HSMC has partnered with the Wausau Police Department to feature adoptable pets with our men and women in uniform. We find value in highlighting the individuality of our four-legged shelter guests and the two-legged members of our community who are protecting and serving us each day.
We are currently working solely with the Wausau Police Department on this venture but have hopes of reaching other departments in the future; the more the merrier!
Officers who are interested in participating in a photo session sign up for available dates and arrive to the shelter in uniform (and if we’re lucky they will have their marked squad car as well!). We like to start out with a quick Q+A about the officer’s time with the department, what they like most about the job and of course, if they have any of their own (or adopted) pets at home.
From there, the fun begins!
I like to ask if the officer has a preference as to what type of pet they are photographed with. Sometimes we have a special circumstance where I am coming forward with a specific request (take the infamous guinea pig shoot for example) and need a willing participant who will go the extra mile with me. From there, I try to match the officer with a pet they will feel comfortable with as well as one who will cooperate and benefit from the feature and photos. It can be a period of trial and error, but we always find the one.
We spend a period of time without the camera where the officer and the adoptable can get to know one another. The out of kennel time is always exciting and high energy, so it’s a great opportunity for the pet to decompress and for me to explain to the officer what type of photos I’ll be looking for and what I’ll be expecting behind the camera. When we all feel ready, the magic happens! I like to have a variety of shoot locations so we might start in a visitation room but end up outside in driveway, play yard or even the squad car.
I think my favorite part is getting to know the officers better; often times our interactions with the police are limited during the hustle and bustle of a busy shelter day when they may out to drop off a stray, but this project allows for the time to slow down, chat and get to know the person behind the uniform. I also LOVE to see how both the officer and the shelter pet let their walls down with each other and how quickly a friendship is born.
You can see future Adopt with a Cop sessions on our Facebook page but for now, I’ll share our most recent session with adoptable Priscilla and Lieutenant John Phillips.
“Let’s get to know adoptable Priscilla + Lieutenant John Phillips!
Priscilla has been calling the shelter her temporary home since arriving as a stray at the end of October and to be honest, we can’t believe she’s still here! She is dog, cat and kid friendly and definitely a volunteer (and staff) favorite. Her favorite thing to do after a potty break is curl up on one of the visitation room couches and nap. We just know the right family is out there and she has been waiting so patiently.
Lieutenant John Phillips has been with the department for 15 years (Priscialla was impressed) and is a Patrol Lieutenant as well as the Lead Tactical Instructor and member of the Mobile Field Force Team. Lieutenant Phillips enjoys that every day on the job is different, with new challenges and new people. He says you can find the right dog to adopt if you look hard enough, having two adopted dogs in his own home. He was hoping his hound at home wouldn’t be too jealous of the time he spent with Priscilla!
Thank you Lieutenant Phillips for your service to our community and for spending some time getting to know Priscilla. She’s got her paws crossed that these photos will get her to adoption day. (And no, she didn’t get arrested- she just wanted to be able to tell her shelter dog friends that she got to sit in the back of a squad car)
