A TRARALGON photographer is compiling a book of pictures while pet-sitting her way across Australia to raise money for a charity close to her heart.
Animal advocate Kirstie McConnell has taken on the task of using her photographic talent to raise money for Oscar’s Law, an organisation which spreads awareness of puppy farms.
The book will dedicate a page to every dog Kirstie O’Connell photographs on her travels with the majority off profits being donated to the charity.
To coordinate her accommodation and in turn her photoshoot arrangements, Ms O’Connell has used web-based company Mindahome, a business which finds and allocates sitters for homes or pets.
Ms O’Connell said she had not found it hard looking after other people’s pets, and even took her dog Flee with her to every destination.
“We’ve always had animals, I grew up on a little farmlet with pigs and cows and horses; I’ve always had dogs, now I just spend my time travelling as well as looking after everyone else’s dogs,” she said.
“Because Flee’s always been around other animals, she just knows to get along with them.”
During her travels Ms McConnell has house-sat in Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and South Australia.
With more than 100 pages in mind for the book and the number of pages depending on sponsorship, Ms McConnell said she had many more places to travel to and dogs to photograph.
Mindahome co-founder Mel Hogan said companionship with pets and the cheap nature of house sitting was a drawcard for people wishing to travel.
“A lot of people do it because it’s a cheap way of travelling around Australia,” Mr Hogan said.
“A lot of them are in a situation where they can’t have pets of their own and look forward to travelling around and being in the company of animals.
“She’s the first one we’ve heard of who is (fundraising while house sitting), I think it’s a great idea, Oscar’s Law is actually against the farming of animals for pet shops and I agree with it, it’s a great idea.”
To request a photoshoot of your pet for the book or for more information on Ms McConnell’s travels, visit www.kirstiem.com.au
