Pet Photographer Visits Polling Stations with Dogs
Ellen Cooper is usually found photographing pets along beaches and in blooming fields, but on Thursday she chose less scenic locations for her work.
Whether as an excuse to walk the dog or to document the act of voting, dogs at polling stations have become a common sight during elections across the UK, including the Senedd election in Wales.
"There is 'nothing more fun' than dogs going to vote,"said Ellen, 32, from Port Talbot, in an Instagram appeal seeking dog owners whose pets are comfortable being photographed.
With media coverage on polling day limited to straightforward factual reporting, we took the opportunity to accompany Ellen as she captured images of pets at the polls.
"Please no political chat,"Ellen cautioned, adding that she wanted
"lovely dog vibes only."
While assistance dogs are allowed inside polling stations, other dogs may only be admitted at the discretion of the local authority.
The hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations has trended on X for several years, with voters sharing photos to confirm they have voted alongside their canine companions.
Dogs and Their Owners at Polling Stations
One of the dogs present was Loki, a lively border collie, accompanied by owners Laura Osbourne and Shannon Henshaw. They have had Loki since 2020.
Loki, a five-and-a-half-year-old farming dog with a fondness for squeaky balls,
"keeps them on their toes,"the couple said. Thursday marked their first visit to their new local polling station in Bridgend.
Another dog, Jack Russell Sasha, accompanied her owner Kay Sebern to the polling station in Bridgend as Kay cast her vote.
Kay described Sasha as a
"failed foster,"noting that she does not know much about Sasha's early life but estimates her age to be between 10 and 15 years.
Kay fostered Sasha in 2020, intending only a short stay, but it turned into nearly seven years.
"My daughter was killed and she gave me a reason to get out of bed in the mornings. She became my saviour at the time,"Kay shared.
"She's been a Godsend to me. I wouldn't be without her now, even though she can be a pain in the neck when she's barking constantly,"Kay laughed.
"Wherever I go she comes with me."
Ellen Cooper’s Photography Journey
Ellen has worked as a pet photographer for nearly five years alongside her job in road network management, but this was her first time visiting polling stations for photography.
From approaching strangers to offer pet portraits to conducting private photoshoots, Ellen said her work has greatly increased her confidence and been very beneficial.
Approximately a dozen people responded to her call for participants interested in receiving a free professional photo of their dogs at the polls.
"I'm more likely to talk about the dog more than the owner... I love hearing about the dogs and their story,"she said.
"You just see a pretty dog, but that's the owners whole world."
"It brings me so much joy to bring back to people. I've had so many clients when their dogs have passed... the photos are still important, more than anything."
