8-Year-Old Volunteers Capture Rescue Pets’ Photos to Aid Adoption Efforts

Jamie Smart won the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards last year

An eight-year-old from Mid Wales who won last year’s RSPCA Young Photographer Awards has volunteered her skills to take pictures of rescue pets to help them find homes.

Jamie Smart, from Powys, took her camera along to the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Centre in Birmingham on Wednesday 31 January to take snaps of the rescue pets in need of homes.

The eight-year-old talented photographer, known online as Eagle Eyed Girl, volunteered her time as she wanted to help animals who have been abandoned, or cruelly treated get their second chance at happiness in loving new homes.

The Birmingham-based center rehomed 737 animals last year – but hopes to rehome even more this year thanks to Jamie’s photography skills. 

Deborah Caffull, RSPCA Newbrook Farm Animal Centre Manager, said: “We were so grateful to Jamie for coming along and taking some absolutely stunning photographs of the animals in our care, from dogs to cats to rabbits. We’re so busy at the center looking after the animals so the team is over the moon to have her support as it goes a long way to helping us find homes when we have stunning pictures to help promote them. 

“By using her images we are confident we will soon find homes for the animals, and this was an amazing gift for the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary this year.”

Eight-year-old Jamie, who won the RSPCA’s photography competition in December with her image of a turkey called Frederick, is committed to wildlife and animal photography and hopes to help inspire other children to learn about animals through her photos.

Jamie said: “I loved doing the photo shoot and really enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot from the experience. All the people there were really nice and friendly and helpful.

“The animals did really well since it was their first-ever photo shoot! I hope they all find new homes very soon.”

Pets available for rehoming – as photographed by Jamie

Mr Chips

Mr. Chips is a three-year-old black and white cat who was abandoned at the gates of the animal center in Birmingham. Luckily, he was found by one of the vets coming into work otherwise he would have been there all night in the freezing cold.

He was quite shy when he first arrived and would hide a lot but with a little time and lots of reassurance, he is now gaining confidence and doesn’t hide at all now. He has a very sweet nature, is very chatty, gentle and loving. He enjoys playtime and will need to be able to go outside and explore. He’d prefer to be the only cat in the home and could live with families with secondary school-aged children or older.

Diamond 

Diamond is a brown one-year-old crossbreed rabbit who was previously living in a home with crowded and unsuitable conditions. Diamond is quite shy but is gradually gaining her confidence. Her favorite thing to do is explore all of her enrichment and run around the floor doing zoomies as fast as she can. She is looking for an experienced owner who has the time and patience to let her settle in at her own pace. She isn’t a cuddly bun but is happy sitting next or near you especially if there’s food on offer. She previously lived with a male rabbit and would like to live with another rabbit friend in her new home.

Pots 

Pots is a four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross who sadly has not had the best start in life as she was rescued from a home where she was neglected. However, despite this, she is an incredibly affectionate dog. Pots is looking for a home where she will finally get the love and respect she deserves. She is full of fun and lots of character as she bonds very strongly with people which means she may struggle if she is left on her own. She will be an amazing companion for someone who is around a lot of the time to help her gradually build up to being left for short periods. 

She would like to be the only dog in the home, although she does get on well with some other dogs. She would like a quiet home and could live with families with secondary school children or older. 

Leo 

Leo is a grey one-year-old Lionhead rabbit who was sadly abandoned at the animal center in Birmingham. He is quite an independent boy and prefers spending his time chilling in his outside run and coming in for feeding time – veggies are a great way to make friends with him. He will happily binky around his pod and come over for a quick hello.

Leo will need an experienced rabbit owner who already has a female bun for the company.

Meatball 

Jamie also snapped pictures of white and ginger five-year-old cat Meatball who arrived at the centre in November suffering from severe skin disease caused by fleas. With a simple flea treatment and a course of antibiotics, he was soon looking much better. Since the stunning snaps of this friendly cat were taken, Meatball has since found a loving home.

If you’re interested in adopting any of these pets, please contact the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Centre in Birmingham on 0300 123 8585.

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