Capturing Farewells: CT Photographers Celebrate Pets’ Final Moments

Throughout the majority of Kate Jefferson’s adulthood, she has had two constant companions providing unconditional love and affection – her French Bulldogs. She brought Leon and Lemmy into her life at different significant junctures with her husband.

Her dogs accompanied them from California to Louisiana and back to her native Connecticut. They joined in play with her three children and were consistently present to commemorate every anniversary and celebration. Therefore, when Lemmy was diagnosed with lymphoma, a prevalent deadly cancer impacting a dog’s immune system, Jefferson aimed to ensure that she could cherish memories of her family as they appeared at that time.

This led her to meet Katherine Dickson, a photographer based in Madison specializing in capturing images of pets nearing the end of their lives. Jefferson described spending a day with Dickson as she recorded moments of her family interacting with both dogs. Shortly thereafter, her other dog, Leon, passed away from old age while Lemmy’s cancer entered remission.

Jefferson expressed that losing any pet feels like creating a “void that will never truly be healed.” Nevertheless, she noted that having an end-of-life photo session granted her family the opportunity to forge memories and keepsakes to honor their cherished pets. 

“I hope that more individuals would capture these photographs even before an end-of-life prognosis occurs because they are truly invaluable and something everyone should engage in,” she remarked.

Dickson’s enduring enthusiasm and profession in pet photography commenced over 20 years after she endured a traumatic brain injury. She stated that the incident left her with restricted mobility and eyesight.

While recuperating at Gaylord Hospital, Dickson realized that she began to delve into her artistic side in order to restore “some mapping in my brain.” She indicated that she was able to rebuild the connection to her body and voice by pursuing degrees in the arts. Eventually, Dickson established her own production firm in Madison and expanded her portfolio by capturing set photographs for films being shot in Connecticut.

Her experiences with end-of-life pet photography commenced when her own visual impairment service dog, Mia, was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer. She chronicled her dog’s treatment on YouTube, providing a first-person viewpoint on Mia’s potential thoughts during her everyday life. Dickson documented nearly a year of Mia’s existence before her passing. 

“I was documenting how I wished to remember her. Not merely her illness, but her life, what she symbolized to me, and all that she provided for me as a person with disabilities,” Dickson stated. “I aspired for others to

experience that prior to your pet’s departure, record what that companion has provided you, the journey you have embarked on together with your animal, and the moments you have shared with that creature.”

Dickson indicated that she arranges end-of-life “Remember Me” photo sessions for elderly pets nearing the conclusion of their journey and those who are terminally ill. Occasionally, she also captures images while families are at the veterinary clinic, bidding farewell. 

She adopts an artistic perspective in her photography – concentrating on utilizing her art to reflect the bond between pet owners and their animals. Besides offering photographs, she creates artworks inspired by the narratives the owners share about their pets. 

Leon was the initial dog that Jefferson and her spouse adopted together 13 years prior. She noted that he accompanied them through numerous relocations across the nation and the arrival of their children. Jefferson observed that Leon possessed the most affectionate demeanor and a soothing presence among all the bulldogs she has nurtured. 

They ultimately adopted Lemmy when Leon was about six and still residing in California. Jefferson remarked that Lemmy was significantly more humorous and utterly adored being Leon’s sibling. 

Jefferson, originally hailing from the Nutmeg State, mentioned that her family returned to Connecticut immediately before the pandemic began. They were temporarily living with her parents but opted to continue residing with them after Jefferson received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. 
 
Although Jefferson made a complete recovery, she mentioned that Lemmy was found to have cancer. She discovered Dickson through the Tilly Project, an international nonprofit connecting pet owners with end-of-life pet photographers and additional grief assistance. 

She expressed that she was fascinated by Dickson’s creative approach to end-of-life photographs, which she describes as “Remember Me” sessions. Jefferson arranged the photo session before Christmas to celebrate Lemmy’s final holidays with them. 

Dickson visited their home because she wished for them to be captured in their natural surroundings and in the area where the dog felt most at ease. Jefferson shared that Dickson took the effort to become acquainted with the entire family, engage in conversations about their bonds with the dogs, and prepared bacon as a special treat for commendable behavior.

Throughout the photoshoot, Jefferson stated that Dickson made them feel at ease by conversing with them, motivating them to frolic with their dogs, and providing straightforward suggestions on how to pose or where to position themselves. 

Jefferson admitted to experiencing a “bittersweet” emotion while capturing the images but was also appreciative of the opportunity after her cancer treatments. She mentioned that the photographs they received employed distinctive lighting and angles to impart an artistic flair to the pictures.

Dickson also fashioned two art pieces inspired by stories she gathered from conversing with the family. For Leon, she utilized his photo and superimposed a golden crown atop his head — inspired by his name deriving from the rock group Kings of Leon. In contrast, she featured Lemmy on a train to illustrate his connection with one of Jefferson’s sons, who is fond of trains. 

“They’re going to be something that we cherish eternally. It’s an opportunity she provided us to not just capture my family in various phases of their lives alongside our dogs, but to imbue a beautiful and artistic essence to them,” she expressed.

Throughout Connecticut, numerous photographers associated with the Tilly Project provide end-of-life photo sessions, such as Lisa Laureano. 
Laureano from Southington stated that her photographic journey impulsively commenced with the purchase of extensive camera gear and learning more than a decade ago. She remarked that it began as a pastime and evolved into a lifelong profession with her own business, Lovelee Paws, specifically focusing on pet photography.

She began specializing in end-of-life pet photography over two years ago. She shared that, although she had been photographing various pets for some years, she had few requests specifically for photos of pets nearing their lives’ closure, but she never anticipated it would become her focus. That changed when she encountered Sadie and her owner Rebekah DeMatteo. 

DeMatteo, who is originally from North Branford, shared that she met Sadie, an American Staffordshire Terrier, through the foster