Colleen Cruz

Colleen Cruz
Pit bull Advocate Photographer
www.shineliteATL.com
shineliteATL@gmail.com

@shineliteATL @shinelightATL @shineliteATL

“Stereotypes are like shadows, shine a light on them and they disappear”
– Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Shine A Light ATL is an initiative that was started in January of 2015 by Colleen Cruz to educate & change the perceptions regarding Pit Bull type dogs. Through her creative approach of taking photos of pit bulls & their families and sharing their stories Colleen shows us that these dogs are just like any other family pet & just like all dogs should be seen as individuals.

Colleen’s education regarding Pit Bulls and Pit Bull type dogs was something that progressed over a few years. “It’s not that I was ever afraid of them or had a negative perception about them, I just had not heard much about them or knew of anyone that had one.” Her journey with these misunderstood dogs all started in April of 2007, when Bad Newz Kennels was being investigated for a dog fighting ring and subsequently Michael Vick was arrested on state and felony charges.

Colleen’s goal with this project, is to take herlove of photography and passion for rescue and make those shadows disappear.