After years of dealing with social anxiety, I knew I needed to do something drastic. In my mid-30s, following a devastating breakup, I found myself back in Vancouver with my rescue dog Carter - isolated, overthinking every interaction, and pulling away from people.

In March 2024, I started "The Stranger Project." The idea was simple: approach a stranger every day, offer them a free portrait, and share the interaction online. It was exposure therapy disguised as a creative project.

The first day, I walked around for eight hours before I got the courage to ask someone. To ease into it, I started with dog owners - something that felt natural since I'd been photographing random dogs on the street for years. I didn't think the project would be about dogs. I was wrong.

I committed to posting every day for a year. The audience grew to millions across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. I posted a mix of dog focused content, and human content.

But I realized how much I loved photographing people with their pets.

Most people have photos of their dogs, but not WITH their dogs. When I gave people that gift, some cried. It meant more to them than I could have imagined.

Somewhere along the way, I realized: I didn't need this project to fix my anxiety anymore. The stories I was capturing mattered so much more.

One of my early stories featured Mariko and her senior dog, Kuma, a one-eyed shiba I met on his birthday. Months later, Mariko messaged: Kuma's health had deteriorated - doggy dementia, confusion, pain. "I think it's time," she wrote.

I documented their last day together on a sunny Vancouver afternoon, asking Mariko to share her story on camera. Her response brought me to tears.

The video reached millions globally and made the news. People who'd faced the same decision reached out, saying it helped them feel less alone. That's when I realized: I'm not just taking photos - I'm sharing stories that connect us deeply.

As my audience grew to 4 million, I began asking: "What does your dog mean to you?" The responses revealed dogs helping people survive depression, grief, and isolation.

Through my travels, I began noticing how most cities were far more dog-friendly than Vancouver.

New York has 600,000 dogs, with cafes welcoming them and parks offering off-leash hours. Vancouver restricts dogs from most public spaces and rentals.

That's when I realized…
Maybe I could use this platform to drive real change - and amplify the voices of people & pets around the world to inspire dog friendly policies & spaces.

My dream is to advocate for dog-friendly policies and build a world that doesn't just tolerate dogs, but welcomes them with open arms.

A world where every human can find their soul dog, and every dog can find their human.

I'm fighting for a more dog-friendly society. A world where dogs are welcomed and celebrated, rather than just tolerated.

Here are my beliefs:

• Dogs represent the best parts of humanity - like empathy, loyalty and unconditional love 

• Dogs are a net-positive to society, and countless studies prove this

• When we welcome dogs into our communities, society thrives

• They improve mental health, give us purpose, and abolish loneliness

• We need progressive policies: pet-friendly housing, dogs welcome in cafes, public spaces, and transportation

• Real change starts with education - demonstrating how dog-friendly policies benefit everyone

There's a mental health and loneliness crisis. People are isolated and struggling, and it’s only getting worse.

We're in an era where people aren't having kids because of affordability. Dogs can give our lives a deeper purpose beyond ourselves. But with the current restrictions, many people can't even have dogs.

For example in Vancouver, a tiny percentage of rentals allow pets, often at significantly higher costs.

The cruel irony: the people who need dogs most are the ones least able to have them.

My community tells me there are far more dog-friendly places in the world - Austria, Italy, and other countries where dogs are not just tolerated, but actually welcomed into restaurants & public spaces.

Dogs can't speak for themselves - they need us to advocate for them.

If there's a cause worth fighting for, it's for the dogs who have been by our side for centuries, providing endless unconditional love without ever asking for anything in return. This is what I'm fighting for.

I believe this platform can create real change, especially when 4 million people come together to make it happen. Here’s how:

1. Documenting Real Stories
I interview people about how their dogs have positively impacted their lives. By sharing these interactions, I hope to inspire more adoptions and show why we need to fight for dog-friendly communities.

2. Helping Shelter Dogs Find Homes
Starting in 2026, each month I’ll visit animal rescue shelters and photograph dogs who need homes. Then I share their stories with millions of people online and help them get adopted.

3. Supporting Rescues & Advocacy
Starting in 2026, 20% of all net proceeds from my store, donations, and Patreon will go directly to animal rescue shelters and advocacy groups.

4. Building a Better Future
In the future, I want to seek out the most dog-friendly communities in the world and learn how they make it work - from cultural attitudes to policy decisions.

I'd love to share these stories through long-form videos, articles, and books, proving that when we prioritize dogs in our society, everyone benefits.

🐾 Join me on Patreon (Coming 2026)
Help support me on Patreon and help me drive more dog adoptions. 20% of all pledges go directly to animal rescue shelters, and your name will be featured in upcoming donations/books.

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🤲 Make a One-Time Donation
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🛒 The 20% Commitment
Each purchase directly supports the mission, and 20% goes to animal rescue shelters and advocacy groups. Wear your values and help make change.

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