Rutherford County PAWS {Nashville Pet Photographer}

One part of my job I love doing on a regular basis is taking photographs of current dogs and cats available for adoption!

Rutherford County PAWS is a wonderful local pet adoption center based in Murfreesboro, TN. From one week to the next, there is rarely an animal there for too long, which means that I'm always getting the chance to meet new furry faces (and also means that the ones I already met have found forever homes!). The staff there really care about the sweet pups and cats that stay there until they are adopted. PAWS also works closely with other rescue organizations in the area, so very often animals will go out to rescues and foster homes. 

Here are some of the sweet pets I've had a chance to photograph lately, and although they may not be available any longer for adopting, you can visit the adoption page on the PAWS website to see which ones are still available or which newcomers have arrived! 

Thank you Rutherford County PAWS for all you do for these sweet animals!

~ Mandy

PAWS adoptable dogs in Nashville

This is Hazel, who's my current favorite and has been at the shelter for a little while now. She's an absolute sweetheart, and I loved her photo session. Hazel is an 8 year old labrador/retriever mix, and she may be getting passed over because of her age, but she's a happy dog that won't chew up your house!

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This is Lucy! She's a 6-year-old Maine Coon Mix and is very regal.

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Meet Meika, a 1-year-old spayed American Bulldog Mix. Her previous owner surrendered her as they didn't have enough time for her but didn't want to neglect her, so we hope she finds a better home soon! 

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And lastly, here's a success story! These last two images are Great Pyreneese mixes that were SO scared the day I was there, the gal who works with them had to carry them outside to do photos (and they are not small). They were surrendered by their owners and had been outside dogs, and the shelter just wasn't comfortable for them. I was concerned about them and later asked her what happened and found out they were adopted together by a sweet family with older kids and a German Shepard puppy. Apparently, when they saw the kids and the puppy they just came alive, and it was a perfect match!

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Adopting a Pet? Capture the Moment on Camera!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

RARE Adoptables {Nashville Pet Photographer}

As you may have seen before, I often work with local animal organizations to help promote their adoption and foster programs. I recently captured some photos for RARE, also known as Rural Animal Rescue Effort, based out of Middle Tennessee.

RARE is a non-profit whose mission is to "rescue neglected and abandoned animals in the most rural areas of Tennessee" and aims to find forever homes for them in more populated areas of the state!

Below you'll get a chance to see two of their adoptable pets, one cat and one dog. Axel is a sweet Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler mix and is house trained and ready to find his new family! He's also pretty energetic and would be the perfect fit for someone who is active.

Dinah is a beautiful tortoiseshell mix, with brown and black colors on her coat. She's onlyone and a half years old, and loves to curl up and purr softly in your lap.

If you are interested in adopting either of these animals, head on over to RARE's adoption application online to get started!

And if you can't adopt please share so we can find these two their furever homes.

~ Mandy

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Dog Photographer Middle Tennessee RARE

Adopting a Pet? Capture the Moment on Camera!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

RARE Pet Adoption {Nashville Dog Photographer}

Today I'm excited to feature some furry friends from a rescue group I'm working with called Rural Animal Rescue Effort (R.A.R.E.). R.A.R.E. is focused on rescuing and fostering animals in rural shelters and pounds.

Here's more information about R.A.R.E., "Although there are animals in need everywhere across the country, rural areas seem to have the worst cases of companion animal overpopulation and abandonment for a plethora of reasons. Most of the animals that sit in rural shelters or pounds are more commonly euthanized. This is due to the lack of space, time and money it takes to care for them and unfortunately, the majority of these animals are highly adoptable and friendly with children and other animals."

Pet adoption is something I believe in strongly, and I enjoyed getting to photograph some pets who are looking for forever homes! I'm featuring a couple of them in this post, but make sure to hop over to RARE's website so see all the pets looking for homes! If you're interested in fostering and/or adopting, you can fill out an application here


Our first feature is Dutchess, a 3-4 year old, 35 pound staffordshire mix. Dutchess is completely crate trained and loves dogs, cats, and children! Dutchess has a heart as big as her smile. She really wants to be a part of a family, especially if they love puppy kisses.  And don't you just love her surprise face!

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Up next we have Rocko, an 11 month old Bull Terrier mix! Rocko is good with kids and he loves people! Rocko wanted us to mention that he really needs a fenced in yard or an active walker/runner for exercise because, as we all know, maintaining a Hollywood figure isn't easy. Rocko is totally crate trained and super smart!

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And last but not least we have Copperhead, or Copper for short. I'm a hunka-hunka burning love....87 pounds of love that is! I'm around 3 years old, but still a bit of a clown and I enjoy making people laugh. I love me some people! I just can't get enough of having my ears scratched, my nose kissed and my belly rubbed. 

Nashville Pet Adoption Dog Photographer
Nashville Pet Adoption Dog Photographer
Nashville Pet Adoption Dog Photographer
Nashville Pet Adoption Dog Photographer

Adopting a Pet? Capture the Moment on Camera!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!