By Sarah V Schweig, The Dodo
Anyone who has ever tried to convince even one dog to sit still for a photo knows just how difficult it can be — but one woman has managed to do the impossible with — wait for it — 11 dogs.Melissa Lentz, who fosters dogs through Releash Atlanta, told The Dodo in a rundown about who is in this photo.
"Top from left: Mia, Pancake, Paxton," Lentz said. "Bottom from left: Benji, Gizmo, Alex, Penny, Donny, Lula, Monroe and Rudy."
Lentz added that seven of the depicted dogs are fosters waiting for homes, while "Gizmo, Donny, Monroe and Rudy are mine," she said.
Even more remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that that perfect portrait is far from a one-time fluke.
"I have tons of these photos," Lentz said.
Sometimes, Lentz even manages to join the pack for that perfect shot.
But how does she get such perfect family portraits — something that's hard enough even for humans?
Lentz's secret seems to have to do with the particular relationships she forms with the dogs. One can almost see the bond reflected in the way the dogs look at her as she's snapping the photos.
"I literally just put them on the couch one by one and they situate themselves!" Lentz said. "I don’t use food [or] treats or anything. I just tell them to look at me."
The pictures aren't only adorable — they're also pretty emotional, since they capture the fosters at a very important time in their lives — when they're learning how to be comfortable in a home with the longer-term hopes that they'll soon find forever homes of their own.
Thankfully, they've landed with this dog whisperer to help them on their journey. You can inquire about adopting a dog through Releash Atlanta. You can also help support the organization's rescue work by making a donation.
