Meet the father-daughter team behind the Everett shelter’s pet pictures

Even though many of the adoption photos you find through the Everett Animal Shelter’s website look like flawless cat and dog selfies, this is not the case, believe it or not. There is actually a team of hardworking photographers who donate their time and passion for animals, to making sure that these four- and two-legged friends have a shot at finding their forever homes.

This week, we are focusing on the father-daughter photography team of Jon and Emily Annis of Marysville. Combined, this duo has photographed a few thousand shelter animals for HeraldNet.com.

What began as a way for Emily to gain volunteer hours as part of a graduation requirement, has evolved into a passion for two things that she loves: photography and animals. In 2012, Emily decided to put her time to use as a cat-room assistant, where she could earn hours, as well as fulfill her love for cats. Because Emily was under 18 at the time, she needed a parent with her while volunteering.

“[After I semi-retired], I thought that we could volunteer together at the shelter, and eventually we were asked to take photos,” Jon said.

Jon was a Navy photojournalist for 25 years, and he introduced Emily to photography at a young age. Jon explained that when Emily was young, she would fill up their digital memory cards with pictures and videos of the family cat, where “some of them were goofy and some were really creative.”

As her volunteering continued, a shelter photographer piqued Emily’s interest, and after a few days, she became an adoption promotion assistant. Emily acknowledges that living all over the world due to her father’s military background has had a profound effect on her passion for photos. Emily manages to come in to the shelter about once every two weeks, despite an extremely busy senior year of high school.

“Traveling has definitely influenced my love for photography and writing because I was able to discover what other countries/cultures find appealing,” Emily said. “I always have a camera near me because there is always something beautiful to capture and I never want to lose those moments.”

Jon and Emily explained that they often find themselves having to resist the urge to take their “work” home with them.

“I find myself falling in love with many of the animals at the shelter because they are so loving and accepting, regardless of who you are,” Emily said.

Instead, the team savors the time they get to work with them, and can take satisfaction from helping them find forever homes.

“Better than trying to possess them all, I know that I am helping to improve their lives and the lives of people in the community by making connections,” Jon said.

Shelter Operations Coordinator Dee Cordell credits the photos as a huge contributing factor toward facilitating successful adoptions.

“It’s humbling, but the ultimate goal isn’t just a great photo,” Jon said. “One of the most rewarding times for me is being among the first to interact with an animal, rehabilitating them after traumatic circumstances.”

Being deployed throughout his Navy career allowed Jon to realize the special place that animals had in his heart, and since beginning at the shelter, Jon has begun to take into account the relationship that humans build with animals.

“I take pride in using photography to convey things about them that might form a connection with potential owners,” Jon said. “I’ve had a growing interest in understanding animal behavior and how best to care for them.”

Jon still considers photography “a necessary and creative outlet,” but as a result of his experiences at the shelter, he recently decided to transition toward working with animals as a veterinary technician. He explained that the diversity, complexity and compassion that accompany being a vet technician, or any kind of healthcare worker, appeals to him.

Emily hopes to follow in her dad’s footsteps and pursue a career in photojournalism.

“I love to tell stories and keep people updated with the excitement around them!” Emily explained. She hopes to focus on photojournalism in college and wants to acquire an internship with a paper in the future.

The lessons that come from spending time at the shelter are applicable to everyone, whether you’re volunteering, visiting or just considering adopting a pet.

“Every animal is different and every person is different, so there are many, many stories happening every day at the shelter,” Jon said. “There is something there for everyone, if they open their heart.”

Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter. Plan a visit, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.