Hounds of Hope: Life at the Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS)

• Prize
• Photographer
  Julie McGuire British born Julie McGuire's passion for photography began in her teenage years and developed into a full time love affair in 2005 when she and her American husband 'outsourced' thems, India

Hounds of Hope documents daily life at the Penang Animal Welfare Society, Malaysia, where German retiree Barbara Janssen lives with her 250+ rescued canine companions. Many of the dogs have been dumped at the shelter or are there as a result of Barbara responding to rescue calls. The dogs live alone or in packs in one of the many rooms of this ‘fixer upper’ property, each looking for a small space to call their own. Barbara relies solely on the help of donations and volunteers to run the shelter, raising funds and awareness through dog washing days, community events, and adoption fairs. All the dogs are spayed and neutered and provided with the necessary veterinary care, either long term or until they are lucky enough to be adopted. From humble beginnings in 2005 when she took in a couple of dogs at her Penang apartment to 2010 when she set up her ‘hotel for dogs,’ it is clear that Barbara lives, breathes, and, above all, loves dogs. While her efforts haven’t improved the overall condition for all the dogs of Penang, she has certainly changed the lives of the individual dogs she cares for.