-
The Real Thing
Last fall, we traveled to a venue in New Jersey to photograph Brent Smith of Shinedown and a rescue pup for the Soft Side campaign. We’d already heard the stories about how the band would sometimes contact a local shelter for “puppy therapy” while on tour so knew this would be a match made in
Read More -
What A Guy
When a Mrs. Softie calls and says, “We’re doing a football and family day for hundreds of inner city kids and we’d like you to join us” it takes all of a nanosecond for us to say uh, YESSS. Our goal from the beginning has been to reach kids and we’re well acquainted with the
Read More -
Prison Dogs
Our instructions were clear. No cell phones, metal items, cash, or underwire bras. Notwithstanding that two of us were women and the third had a titanium leg, we were determined to abide by the rules to get into a place that most people want to get out of. So it was that, on a sweltering
Read More -
The Show Must Go On
It was hazy, hot & humid and the air conditioner was broken. To make matters worse, Mittens, the star of the show — who was the ASPCA Cat of the Year in 2011 — could not appear, as she had previously suffered medical complications from the heat. The show must go on, however, and that’s
Read More -
PTSD Was No Match For A Pit Bull Smile
As I sat and talked to Matthew White, time seemed to slow down. There’s a still confidence about this Veteran and leader – something that makes people feel safe. Yet, under this tattooed armor is a work in progress – wheels always turning, always looking for the next achievement. He’s calm, yet restless. Open, yet
Read More -
A Standing Ovation
Though barely old enough to drive, he heeded the call of his country and served in the 82nd Airborne Division. They sent him to Afghanistan, where he lost his leg below the knee from an IED explosion. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery and sacrifice. His fortitude was repeatedly tested during grueling
Read More -
One Big, Bad Pussycat
Considering our name is Show Your Soft Side and everything we do is geared toward promoting kindness, it may seem a bit of a disconnect that we’d spend an evening sitting ringside and cheering while guys beat the crap out of each other. Then again, if you knew John Rallo, former MMA fighter, founder of
Read More -
The Face That Launched A Million Advocates
She was burned, battered and overbred. Her ears had been brutally cropped and she suffered from puncture wounds throughout her body. She was found running down the street in South Central Los Angeles in 2007 with another dog who soon died of his injuries. She was safe at the shelter and her caretakers named her
Read More -
The Champions
It’s easy to become demoralized in the world of animal rescue and cruelty prevention. There are so many occupational hazards that it often feels as though we’re simply putting our finger in a dike. Just as one animal is helped, another appears. The pace is punishing and often masks how much progress we are actually
Read More
