Maggie Epling knew that she wanted to give back during her summer break from college.

There, she used her camera tosnap portraits of cats and dogsand paid particular focus on black shelter animals.

The results are striking glamour shots of cats and dogs in search of their forever home.

Photo of a Black Dog

Pike County Animal Shelter was happy to have her, and she got to work.

Black cats, in particular, suffer from this because of theenduring superstitionthat they will be bad luck.

The photos proved a success; the images have drawn attention to the animals in need.

Photo of a Black Dog

To illustrate this, she tells the story of a dog named Tiny.

I love how focused she looks because that’s how she isshe’s a determined little dog!

The photo of Tiny encapsulates what Epling wants to achieve while volunteering.

Photo of a Black Dog

Maggie Epling knew that she wanted to give back during her summer break from college.

Epling used her talents to snap pictures of all adoptable animals looking for their forever homes.

Tiny the dog, one of Epling’s favorite photos.

Photo of a Black Dog

Photo of a Black Cat

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Tiny the dog, one of Epling’s favorite photos.

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog

Photo of a Shelter Dog