The charm of Charlee: Photographer costumes rescue dog for charity project

When northwest resident Lori Schmidt wanted to adopt a dog, she scouted out the pooches at Petco each weekend but didn’t find one that clicked with her.

“I kept praying to find the right dog,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to the pound because of how heartbreaking it is to see all those dogs.”

But she eventually went to The Animal Foundation, and in February, she found her rescue dog Charlee in the Lied Animal Shelter, 655 N. Mojave Road. Charlee is a cockapoo of about 3 years old. When they left, she said the dogs still waiting to be adopted were all yipping and barking, begging for her attention.

That send-off haunted Schmidt, who decided to help the dogs she wasn’t able to adopt. So, in lieu of gifts for her birthday, she asked her friends to give money to buy dog food. The effort resulted in $500, and it went further by shopping at Costco. She also delivered feeding bowls to the shelter.

She said she was “grateful to everyone who contributed and helped make this project happen.” The thank-you cards she emailed said, “Thanks you’re an angel,” and showed Charlee dressed in an angel halo and wings.

Lied reported that its adoption animals are fed through a contract with the makers of Hill’s Science Diet dog food, which provides the food at a deep discount. But donated food is also needed. It can be used for animals in foster care and for a special program, Pets for Life, which helps pet owners in underserved communities.

“The donated food from Lori, or whoever brings by food, mostly goes toward that program,” said Meghan Scheibe, marketing and public relations manager for The Animal Foundation. “It all works toward the greater good. Getting donations of any kind from the community is so huge for us. It allows us to help more animals and save more lives.”

Now, Schmidt and Charlee are raising money to help dogs waiting for forever homes in a different way. She’s made Charlee into a star of sorts by making greeting cards that feature him in costume. The cards are sold online at zazzle.com/charlees_cards.

Schmidt has a background as a photographer and said the idea for the greeting cards came after she snapped shots of Charlee on her couch where she has a leopard print blanket. Inspired, she stuck a pair of leopard print fashion glasses on him to further the theme.

“I thought he’d try to shake them off, but he didn’t,” she said.

That led to dressing him for Halloween and buying decorations for other holidays and snapping more shots.

Schmidt said Charlee is so cooperative, he’ll hold a pose until she tells him he’s done. He’ll even lift his nose on command to ensure the glasses don’t fall off his face.

She took more than 800 photos of Charlee in costume to get the initial five greeting card designs offered online. The back of each reads, “Charlee poses to help the other dogs in the animal shelter. Thank you for picking his card. We donate our proceeds to Feed-a-pup to buy food for the shelter. Thank you for your support and love.”

Scheibe said treats are also good for the community to donate to Lied. Those are used for behavioral assessments and to give to families when they come to the shelter looking for a pet and need to interact with the animals.

As for Charlee, Schmidt is considering getting him certified as a service dog so she can take him into hospice facilities, senior homes and care wards so he can further his appreciation for being adopted.

For more information about The Animal Foundation and to see animals available for adoption, visit animalfoundation.com or call 702-384-3333.

Contact Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.