b'reality sound bites.PALMETTOPicture Them Adopted.A group of volunteer professional and amateur photographersregularly visits Manatee County Animal Services to photographadoptables. The goal is to shine a positive light on the dogs andcats in hopes of increasing their chance of adoption. The volun-teers spend time with the animals to help them become morerelaxed in an effort to bring out and show off their true person-alities. This past June, professional photographer Erica Matyas, drovein from Orlando to offer the volunteer photographers tips andideas. Erica sits on the board of HeARTS Speak, a global networkofanimalphotographers,graphicdesigners,illustrators,andpainters who provide their time and professional services, pro-bono,toanimalwelfareorganizationintheircommunities.Support No Kill Manatee County is one of three organizationsselected by HeARTS Speak this year to be part of their PerfectExposure Project. The project empowers animal shelters with thetools and resources to help improve staff and volunteer photogra- Aspen, an adoptable at Manatee County Animal Services, photographed byphy skills. It provides grants for digital camera equipment and Stacy White for the Picture Them Adopted program. Shortly after thisphotograph was posted on social media, Aspen was adopted.accessories, shelter photography workshops and follow-up com-munication throughout the year to shelters.you find out that a dog you photographed has been adopted.Once a month I go to Manatee County Animal Services To become a volunteer photographer for Manatee Countyand take photos of the dogs up for adoption with the Picture AnimalServices,LikethemonFacebookandsendthemThem Adopted program, said photographer and HeARTsSpeak a message.member, Stacy White. It can be a little sad going to the shelter To learn more about HeARTs Speak, visit www.HeartsSpeak.organd seeing these dogs without homes. But, it is all worth it when or contact Erica at erica@heartspeak.org UBRADENTON ORLANDOA Fresh Approach Challenging The Role of Animal Shelters.For Shelter Dogs. Kerri Burns, President of the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, retired fromRealize Bradenton oversees the her post on July 2 after two years at the helm. We challenged the histori-Downtown Bradenton Farmers cal role of animal shelters in this community. No longer will we buildMarket, the second Saturday of each large warehouses for homeless animals. Instead, we are focusing our limitedmonth, October through May. during resources on finding ways for animals whothe last season, the Market partnered have homes to keep those homes, said Burns.with Manatee County Animal Services The leadership team that she assembled isto help provide further exposure for remaininginplace.AnInterimExecutiveadoptable dogs. 32 volunteers signed Committee will ensure continuity of the suc-up to man the booth during the six cess of the organization and will be comprisedFarmers Markets. ofRebeccaRhoades,DVM,CAWA,ViceOver a six-month period (starting President of Operations; Sean Hawkins, Vicelast December), six dogs were adopted PresidentofPhilanthropy&Marketing;andand $829 was raised for Animal FrailyRodriguez,VicePresidentofNetwork Fund which helped provide Community Initiatives.money for heartworm treatment.BurnshasjoinedthenewlyformedFor more information, contact CommunityAnimalWelfareAdvisoryCaryn Hodge, Picture Them Adopted Board, serving as a volunteer.Kerri Burns with her dog, www.PetAllianceOrlando.org Ufounder, at 941.713.3105. U Dumpling.22 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'