I became friends with Tamira in 2010 after reading this amazing story. American Dog Magazine ran a story about the rescue and I provided the photographs - one of them is hanging in the Centre County PSPCA. Since then I have been a huge fan of hers and a supporter of her wonderful organization.

If you haven’t heard of Dogs Deserve Better, you haven’t been watching the news. The organization just bought the old Michael Vick property and they are moving in RIGHT NOW. It will be transformed from a place of horror to a place of rehabilitation.

Dogs Deserve Better Chain Off

Every year they hold an event called Chain Off, where people all over the country chain themselves to dog houses in an effort to pass laws that limit the amount of time that dogs are chained. Last year Tamira spent 54 days chained at the Harrisburg capital steps advocating for a law. While she walked away empty-handed, she did not give up.

This year the focus was on two tethering bills: HB 826, which was introduced in the House in February by Rep. Scavello, and SB 972, which was introduced in the Senate in April by Sen. Alloway. These bills would limit the amount of time a dog could spend chained each day, and provide some protection for extreme weather conditions.

Since rescuing dogs is her life’s work, it made perfect sense for her & Joe to be married during Chain Off. When she asked me if I could photograph their wedding that day, I said I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my birthday!

Chain Off 2011 Harrisburg

Honk!

State Senator Andrew Dinniman

Tamira Thayne and Andrew Dinniman

Andrew Dinniman Hugs Tamira Thayne During Chain Off

Chain Off 2011 in Harrisburg, PA

Taylor Allmon at Chain Off

Dogs Deserve Better Chain Off

Dogs Deserve Better

Man Chained To Dog House

Tamira Thayne, Founder of Dogs Deserve Better

Tamira and Joe

Tamira and Joe Get Married

Click “like” if you wish you were there!

Dogs Deserve Better Wedding

Wedding on Capital Steps

Tamira & Joe, Just Married

DDB Wedding Cake Topper

Chained Bride and Groom

Dog Chains and Collars

Wedding Bouquet

Cake Cutting on Harrisburg Capital Steps

Vegan Wedding Cake

Dogs Deserve Better Thayne-Horvath Wedding Party

Tamira & Joe

Check out their awesome wedding highlights by Hi Focused!

Congratulations, Tamira & Joe! We’ll miss you in PA!