The Small, the Furry and the Voiceless: A Volunteer Finds Unexpected Love

Almost anyone can take adorable pictures of cats and dogs but making a rat look cute and cuddly? That takes special talent. 

Several months ago, Julie Martin had never even held a pocket pet. As an animal lover and pet parent of two rescue dogs (pictured above), she wondered if her photography hobby could be useful to SPCA Tampa Bay.

"There were some really talented people already photographing the cats and dogs, so I was asked to do pocket pets," she says. "I had never touched a single one of these animals before!"

Julie visits SPCA for a few hours each week with handmade props, doll accessories and seasonally-themed wood pieces that her husbands carves for the photos. "I think it's cute to give them personality," she says. She also dedicates time to edit the photos and add them to the SPCA website to catch the interest of potential adopters.

Whether it's a ferret on a mini handmade couch, a guinea pig with a handbag or bunnies in tiny cowboy hats, it's clear from her photos that Julie is having a blast all while doing her part to help her furry friends. Still, she warns, the job is not without hazards. "Bring lots of back-drops, because everything pees on everything," she says, laughing. 

Julie is one of the many valued volunteers who helps keep SPCA running smoothly. She finds it rewarding and reminds others, "The littlest of commitment can make a huge difference in the organization...whether you like to walk dogs or take pictures of rats."



If you are interested in volunteering, visit https://spcatampabay.org/volunteer/