Valley woman photographs shelter cats to help them get adopted

Jen Parjol, known online as @meowphx, photographs hundreds of shelter cats each year in the Phoenix area to raise their profiles and support adoptions.

A volunteer photographer in the Phoenix metro area is using simple tools to help shelter cats find homes. Jen Parjol started the project and social media page @meowphx nearly nine years ago after moving to Arizona. She volunteers her time to provide higher-quality photos of cats at local shelters. Shelter staff say the images have helped present the animals in ways that appeal to potential adopters. Key details: - Jen Parjol created the @meowphx project and social media page almost nine years ago after relocating to Arizona. - She reports photographing about 600–800 cats per year, which she estimates amounts to roughly 6,000 adoptable cats over time. - Parjol works with an iPhone and one-yard felt fabrics to capture and describe each cat’s personality, noting traits such as shy, bold, funny, or silly. - She is a member of HeARTs Speak, a global network of photographers who provide pro bono work for animal shelters. - Parjol shares her home with four shelter cats and describes the photography as a way to give back to volunteers who cared for animals before adoption. - Sienna Yanez-Brokeshoulder, Volunteer Program Coordinator for Pinal County Animal Care and Control, reported that Parjol’s photos have made cats more adoptable and helped with shelter population management. Summary: Shelter staff report that Parjol’s photography has helped present cats in ways that increase their appeal to adopters and has assisted with managing feline populations at local facilities. Undetermined at this time.