Inspired Magazine

transformed. It started ‘high fiving’ with Alex, and
captured her heart. With its protruding stomach,
near hairless body and adorable eyes, the puppy
became a pin-up for rescued animals. “The photo
of her was my first pic that went viral globally,”
Alex says. “She looks adorable but pitiful, you
want to hug her, and she had this look that just
drew people in.”
Alex conducted a fundraising exhibition to sell
copies of the photos she’d taken at the shelter.
Some 350 people crowded the exhibition, earning
$15,000 for BAWA – most of the funds raised from
selling prints of that one puppy.
The next year Alex tried something similar in
Cambodia. She photographed exotic rescue
animals such as tigers, elephants, otters and
bears at Wildlife Alliance’s Phnom Tamao Wildlife
Rescue Centre, which is also home to Free the
Bears Funds’ main south-east Asian bear rescue
sanctuary. This time the exhibition attracted 700
people who, in three hours, bought enough photos
to raise $25,000.
While happy at the money raised, Alex is
reluctant to bask in the success. There are always
more animals in need, there’s always more work
required. “I love that we’ve raised money and
appreciate that’s what we’re able to give, but
there’s always more that needs to done,” she says.
“Our exhibition donation to Free the Bears paid
for formula for all of their resident bear cubs for 12
months, and the annual salary of their keeper. But
what about the bear cubs in a year? When that
money runs out they’re going to need more.”
WORLD TRAVEL
Through Free the Bears Fund, Alex met its
founder Mary Hutton who recommended Alex as
a photographer to World Expeditions, which runs
visits to Free the Bears sanctuaries on some of its
itineraries. Alex was excited to donate her time as
lead photographer on an animal photography trip
to India, which raised nearly $10,000 for Free the
Bears.