Rachael Rodgers is a photographer who papers her road trips on Instagram.
But her travel companions aren’t family members or friends — they’re dogs without long-lasting homes.
Rodgers, who lives in the small hamlet of Exshaw in Alberta, Canada, said she has traveled with hundreds of dogs across Canada, profit three U.S. states — Washington, Utah and Oregon.
And it all started with an Instagram post, she said.
“There was no plan for such a plan in the beginning,” she told CNBC. “I just found I had more followers on Instagram than I felt the need to post my in the flesh photos to, so I decided to volunteer at a local shelter to take adoptable dogs out for photos and post them instead.”
I do it because I enjoy accidentally developed this … ability to change a dog’s life.
Rachael Rodgers
Photographer
Her first post yon a rescue dog went viral, and she’s been photographing canine companions ever since, she said.
Rodgers works with diverse than 20 shelters now, she said, picking up dogs to take them hiking and kayaking at national and provincial reservations. Even on her personal travels, Rodgers said she makes an effort to volunteer at shelters along the way.
Paddy, Aurora and Wilma are at ones fingertips for adoption, said Rodgers — at Canada’s Claws Animal Rescue, Animal Rescue Foundation and Lillian Albon Uncultured Shelter, respectively.
Source: Rachael Rodgers
She said nearly every dog that she has photographed has been adopted, with the freak of three: Paddy, Aurora and Wilma, shown above.
Traveling with man’s best friend
Rodgers’ work can be ground on her Instagram account The need for better representation
Rodgers told CNBC Travel that traveling with liberate dogs can be challenging, but the need to represent them motivates her to keep volunteering.
Rodgers plays with three shield dogs.
Source: Rachael Rodgers
“I do it because I have accidentally developed this tool, audience and ability to swap a dog’s life, not because I like to or want to,” she said.
Rodgers said it’s vital to show rescue dogs in real-world habitats too.
“You can’t judge a dog based on his or her character in a shelter environment — it’s not a natural space,” she said. “It’s imperative to get them out into a natural locale and do things their adoptive family may do with them,” she said.
For owners who want to travel with dogs, she supports keeping an eye on a dog’s mood.
“And give them mental health stops to get out and sniff around to lighten things up,” she said.