Lauren Smith Kennedy: End of Life Pet Photographer

27/08/2024

Today we said goodbye to Snoopy at Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home. I captured some final moments before he was set free of pain. Thank you to Dr. Jason Doll of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice for helping us today.

A bit more on Snoopy via Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home: "It is with deep sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of Snoopy's passing today. 💔 Snoopy joined the Finally Home family two and a half years ago and quickly became beloved by everyone he met. His playful spirit, love for wrestling, and knack for tearing apart toys, stuffing, and all, brought so much joy to our lives. While he was 13.5 years old, most days he acted half that age and surely acted like the beagle he was by always following his nose and never turning down a treat. He was silly, sweet, and full of love. He was such a good boy.

As you may recall in our update yesterday, Snoopy's health took a sudden turn this week. He became lethargic, stopped eating and drinking, and was in severe pain. His declined continued overnight. Today, Dr. Jason Doll from Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice came to the house. Together, with his insight and evaluation, we knew it was time to set Snoopy free from his pain. We carried him outside, where he became alert enough to enjoy some final sniffs in the breeze. Surrounded by love and praise, Snoopy gently fell asleep.

Snoopy will be dearly missed, but we find comfort in knowing he is no longer in pain and has joined the other dogs who have passed before him. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and for donating towards his care- the funds will still be used towards the cost of his recent visit.

Please note, Snoopy is sedated in the black and white photo, and resting comfortably."

21/03/2024

Hi all- I am in Chicago doing some work for The Tilly Project Just wanted to give a heads up that I have some availability to do sessions in the Logan Square area tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday before noon.

Please send a message if you are in the area and looking to capture some memories 🧡

20/03/2024

Legacy session with 4-year-old Zoey 🧡

Today I spent the afternoon capturing Zoey and her family. Zoey, who loves affection, soaked up every moment of being loved on. During the session, Zoey's mom, Brittany, took a moment to make ink paw prints as a way to forever memorialize her. The end of the session was ended as two close friends showed up to offer support. This included close family friend, Abbey, as well as Zoey's walker (and friend) Anna. They joined in in a group photo where they showered Zoey with some final snuggles.

Brittany, Zoey’s mom, took a moment to share a few words about their girl and her journey: “11 weeks ago today, Zoey suffered a freak and traumatic spinal cord injury, which we couldn’t pinpoint. She had surgery shortly after we figured out what was wrong. After the initial 2 weeks of rest, we spent the next 9 weeks attending twice a week physical therapy, weekly acupuncture, and at home therapies as well. Things began to decline about a week ago, when she showed us she was tired, painful, and ready to rest. We spent the day trying to let her feel as normal as possible, while documenting some precious final moments.

No amount of time would have ever been enough.”

Later in the day, Zoey was given the final gift of compassion and was set free of pain. Dr. Jason Doll of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice helped Zoey and her family.

10/02/2024

I am available for several sessions this weekend if needed in the Portland area 🧡 please send me a message to set something up.

08/02/2024

Recently I had the honor of photographing Zephyr and honoring the love that he shared with this family, and that his family shared with him. Shortly after our session, Zephyr was gifted the ultimate gift of compassion by his family, and is no longer in pain. Julie, Zephyr's wonderful mom, wrote a few very sweet words about her boy. Please take a moment to learn a bit more of the life and love of Zephyr through the person who knew him best:

"Today I’m 40. It’s also the first morning without my constant companion of 16 years knocking everything off my bedside table to demand a snuggle - and more importantly- breakfast. I feel like I’ve had a limb chopped off. A vital part of myself carved out and taken away. Even at the end, Zeph was so gentle and sweet and GOOD, allowing me to carry him where he needed to go, supporting his body at the bowl and water dish and litter box.

Zephyr was simply the BEST cat, but he was also my cat. He knew the sound of MY car pulling up, MY footsteps up the stairs, MY keys in the lock. He loved snuggling in MY legs as I read in bed at night. He loved food - and stole his fair share of sausages, chicken legs, and even a hamburger off the stove, and would sit next to us and try to redirect our ice cream spoons to his mouth. Whipped cream? You better be prepared. In the end, he didn't want food but a Churu was never turned down.

We’d been together since I was 24. Just a year out of college. How incredible is that? We found him and Zeb ditched as kittens on the side of the road near my mom's house and while Zeb required coaxing and a bucket to catch him with, and hid behind a wood pile for 24 hours, Zephyr practically jumped into my mom's arms, allowing her to carry him home like a baby. We caught Zeb first, and when we brought Zephyr home you could tell how relieved Zeb was. Zephyr always had big brother energy, despite Zeb's many attempts to usurp his authority.

As we grew up, he moved with us to Beverly, to Pittsburgh, to Philly, and to Maine (with a big sigh of relief that those 10-14 hour car rides were finally over). His and Zeb’s relationship took its turns, but in the end we know they were connected - Zeb didn’t eat for 2 days until this morning and has been sleeping in Zephyr's spot on the couch.

Zephyr was a party cat. Raised by two humans who, at 23 & 24 enjoyed filling their apartment with loud, loving people fueled by too much PBR. Because of this, he LOVED company. Specifically my brother and our friends the Sams/Steplers - who I think he would have gone home with if allowed.

Thank you Lauren, earth angel, for coming to our home on such late notice to take these pictures for us. I didn't know when I reached out that this would be our last morning together and I'm so thankful to have these final images of my sweet boy.

Wherever he is, I hope he’s the most cozy and no longer in pain.

Hopefully having a well-earned snack and watching the squirrels. And waiting for me.🌈

Zephyr. Zephie. Zeph. Mr. Baby. Schnickelfritz. Nuggs. Sweet baby. I love you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you."

22/01/2024

🧡 What an honor to meet so many new connections and friends! Looking forward to the year ahead and some big goals.

03/01/2024

12 days away from VMX!!!!! 🥳 This will be a life-changing experience which will put The Tilly Project in front of over 25,000 veterinary professionals and animal-loving individuals. If you have $5 to spare, I would be so incredibly appreciative of a small donation. Since this is a HUGE tradeshow, it is EXPENSIVE- right down to the chairs and tables! All donations will help spread the word of this passion project turned into an international 501(c)(3) helping thousands of pet families navigating anticipatory grief and bereavement!

Venmo:
Paypal: paypal.me/thetillyproject
Or: https://givebutter.com/thetillyproject

Go to paypal.me/thetillyproject and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.

30/11/2023

Holiday photoshoot for my favorite festive pups at Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home!

15/11/2023

23/10/2023

Last Monday I had an incredible opportunity to teach an end-of-life pet photography lesson at a dog photography workshop hosted by Venture With Dogs - Maine's Award Winning Pet Photographer and Gone To the Dogs Photography in Vermont. I was so thankful for this experience; not only was I able to share a bit more of end-of-life pet photography and how I do what I do, I was able to learn from fellow photographers! During the workshop, we had a handsome model named Gabriel (and his wonder family member, Charlene) who gave photographers the chance to apply what they had learned, try new approaches, etc. While Gabriel does have that sugar muzzle, he is not end-of-life. In the words of Sir Ken Robinson, "collaboration is the stuff of knowledge" and I felt so honored to learn a lesson from all involved! I hope I was able to add meaningful insight in return.

13/10/2023

By Dr. Ken Gorczyca, DVM

11/10/2023

So thrilled to share that Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home has been featured in Newsweek 🥳

This is my second time working with them, and I feel so fortunate to have my photographs and video published again. What a dream! But even more exciting than that is such an amazing organization being showcased! 🧡

"The dogs are adopted into our home, and remain here until it is their time to pass on," the shelter's founder told Newsweek.

16/09/2023

A recent photo I took for Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home of one of our pups, Bama!

The ASPCA shares that on average, senior dogs have a 25% adoption rate, as opposed to the 60% adoption rate of younger dogs and puppies. At Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue and Retirement Home, we are dedicated to ensuring senior dogs find the forever home they deserve, whether that be with our own permanent residents at our house, or through partnering with local rescues to ensure awareness and assist with placements.

Every senior animal deserves a safe spot filled with a family who loves them to rest for the remainder of their lives- no matter how short, or how long they have left.

Here is a Bama, one of our own permanent pups of Finally Home, who was a rescue from down south.

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Finally Home is a 501(c)(3) organization located in North Yarmouth, ME, that provides a loving home to homeless senior dogs, pledging to provide these dogs with nutritious food, quality veterinary care, and anything else that these dogs could want or need to comfort them during the final days or years of their lives.

Learn more about us by visiting: https://www.finallyhomemaine.org/

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Want to support the dogs of Finally Home Maine? Donate today: https://givebutter.com/finallyhomemaine

Venmo:
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=THYCSDDKEYNH8

15/09/2023

Disclaimer: this was not an EOL shoot! Today I was so incredibly honored to meet Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy. and family! 🧡

As shared on his website (pigletmindset.org) “Piglet was rescued from a hoarding situation in Georgia when he was a newborn puppy. While Piglet was fortunate to have found a devoted loving family, there are many dogs like him still looking for their forever homes. Through our social media pages, Piglet has become an ambassador for disabled rescued animals.”

What an absolute treat…even if it was for only a few minutes!!! Here are just a few of our memories created.

14/09/2023

The Tilly Project has over 1,700 photographers across the world and GROWING! When I first started this organization, having a respectful and safe space for our grief community were two core values that I would build the organization on. I’d be silly to say that I don’t recognize competition happening within the photography world- but it fills my heart to see within The Tilly Project: End-of-Life Pet Photography Network so many instances of community over competition; photographers asking for assistance if they aren’t able to photograph a family with an urgent timeline, commenting on each others work with kindness, checking in on how they are doing after a particularly difficult shoot, offering guidance to our new members or those just starting out their photography journey.

As I’ve often shared, when I first started this journey, I noticed so much gatekeeping and weird competition within the pet loss community. Grief in general is a topic that isn’t spoken about enough- pet loss and grief even less!

This topic is hard. It’s not one that you want to think about or talk about. But what happens when that time arrives? Well, I can tell you that with anticipatory pet loss/grief, and photography…The Tilly Project is here. We’ve got you.

🧡

- Executive Director,
Lauren Smith Kennedy: End of Life Pet Photographer

TheTillyProject.org

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The Tilly Project is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to connect pet owners with end-of-life pet photographers across the world and to provide accessible, educational, and supportive resources for photography, anticipatory grief, and pet loss/bereavement.

Original image by Krystal Shuga Photography

10/09/2023

"Go follow your heart, dear Zombie. I'll follow mine, and we'll always be together, here in this time." 🧡

Yesterday I did a Celebration of Life Session with 13-year-old Zombie and his sweet family. We captured his favorites spots around his home, getting love from his favorite people, and of course, sharing snacks with his cat pal. Zombie passed away peacefully today.

Christina, seen in the photos in the yellow dress, has had Zombie his whole life. Who better to share a few words about this sweet pup than someone who knows his soul best? She tenderly shares:

"Zombie came into my life serendipitous, as I simply fell in love with his huge ears and scruffy little beard instantly upon seeing his photo. Sure enough, my instincts proved right, as after meeting him off the rescue truck from Mississippi the very next day, I was charmed not just by his cute face, but by his old soul, a clear characteristic at even just 4 months of age. Zombie taught me so much with his quiet charms, affable yet quirky nature, and loyalty. Sometimes things worked perfectly, sometimes we struggled. But we stuck together, and followed our hearts.

This September marked 13 years of journeying through this life together. Over the past year as he aged rapidly, and I struggled to know what was right for him, and for us. But by watching him closely, and by listening to him with my whole heart, I was led to some of the best end of life journeys I could have imagined. I wanted Zombie's last moments to be as joyous as his mischievous grin could be, not somber. We had an amazing celebratory last day together as a family, from a special pancake breakfast, to a gentle hike through our forested land, and even a dramatic thunderstorm in the evening, which Zombie did not love, but gave us the opportunity to comfort him on our last night together. There were special and tender moments throughout the day as we recounted memories, fed him treats, and gave ourselves space to have our feelings. Lauren graciously became part of our day by visiting to take some beautiful photos of us, joyously all together as a family, one last time, with words of encouragement to keep following our hearts. I woke up in the night and sat with Zombie, unable to sleep as I pondered this new path my friend would be going on without me. As I sat with him, the candle lighting the room burned out. Zombie sighed, and I just knew, in my heart, that everyone was ready, and it was time.
We walked one more time down the still dark dirt road to our beautiful misty field at dawn, watched the deer wake and take their leave, and sat with Zombie under the old beech tree that was covered in moss. He peacefully settled into his bed, and we were able to hold him and tell him how much we loved him, and thank him for these wonderful years, as he comfortably left this life behind. We cried, covered his body in flowers, and loved on him some more. It couldn't have been a more beautiful morning, or a more beautiful goodbye.

I am so endlessly grateful for the support of my family to follow my heart regarding our goodbye to Zombie, and the support of the Lauren with The Tilly Project, as well my dear friend & family veterinarian, Haven Veterinary Hospice and Senior Care, which allowed us to be comfortably at home with our dear friend in our last moments together.

Go follow your heart, dear Zombie. I'll follow mine, and we'll always be together, here in this time."

17/08/2023

We are thrilled to announce that the Tilly Project is going to the NAVC Veterinary Meeting + Expo (VMX) in Orlando from Jan 13-17, 2024! This is being made possible by our amazing sponsor: Euthabag! 🎉

This is an INCREDIBLE opportunity for our organization to connect and share with veterinary professionals and provide information on how the families they serve can utilize the Tilly Project as a resource. In 2023, there were over 25,000 professionals in attendance. Representing our nonprofit booth will be founder, Lauren Smith Kennedy, and the Tilly Project Board of Directors (Neil Skillin and Kellie Smith).

Now comes time for our next step: fundraising for print/marketing materials, and room and lodge.

Will you consider donating $5? Your donation will help us share the mission of the Tilly Project. Click here to donate specifically to this campaign: https://givebutter.com/jYkZkd
OR:
Venmo:
Paypal: paypal.me/thetillyproject

The Tilly Project is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to connect pet owners with end-of-life pet photographers across the world and to provide accessible, educational, and supportive resources for photography, anticipatory grief, and pet loss/bereavement.

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Learn more about our sponsors: https://www.euthabag.com/

"Before EUTHABAG, there were no functional alternatives to plastic bags. Pet owners care about how their pet’s body will be handled after they pass.

Veterinarians now have a professional and practical solution for the transportation, cremation, and burial of deceased pets. Most importantly, a solution that is respectful for the animal and their caregiver." Via EUTHABAG

20/07/2023

Thank you to the Canine Culture Podcast for having me on your podcast to talk about The Tilly Project and pet loss/grief! I will let folks know when the episode comes out 🧡

14/07/2023

Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home is having an Open House! tomorrow! If you aren't able to attend the event and come hang out (I'll be there! More info on the event page) I will be going LIVE on our Instgram from 1-2! You can view this by going to our instagram page:

Finally Home is a 501(c)(3) organization located in North Yarmouth, ME, that provides a loving home to homeless senior dogs, pledging to provide these dogs with nutritious food, quality veterinary care, and anything else that these dogs could want or need to comfort them during the final days or years of their lives.

We have a very exciting announcement...we will be on Instagram LIVE from 1-2 tomorrow at the Open House! 🎉You can find us on Instagram as

We realize that many of our supporters who want to be at this event are either too far away, or aren't able to attend. Our manager of communications, Lauren Smith Kennedy:, will be hosting the live, showing you around, and answering your questions. So, with that, please leave some questions for us that you have below!!

03/07/2023

Celebration of life for 14-year-old Pumba. 🧡

Sometimes the words families share with me about their beloved pet so eloquently their love better than I ever could. So with that, I share Krystal’s words about their best boy, Pumba:

“Man's Best Friend is only the beginning when we think of Pumba.

Our protector: with his big voice, he always lets us know when anyone or anything is at the door or near.

Our gentleman: he lets his little brother take the big bowl and the big bed, waits so patiently for "Go!" to eat whatever Jon has balanced on his nose, gently rests his head on our lap when we give him his favorite behind the ear scratches.

The most loyal: the never-leaves-your-side fellow traveler, endlessly waiting and searching for dad especially.

Thank you for being the best in every way, buddy. We love you so much.”