Shelter Pets Project photographer, Tammy Swarek, to exhibit photos at arts center

EL DORADO — Photographer Tammy Swarek of El Dorado, who, along with Tammy Michael of El Dorado, created the Shelter Pets Project, will be exhibiting her photos at the South Arkansas Arts Center Thursday through March 29. An artist’s reception will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Friday at the arts center, 110 E. Fifth St., El Dorado. The public is invited to attend.

Shelter Pets Project was formed to increase animal adoption rates, as well as change the perception of rescue animals. Through fashion and photography, Swarek and Michael turn each shelter pup into a “designer dog” and highlight their unique personality. Swarek said the goal is to photograph every dog – all 300 of them – at the Union County Animal Protection Society shelter in El Dorado.

Swarek and Murphy USA created a 2017 UCAPS calendar to showcase several of the dogs at the shelter and all the proceeds from calendar sales went to provide necessary items for animals at the shelter.

Many of the “designer dogs” photographed by Swarek can be seen in Vanity Fair, Vogue Italia, the New York Post and several other publications in the world. World famous designers Joan Kelly and Anthony Rubio, both of New York City, have donated their designs for the project. She said roughly 60 to 70 percent of the dogs photographed at UCAPS have either been adopted, have adoptions pending or have been transported to other shelters nationwide.

For more information about adopting a shelter pet at UCAPS, or donating to provide necessary food, medicine and other supplies needed at the shelter, call 870-862-0502. The shelter is open to the public from noon until 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The email address is ucaps1@ yahoo.com.