Coppell, TX, (July 1, 2019) – Coppell resident Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography has placed 2^nd in the Assistance Dogs & Dog Charities category of the world's largest, international dog photography contest, the annual Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year.  The competition typically receives in excess of 10,000 entries from around the world and is juried by a distinguished panel of artists, photographers and industry experts.  

Adults can enter only one image into any one, or all, of eight different categories; Oldies, Puppies, Assistance Dogs & Dog Charities, Dogs at Play, Dogs at Work, Man’s Best Friend, Dog Portrait and Rescue Dogs & Dog Charities. There are two categories for children, eleven years and under (Young Pup Photographer) and twelve to seventeen years old (I Love Dogs Because).  There is also a Special Mention category indicating a nod by the Judges that the entry was a strong contender in the category. Wining images will be displayed from the 5th of July through October 3rd in the Kennel Club Art Gallery located at 10 Clarges St, Mayfair, London W1J 8AB, UK and is open to the public with an appointment. 

Allard’s winning image combines her loves of documentary photography, dog training, animal rescue and community service.  In addition to being a Certified Professional Photographer, Allard is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and helped the dog in the image, Bosco, and his handler, Coppell resident Marilyn Horton, earn their certification with Therapy Dogs International.  She is active with local animal rescue groups and municipal shelters, donating much of her time behind the camera to ensure the animals have beautiful adoption photographs to help them find their forever homes. 

Allard commented “I am thrilled to have an image selected in this prestigious competition. The caliber of work submitted is some of the best in the world and truly breathtaking. I strive to capture the connection between pets and the people who love them every day with my portrait photography, so it was especially rewarding to have an image selected of a dog I knew and helped train that I photographed as part of a personal project.” 

You can see all the 2019 winning images here.