There’s a popular park in Raleigh, North Carolina that many families enjoy called Landfill Park. There are bike paths, playgrounds, picnic areas and trails to walk your dog.
The park also has a history that many people are unaware of, but that was recently highlighted by a simple chalk message on one of the park’s paths. It read: “This landfill is the permanent resting place of over 25,000 unwanted shelter dogs. If that bothers you, please adopt one today. #AdoptDontShop.”
Landfill Park was an active dump for 14 years before it closed in 2008. It was also the place where Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) brought its euthanized animals to be buried. Knowing the park’s darker history, one photographer has chosen it as the backdrop for a photographic project that aims to save unwanted shelter animals at the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC).
Photographer Shannon Johnstone has been photographing shelter dogs in Landfill Park since 2010 and calls her photographic project “Landfill Dogs”. The images “showcase the beautiful souls of the most overlooked dogs”.
She takes dogs like Jean Grey there. “Jean Grey has been in the rescue system for over 500 days. Originally she came into WCAC, but is currently in rescue and foster care with Merit Pit Bull.”
Or dogs like Bella, who has been waiting 255 plus days for a home. Bella is a beautiful, young Pointer mix who is an energetic, happy-go-lucky girl looking for a home that will have time and energy to play with her.
Look who we have here! This is Bella and she is still looking for her home.
Here is her bio:
Hello all. My name is…Posted by Landfill Dogs on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Johnstone wanted to spotlight the dogs in danger of being euthanized against the landfill where thousands upon thousands of their predecessors now reside. Seeing the dogs happily smiling and playing in the park adds an extra poignancy and urgency to her photos.
And the photos have been effective. Of the 153 dogs Johnstone has photographed, 132 have ended up in loving homes. But Johnstone and other volunteers know their work is never done as there are new dogs arriving at Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) every single day.
Good friends Marlon and Ruby wishing you sweet dreams!
Ruby is a very special dog who has been at the shelter since…
Posted by Landfill Dogs on Saturday, September 19, 2015
We all know shelters are filled with unwanted pets who are euthanized, but we don’t often think about where these animals go after they have been put down. Something as simple as a chalk message is a powerful reminder that there are overcrowded shelters throughout the country in need of volunteers and adoptive families.
Share this reminder with your family and friends!
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