cost is $25 per submission and that money will be used to help Hoof and Paw produce and design the book. Submission deadline for the cover contest is May 31.
“Our goal for the book is 130 pages,” Wiseman said. “So far, we have 106 pages, so we are doing well and have had a wonderful response from the community.”
As the deadline is drawing near for inclusion in the book, pet owners who would like their pets to be included should call 960-9770 as soon as possible.