SHARPSVILLE — As the owner of Scarmack Productions, Sean Scarmack photographs almost anything — from weddings and special events, to families or their pets.
But aside from photography, animals are another passion of Scarmack, who, with his wife, Breanna, owns eight dogs.
That’s why Scarmack and his family are organizing an fundraiser on Sunday to support the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter.
“I’m an animal lover, so at this point, it felt like I had to do something to give back,” Scarmack said.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kelly Road Bridge monument behind behind the Erie Canal Bar and Grille in Sharpsville.
Those who want a photo taken — whether it’s a family picture, a senior picture or a pet picture — must make a minimum donation of $20. Scarmack said 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward the animal shelter.
Scarmack’s father will also bring a red 1954 Ford pickup truck with hay bales and such, so people will have a choice between the old-style truck or the bridge will fall leaves as a backdrop.
While Scarmack organized a similar photoshoot-fundraiser for the animal shelter in the past, he has been friends with shelter Manager Angelia Sherman since they were students at the Sharpsville Area School District.
Sherman was hired as the shelter’s manager in 2017, and since then, Scarmack has supported the shelter in different ways — from volunteering his time to photograph the shelter’s animals to getting the shelter’s website off the ground, Sherman said.
“We truly cannot thank him enough for all he has done for us!” Sherman said.
One particular way Scarmack supported the shelter was by adopting a pitbull-mastiff mix named Ruby almost a year ago.
A hospice dog, Ruby suffered from cancer and was only expected to live about two or three months, although she continues to make her home with Sean all this time later.
“Ruby could not have found a better way to spend her days than with Breanna and Sean,” Sherman said.
While Ruby has been “great” so far, she did require emergency surgery about a month ago. However, shelter officials were able to assist in covering the medical expenses, Scarmack said.
That support during Ruby’s surgery was “amazing,” although Scarmack said he wished that people could see the work that Sherman and her staff with all of the animals every day.
“I don’t think people really understand what goes on day-in and day-out,” he said. “If anything, I wish someone could walk in Angelia’s shoes. That would really open up a lot of people’s eyes in terms of what the shelter does for the community.”
Anyone who would like to have their photo taken as part of the fundraiser on Oct. 29 are encouraged to register beforehand, and can do so by visiting www.seanscarmack.com/services/svas-shoot/.
Donations are asked to be made in cash, or in items of equivalent value that the shelter staff can use, such as blankets or cat or dog food.
