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Charise and David of Willmington, Delaware live with their two cats, Fang and Lulu, and their mutt Olive.

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'Why We Rescue': Photos of grateful people with their shelter animals

Theron Humphrey, the photographer who attained Internet fame with images of his dog "Maddie on Things," recently completed a new photo project called "Why We Rescue." It features photos and stories of rescued shelter animals in all 50 states.

Aila Domstrap (sp) cuddles with Quinn, her three-year-old Lab/Weimeraner mix in their Maryland home.

By Samantha Okazaki, TODAY

Theron Humphrey, the photographer who attained Internet fame with images of his dog “Maddie on Things,” recently completed a new photo project called "Why We Rescue." It involves photos of rescued shelter animals in all 50 states along with moving audio interviews with the animals’ owners.

In this photo captured by Humphrey, a woman named Aila relaxes with Quinn, her rescued Labrador retriever/Weimaraner mix, in Maryland.

— Theron Humphrey

Karen Rizner's daughter Celia has grown up with Ginger, a Coonhound mix. The family rescued Ginger immediately after moving from Boston to New York City. Adopting was \"one of our first priorities,\" Karen told Why We Rescue in an interview.

Sponsored by Purina ONE, the “Why We Rescue” project has the goal of showing that “rescue and shelter dogs aren’t second rate,” Humphrey told TODAY.com.

This photo shows Karen Rizner’s daughter, Celia, who has grown up with Ginger, a coonhound mix. The family rescued Ginger after moving to Boston. Adopting was “one of our first priorities,” Rizner told Humphrey for the “Why We Rescue” project.

— Theron Humphrey

Dave Perkins and Annie live a low key life in Idaho.

Dave Perkins and his rescue dog Annie enjoy a low-key life in Idaho. “All these people I met were so grateful about how their dogs changed their lives,” Humphrey said.

— Theron Humphrey

Stephen Calsbeek sits outside his Georgia home with Triple Coupon Thursday, one of his four rescue pets. \"We like interesting names,\" he says matter-of-factly.

Stephen Calsbeek sits outside his Georgia home with Triple Coupon Thursday, one of his four rescue pets. "We like interesting names," he told Humphrey.

— Theron Humphrey

Ben Edward of Minnesota and his cat Ruth

Ben Edward of Minnesota relaxes with his cat, Ruth.

— Theron Humphrey

David, Tereasa, Charlie and Frankie live and work at Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin. Frankie's \"our first kid,\" Tereasa says in an interview with Why We Rescue. \"It was love at first sight.\"

David, Tereasa, Charlie and Frankie live and work at Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin. Frankie's "our first kid," Tereasa told Humphrey. "It was love at first sight."

— Theron Humphrey

Charise and David live in Wilmington, Del., with their two cats, Fang and Lulu, and their mutt, Olive.

— Theron Humphrey

Gavin Cottrell of Washington and his dog Ripley take in the great outdoors. Gavin manages a kennel for an organization called Conservation Canines.

Gavin Cottrell of Washington and his rescue dog Ripley spend time together in the great outdoors. Cottrell manages a kennel for an organization called Conservation Canines.

— Theron Humphrey

Radley is Kathleen Bulger's reason to get out bed in the morning. \"He doesn't know how big he is,\" Kathleen says, \"he's just a goof.\"

Radley is Kathleen Bulger's reason to get out bed in the morning. "He doesn't know how big he is," Kathleen told Humphrey. “He's just a goof."

— Theron Humphrey

Jim Bob Strothers of Arizona sits on the bed with his 14-year-old boxer, Punky.

— Theron Humphrey

Jenna Lyons and Tillie live in Lawrence, Kansas.

Jenna Lyons and Tillie enjoy life together in Lawrence, Kan.

— Theron Humphrey

Sonnie Tompkins has 12 adopted horses living at her ranch home in Mission Viejo, California. She first started rescuing horses when she was 13-years-old.

Sonnie Tompkins has 12 adopted horses at her ranch home in Mission Viejo, Calif. She first began rescuing horses when she was 13 years old.

— Theron Humphrey

Mike Becker of Homer, Alaska and his border collie Gus. Gus helped Mike overcome the loss of his first collie Max.

Mike Becker of Homer, Alaska hangs out with his border collie, Gus. Gus helped Mike overcome the loss of his first collie, Max.

— Theron Humphrey

Phillip Kim lives with his eight-year-old Pitbull named Sienna and his 10-year-old Rabbit named Lucah (sp) in New York.

Phillip Kim lives in New York with his 8-year-old pit bull, Sienna, and his 10-year-old rabbit, Luka.

— Theron Humphrey

Katie Smith, of Grand Haven Michigan, currently lives on a 27-foot sailboat with her dog Reggie and her cat Bird in Florida. The team have traveled from Michigan across the Gulf of Mexico and are en route to the Bahamas.

Katie Smith lives in Florida on a 27-foot sailboat with her best friend, Jessie Zevalkink, her cat, Bird, and her dog, Reggie. Reggie had fleas and a skin disease called mange when Smith rescued him. Smith nursed the dog back to health.

To see more of Theron Humphrey’s “Why We Rescue” photos and hear owners’ stories, visit his website, ThisWildIdea.com.

— Theron Humphrey

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