This fall, North Shore Animal League America welcomed a very special guest back to our Port Washington campus: The Dogist himself, Elias Weiss Friedman. With more than 11 million followers across his many social media platforms — including 8 million on Instagram, a rapidly growing YouTube channel with over 140,000 subscribers, and a new YouTube series called DOGS, which features celebrity guests alongside adoptable pups — Friedman has become one of the most influential dog photographers and storytellers in the world. He is also a bestselling author whose books have helped propel a global movement celebrating the beauty and individuality of dogs. We are incredibly fortunate to have his ongoing support and his passion for elevating the stories of rescue pets.
The Dogist, Elias Weiss Friedman, woofs it up at our 2017 Gala
Since launching The Dogist in 2013, Elias has photographed tens of thousands of dogs and has become a powerful voice in the rescue community. His mission is simple but profound: tell the stories of dogs who need a voice and inspire people to choose adoption. “Really the best use of my platform is for dogs who can use it,” he shared during his visit. “Hopefully I can move the needle even more so that people consider rescuing when they’re looking for a dog. If you visit a shelter, you can fall in love, and then next thing you know, you have a new dog!”
During his day on our campus, Elias met several of our adoptable dogs, each with their own personality, quirks, and hopes for a second chance. He spent time with Bobby, a handsome pup whose gentle nature gleams through the camera lens; with Hunter, a big black-and-white Great Dane-mix with movie-star presence; and with Lucky, who ‘works’ in our Adoption Center and has been cleverly posing as an adoption coordinator in his own quest to find a home. “It’s all part of his ruse!” Elias laughed. “And I have a good feeling it will work.”
While he acknowledges the outstanding level of attention and care our animals receive, still the best case is that their stay is only temporary. “Every dog deserves a home,” he said. “You guys do a great job making sure their time here is as comfortable as possible. They have it good, but the ultimate goal is for them to be in a home and part of a family.”
As a longtime friend of Animal League America, Elias is pleased that he frequently encounters our four-legged alumni on the streets of New York City and beyond. His continued connection to our mission, and the exposure he brings our adoptable pets, is a gift that truly helps change lives. We are grateful to Elias for training his lens on our pets and helping them reach the families they are waiting for and who are waiting for them.