Key Points
- Mike Ruiz said he started the calendars to “bring attention to the plight of animals in rescue”.
- Animal shelters in Australia are stretched with many abandoning their dogs due to cost-of-living pressures or time constraints.
- RSPCA Victoria reported a 340 per cent increase in call-outs in three years.
Bodybuilders are baring their muscles and posing half-naked alongside adorable puppies to encourage donations and adoptions from rescue shelters.
The Hunks and Hounds calendar showcases chiselled physiques next to rescue dogs each year and in 2024 is celebrating a decade of saving lives and spreading awareness for rescue animals.
Celebrity photographer and dog rescue advocate Mike Ruiz said he started the calendars to “bring attention to the plight of animals in rescue” and raise funds for animal shelters.
Emily Gear, founder of Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue, has partnered with Ruiz for the initiative and said animal shelters all over America are at capacity.
It’s a similar story in Australia, where many are surrendering their pets at an increasing rate, with RSPCA Victoria reporting a 340 per cent increase in call-outs in three years.
Animal shelters are stretched as Australians abandon dogs due to cost-of-living pressures or time constraints, with many returning to work and unable to take care of their pets after adopting them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In New South Wales, the Animal Welfare League has an eight-month waiting list for surrendering pets and a jump of about 34 per cent over the last few years of animals coming into the league for care.
Ruiz says producing the calendar has led to thousands of dogs being saved.
“It’s been ten years now and I’m just really proud of it because we’ve been able to save thousands of dogs by producing this calendar,” he said.
Some of the dogs featured in the 2024 edition are from shelters or adopted by those working in animal welfare. But not all wanted to be photographed.
“Often we tend to get more dogs for the shoot just because some don’t like to be photographed. And, you know, we certainly don’t want to stress a dog out. They’ve been through enough already.”
Gear hopes the calendars will encourage people to adopt animals from shelters, with many euthanised.
“People are not adopting any more right now … They’re adopting some, but they’re not adopting at the rate that they were adopting before COVID,” Gear said.
“And so animals are sitting in shelters for much longer and longer lengths of stay, which is the time periods they are there.
“And, they’re developing all kinds of behaviour issues and things like that, which makes them less adoptable, which means more and more animals keep building up at the shelter – and it’s heartbreaking.”
– With Reuters