A photography session at a senior living center is highlighting the joy that shelter dogs can bring to our lives.
During the May 22 event, volunteers drove shelter dogs from Humane Society of Tampa Bay to Brookdale Bayshore, a senior living facility in Tampa, Florida. There, residents posed with pups for portraits by Adam Goldberg, co-owner of AGoldPhoto Pet Photography.
Shelter dog Ozzy smiles during a portrait session.
“It was really rewarding to see them smiling and happy,” Goldberg said. “And the dogs loved getting out of the shelter. It was great to see everybody so happy.”
The common area where the dogs waited for their photo sessions turned into a festive affair. Any interested residents and staff could come meet and pet the dogs, who drew a crowd. In fact, the pets proved so popular that two of them — Lucie and Zoe — were adopted by employees that very day.
Elizabeth Buchinski, director of resident engagement at Brookdale Bayshore, said the adopters – the dining services manager and nurse manager – each started the day without intending to adopt a pet.
“It just worked out with the connections they made with the animals,” she said.
Shelter dogs drew a crowd of fans at Brookdale Bayshore on May 22, 2025. “The residents loved it. It … More
The Benefits Of Welcoming Shelter Dogs And Pets
Brookdale Bayshore is a pet-friendly facility where the staff can even help residents care for their animals, from dogs and cats to birds, according to Buchinski. Being able to move into the senior living facility with a beloved pet helps make the transition easier, and pets can give residents a “greater purpose” in having to get up each day to care for their animals, she says.
Pets are invariable popular with other residents, and the animals themselves benefit from constant attention since their guardians are retired. The staff enjoys interacting with residents’ pets; many dogs roll onto their backs to request a belly rub from Buchinski, who they know keeps dog treats nearby.
“For me, seeing the dogs is a highlight,” she said. “I love to see the dogs that live here.”
A resident dog named Sophie also posed for a portrait with her owners since they recently adopted her from Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which always offers a 50% discount on adoption fees to adopters who are 65 and older.
Two residents pose with Sophie, a dog they adopted from Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
During the shelter dog meet-and-greet in the common area and portrait sessions, many residents shared stories with Goldberg about past and present pets, which he found delightful.
“One of the women was like, ‘Oh, my two cats upstairs are going to be jealous,’” he said.
Goldberg feels the event was a win-win for the residents and shelter dogs, who benefitted from getting the chance to leave the shelter to ride in a car and socialize with a variety of people away from the noise of a shelter environment. He hopes his photos help challenge any preconceived notions people may have about senior living facilities and shelter dogs.
“My whole mission is to show people that shelter animals are just like every other dogs – just someone couldn’t take care of them anymore,” he said. “They’re not broken.”
After posing for her portrait with a Brookdale Bayshore resident, shelter dog Zoe got adopted by the … More
Buchinski agrees that the overall goal of the project was to get the word out about adoptable dogs at the shelter. But she’s also glad the experience could help enrich the lives of residents at Brookdale Bayshore.
“It was a day of joy – an opportunity to reminisce and get to actively engage in a community partnership. I was just excited for my residents to experience a day like that,” she said. “And then the byproduct and the exciting part is we have photographs to remember it.”
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