From a Living Hell to Heaven on Earth: the Inhumanity and Humanity of Humans

In a remote area of western Wisconsin, dogs and cats who otherwise would have ended up on death row are given a reprieve. They can now live out their lives in peace and comfort and with companionship at Home for Life (HFL), which was not afforded them outside the sanctuary's gates.

Gus was struck by a car and left to die in Tijuana, Mexico. He was leaning against a tree there with a broken back when rescuers from the At Choo Foundation found him. He will never walk again.

Soosan is a Whippet mix from Iran's Vafa Animal Shelter. She had two legs amputated after being hit by a car. She loves to get out for runs in the sanctuary's meadows using her cart.

Because of my orangutan portrait series that resulted in the book, The People of the Forest, I was asked by a public relations person I had worked with for years if I would be interested in doing some pro bono work for Home For Life.

I started packing as soon as I saw their website and read the stories behind some of their rescues, including two gunshot victims. I do believe that the camera has the ability to bring about positive change, and I wanted to apply that concept here.

I was able to transport my portable studio in a Think Tank Production Manager case and my cameras and lenses in a Think Tank Airport International rolling bag. I let the wheels take the weight rather than my back. Once at the sanctuary, I set up two Profoto strobes in beauty dishes, one as a key light and one as a fur light (as opposed to a hair light), and used my Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for the portrait sessions.

When it comes W to cats and dogs, most shelters have two options, adoption or euthanasia. Home for Life offers a Third Door, a new concept in animal rescue and welfare for what might be considered unadoptable animals, giving them a place to live in peace and comfort for the rest of their days. Mark Edward Harris