Photographers take pictures of dying pets

There comes a time in every pet’s life when it’s time to say goodbye, but photographers around the world are helping people preserve the memories of their loved ones.

It is an everlasting memory.

“Photographing a pet is a kind of closure for these families,” Ashley Carroll said.

She is a photographer for The Tilly Project, named after the creator’s cat, who died unexpectedly.

The goal of the project is to provide families with photos of their pets when they reach old age or become ill.

Founded in Maine in the summer of 2021, the project has since expanded worldwide.

“I love photographing animals at the end of their lives. It’s one of my favorite things to photograph,” Carroll said. “I know what these families are going through and I just want to help them in any way I can.”

Carroll works in veterinary medicine, so she sees a lot of clients there, but she also offers free photo shoots for end-of-life pets.

His most recent interview was with Mackenzie Lawrence, her son Cason and their 14-year-old dog, Max.

“I think it’s a memory that you capture, it’s something that you’ll have for the rest of your life and hold on to, so it’s important,” Lawrence said.

Max is one of more than 100 pets Carroll has photographed over the past three years.

“No family should go without these types of photos,” Carroll said.

Lawrence plans to hang the photos in her home and create an album for her son to enjoy when he’s older.

“I think it’s very sentimental because we always take pictures with families and weddings and events, but the dogs are really part of our family. So I know for us it’s important to capture those memories as well,” Lawrence said.

The Tilly Project has photographers located throughout New York, the United States, and other countries. Click here to find one near you.