Mike Hockley may not be able to communicate with animals like Dr. Dolittle did on the big screen, but he’s still one of their biggest champions.
Hockley runs Dr. Do A Little Photography as a personal project. His photos, which he takes free of charge, are credited with helping animals in need find their furever homes.
Photography has been a hobby of his for 55 years. He says he started out as a child using black and white film and developing his own photos.
With a passion for both photography and animals, Hockley just wanted to help out however he could.
“I went to the spca one day and said ‘I'm a photographer and would you like some help taking pictures of your animals and see if we can help get them adopted,’” explained Hockley. “And they said certainly, and I've been going there pretty much every week.”
He’s been taking portraits of animals waiting to be adopted at the Penticton SPCA for three years now, and has been doing the same at Critteraid for about one year.
"He has an incredible talent for weaving cute little stories about our animals," says Jess Byer of Critteraid. "He is a give your shirt off your back kind of person. He is super kind, is always thinking about others and has a talent for taking photos. He's an incredible human being."
"He's helped capture some of our more special needs kitties. Some who have been here for three years have gotten homes," she adds.
“I love animals and there are a lot of animals that are in bad circumstances and need help and they don't have a lot of people to campaign for them,” Hockley said.
The photos do seem to help in finding homes for the numerous cats and dogs at the shelters, not to mention other creatures from birds to ferrets.
He says that being able to provide some assistance to shelters gives him a mixed bag of emotions.
“It's mixed emotions. You feel good that you're helping, you feel sad to see animals in such a situation – nobody wanting them,” Hockley said.
One of his favourite animals he has had the pleasure of photographing so far might be familiar to some Okanagan residents – Mr. Banks at Critteraid.
"I come and talk to him and play with him as best you can a pig. They're very intelligent and probably as smart as dogs, or smarter in some cases,” he adds.
After seeing the many animals that come through the shelter, Hockley just wants to remind people to be responsible pet owners, as it’s both “an undertaking of love” and a financial commitment.
If you’re thinking about adopting an animal, you can follow his photography page, check in with the BC SPCA or local animal shelters like Critteraid.
Critteraid has an adoption event this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If interested, please call (250) 488-3226 ahead of time.
NowMedia also features a Furever Home Finder series where you can get to know some adoptable pets.
