MUTTS the Book is launching at Full Stop Café, Parktown, Johannesburg on Sunday, November 19 at 3pm.

Created by award winning dog photographer Emma O’Brien, Mutts the Book features portraits and stories of 70 adopted shelter dogs who have found new homes in spite of the odds stacked against them because they don’t conform to a specific breed standard.

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O’Brien is a passionate advocate for rescue dog adoption and after regularly volunteering at Sandton SPCA and Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW) she became aware of the problems that face mixed breed dogs when they end up at shelters.

The main aim of Mutts the Book is turn the misconceptions about mixed breed dogs around. Far from being ordinary or inferior, readers will learn about the unique characteristics that make mutts wonderful family companions.

Emma said, shelters in South Africa are overflowing with dogs that are often overlooked by potential adoptees because they don’t fit a breed standard and are perceived to be inferior and less desirable than a pure breed Labrador for example.

Over 500 dogs are put to sleep in this country every day, most of them will be mixed breed dogs like the ones in the book.  This is something I’d like to change.

Sales proceeds from the book are being split between Sandton SPCA and Community Led Animal Welfare  (CLAW) to assist them with their ongoing work and as well as raising funds, Emma hopes that by challenging preconceptions about shelter dogs, Mutts will encourage more people to consider adopting a dog rather than buying one.

Mutts the book will be available to buy at the launch as well as being stocked in book stores nationwide.

You can also purchase online at www.emmaobrien.photography

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