The Don’t You Want Me Project - providing hope and support through a first of its kind Rescue Grant

The Don’t You Want Me Project  documents the lives of queer people and their rescue dogs by creating a visual global platform for them to tell their stories. Finding strength and purpose in the unconditional love given by dogs we watch the project’s subjects heal and transform. The project’s aim is to highlight what happens when the marginalised receive unconditional love and support. This bond and the subsequent personal growth form the backbone of the Don’t You Want Me Project.

Last November the Project announced the launch of the Don’t You Want Me Rescue Grant. The DYWM Rescue Grant will enable someone from the queer and trans community (one person in Toronto and one in the U.K) who is struggling with mental health issues, the opportunity to adopt a rescue dog and be given ongoing support.   

It is expected that the first recipient of the DYWM Rescue Grant will receive their dog this March. As witnessed throughout the project it is anticipated that the arrival of the rescue dog will have a profoundly transformative impact not only on the recipient’s mental health but on every aspect of their life. 

Approximately half of the Project’s participants have said that their rescue dog saved their life. 

Parties involved in the Toronto DYWM Rescue Grant to date include:

Friends of Ruby -  Mental Health Partner

Friends of Ruby is a Toronto registered charity dedicated to the progressive wellbeing of LGBTQI2S youth (aged 16-29) through mental health services, social services and housing. Friends of Ruby will help determine a suitable recipient for the DYWM Rescue Grant and will provide ongoing mental health support as the recipient welcomes the rescue dog into their life.

Save Our Scruff -  Rescue Partner 

Founded by one of our Project participants, SOS, a non-profit organization in Toronto is dedicated to rescuing dogs and finding them safe and suitable permanent homes through adoption, advocacy and education. SOS will work closely with Friends of Ruby to match a suitable rescue dog with the chosen recipient of the DYWM Rescue Grant, waive their adoption fee and provide ongoing support. If deemed beneficial, SOS will assist the grant recipient in working towards training their dog to be a therapy/service dog.

Nood Pet Food

NOOD recipes are packed with ethically sourced proteins, superfoods and a range of vitamins and minerals to provide a complete and balanced diet for your pet. NOOD believe every pet — big and small — deserves the proper nutrition to live a healthy, happy life. And every single pet owner deserves to know what goes in (and what stays out) of the pet food they buy. No junk, no nasty surprises, no pesky fine print. NOOD is working to close the gap on pet food inequality and to make affordable pet food accessible to all. Nood Pet Food is donating 3 years worth of food to the grant recipient.

Doggy Dates Toronto

Doggy Dates Toronto is a trans owned, award winning dog walking and photography business founded by Jack and Jet Jackson. Doggy Dates Toronto will be providing dog walking services and documenting the journey of the grant recipient and their rescue dog through photo journalism.

Balmy Beach Pet Hospital

Dr. Singh comes from a traditional “Sikh” family. The word Sikh means student. To this end, Dr. Singh has devoted her life to honing her skills as a veterinary practitioner, to continue to provide the best medicine and care to her patients. Her goals as a practitioner are to provide affordable and professional veterinary care, maintain the highest level of transparency, and practice in an environment that is safe for pets, pet owners and staff. We are in the process of finalizing the contribution from Balmy Beach Pet Hospital. 

Dogtopia

Dogtopia of Bloor West Village in Toronto is your dog’s home away from home. The brand new dog boarding facility, owned by Jen McCain, makes your dog’s everyday like it’s the most exciting day ever! Through dog daycare, boarding, training and spa services they are committed to showering your pup with all the love and affection they deserve when you can’t be with them. Dogtopia Bloor West are donating grooming, dog training and job shadowing if desired.

Small Wonders Pet Store

Toronto’s landmark original independent pet store. Small Wonders will be providing $20 worth of treats each month to the grant recipient’s dog.

Still seeking - a dog bed, coat, leash, collar, toys, pet insurance, and training and behavioural services. 

If you would like to help with a fiscal donation to subsidize the cost of important services like training, vet care and day care when needed, we are taking donations here. 

We know times are hard for lots of people so your greatest gift would be to share this far and wide. 

I am a perfectionist - I dream about photography, I am constantly learning and updating my knowledge and work obsessively at being the best I can at work that I love. I control and direct as much as is possible about the session which I structure and time around the sunrise/sunset. That being said, and in order to manage expectations, I stress to every client that this is outdoor, off leash dog photography, and dogs will be dogs (which is why we love them so much). We are not looking for perfection from the dogs - we want their personality to shine through, we want them to have fun, and that is what I aim to try to capture for you.

Grooming
If your dog is regularly groomed, it would be great timing to get a groom done in the days leading up to your shoot. A quick nail trim also looks great.

Harness vs Collars

Unless your dog needs to wear a harness for safety reasons, I would strongly recommend your dog wear a collar for the photoshoot. If the collar is old, I might suggest treating them to a new one, or letting them go ‘naked’. I am unable to remove a harness in photoshop. We may also leash your dog at points during the session, and it is far easier to remove a leash in photoshop if they are wearing a collar.

Want to be included in an image?

Whilst the session is all about dogs, if you’d like me to include you in a couple of images with your dog, please do put some thought into what you are wearing. Choose outfits that make you feel like your best self. I would avoid any big logos or wild designs as they can distract from the dog. It’s always a nice touch to wear something that subtly connects you to your dog - let’s say you have for example red nail varnish,  (or a scarf, lipstick, hat, shoes) etc and your dog has a red collar. Or your dog has blue eyes, you might want to wear something that features a hint of blue too. 

Part of the connecting in this image is the red lipstick of the owner with the red sweater on Taro the dog!

The morning / afternoon of the shoot

Please arrive no later than the agreed time. The different locations/backdrops of the session have been purposefully chosen to work with the position of the sun, so if we start late, we will not only miss the sunrise /sunset, but the rest of the shoot won’t be as ideal as it can be. The beautifully saturated colours of the golden hour only last 15 minutes or so and we need time to acclimatize your dog to the camera and flash. I like to encourage sunrise sessions where timing allows - whilst I know it’s tough to get up early, it’s not only the best time photographically in terms of light and colour, but also there are less distractions around for your dog at this time.

Treats 

We go through a lot of treats during a typical photo shoot so I strongly advise against feeding your dog prior to the session. Please bring some peanut butter and a selection of your dogs favourite treats. I will bring some liver treats, but it’s essential for you to have high value treats on standby. You will need more than you think you will need - we go through a lot of treats!

During the shoot

I will acclimatize your dog to the flash/camera and once they are comfortable we’ll go straight into the session. When I am doing close up work with your dog, I will need yourself or a friend to assist by holding the lighting/ strobe (you do not need any experience and full direction will be given). The strobe weights approximately 10lbs, and can get heavy after a while so if you have any concerns about this, please do get in touch to discuss. If you would prefer that we bring in an assistant this can be arranged at additional cost. At any point during the session, if you wanted to take any behind the scenes photos or video we always welcome any footage you can send or tag us in! 

Training and tricks 

If you want to incorporate a high five, a treat catch, a roll over, or any other tricks you might like your dog to do feel free to practice in the lead up to the photoshoot session. These extras are absolutely not essential, these are just for fun if you wanted to try them. 

Extras you might want to bring

Water - please bring some for both yourself and your dog during the warmer months. During the colder months, you may want to bring a blanket / coat for your dog, particularly if they are small or not winter loving dogs. 

What happens after the shoot, when and how do I get my images?

Within 48 hours after your dog’s photo shoot session you’ll receive a sneak peak preview image on facebook / instagram. Within 5 days I will guide you through an online purchase appointment where you can select prints and product combinations from  a carefully curated online gallery of approximately 20-25 images. Any prints or products ordered will be shipped to you directly from the photo lab within 4 weeks. Payment for any products/prints will be made at the purchase appointment. It needed, full payment can be made over 2-3 months.

These last few years have taught us many things, one of those things being how much our dogs have been fundamental in helping so many of us during the pandemic. Hell yes, let’s celebrate them.

For more stories about unconditional love and the transformative power dogs have on our lives check out the Don’t You Want Me Project.

Feel free to share this blog if you want your doggo pals to get in on the Jack Jackson action!

Last weekend I was commissioned to do a photoshoot at Maplelane Farm - a private 3 acre off leash park with agility courses and a dock diving pool - this my friends, is pure bliss to a photographer who loves action photography and very happy dogs. I’d been lucky enough to take my own dog Jet for a practice session just a couple of weeks prior and was so impressed with their set up that when Sarah reached out to me about doing a shoot I jumped at the opportunity.

Because the farm is an hours drive from Toronto, and because dock diving is physically demanding for doggos Sarah got two of her good friends to join us for the afternoon so that the dogs could take breaks and wouldn’t get too tired. 

Introducing you to our flying doggo team - Percy, Cora and Chip.

Percy

Hi, my name’s Percy, Prancing Percy to you. My mum is a trainer at When Hounds Fly so as you can imagine I am impeccably well behaved. I also have many additional talents - tricks and painting being two that I particularly excel at. I sold my first painting for charity last month, obviously I am also a philanthropist. 

My absolute favourite part of the shoot was high speed doggo diving into the water. I have a very special (superior) technique that Jack hadn’t witnessed before, it’s called the run, stop and jump maneuver. I run to the edge of the dock, have a quick pause to think about how epic I’m going to be, then I fly. 

My technique put Jack and his photography skills to the test, but he seemed to like the challenge, so I’ll definitely bring him along to capture my elegance next time my mum takes me dock diving.

Cora

Hi, my name is Cora, and did you know, even though I had never done a dock dive before, I did my first ever dive when Jack was there to capture it! 

My mum is a dog trainer at Dogs on a Path and she’s just the best thing ever, so naturally with her guidance I felt brave enough to jump! Now that I’ve jumped once, you bet there’s going to be nothing stopping me. My favourite thing (after making mum happy) is a nice piece of buttered toast! Also, excuse me, but did you see my eyes?!

Chip

Hi, my name is Chip and I have never been dock diving before - looks very scary. My mum is a groomer at Timmie Doggie Outfitters - you can check out her work @petstylingbycassie - she’s very talented and is also the reason why I look so incredibly handsome. 

My favourite thing to do at the photoshoot was to run laps around (and definitely not in) the pool. Because my mum is amazing, she made a little outdoor jump for me too. Am very good agility doggo. I also prefer bananas to the expensive raw food mum gets for me. Am very special doggo.

If you’re interested in doing a shoot at Maple Lane Farm please get in touch with Jack via the website to arrange a session. Please note, it’s very rare that dogs will jump from a dock straight away so this likely wouldn’t be a shoot for any new to dock diving dogs.