No one has put a face on Midland’s shelter animals like Tasha Sport.
A veteran of Midland’s animal rescue community, Sport has not only been an advocate for dogs and cats looking for their “furever” home but has put her considerable talents toward the mission. In fact, it has changed how Midlanders see those animals. Gone are the sad lineup pictures of the animals (cue the Sarah McLachlan song “Angel”). Instead, she has brought costumes and weekly themes to the animal showcase, showing off the personality of an animal ready to leave the Midland Animal Shelter for a living room and backyard of a responsible pet owner.
ith themes related to Christmas, Thanksgiving and other calendar dates, along with photos Midland PD’s finest and sports teams, Sports’ photography has changed the way Midland Animal Shelter has marketed its residents. Her work appears weekly on Facebook pages, such as those belonging to the City of Midland, Midland Animal Shelter Adoptables (MASA), Permian Basin Animal Advocates and the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
In retrospect, Sports’ work showcasing the fur babies was naturally going to be a hit. Those walking the halls of the Animal Services building can see her work (including animals at iconic Midland locations like the Duck Pond, the Petroleum Museum and Yucca Theatre) on the walls of the multi-million-dollar center.
“My photos show how they will interact with family, how they behave,” Sport said. “I really enjoyed the ‘Lemonade Stand,’ and ‘Memorial Day,’ the military aspect to it (with the animals in military garb).”
There is meaning in all of them, including the “Dr. Suess” and “Top Gun” shoots (among others), Sport said.
Sport is the operator of TashaSportPhotography.com, a site that shows off more of her considerable talents. Sport told the Reporter-Telegram about the unique opportunity for pet owners to take part in photo sessions at a pet’s end of life. The idea is based off the “Tilley Project” (https://thetillyproject.org). Sport said the sessions that memorialize the relationship a person has with their pet can be “emotional,” “difficult” and “extremely rewarding.” She recommends pictures with animals not necessarily in their last days. She even talked about a Tilley Project photoshoot with a person and their horse.
“Most are delivered in black and white,” Sport said. “They are timeless and meaningful.”
Sport, 47, was born and raised in Midland. She and her husband have a home with five dogs, four cats and two turtles. Her time in the animal rescue business includes presiding as the chair of the City of Midland Animal Services Advisory Committee and working with nonprofits like Midland Human Coalition, Sassy’s Dog Rescue, MASA and PBAA.
She helped “facilitate” Rescue Runners, the twice-a-month activity when people volunteer walking/running dogs from the shelter to a nearby park. Those interested in helping to socialize animals through Rescue Runners can go to Midland Animal Shelter on the first and third Saturdays of the month (from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.).
Mainly she is for activism without the “drama.” She is for those without considerable talents around Midland’s rescue community working together. One will see Sport contribute by chairing a meeting, sitting through a council session and, of course, taking her impactful pictures.
“A good photo can be the difference in a dog getting a home or not,” she said.
Which is why Midland is lucky to have Tasha Sport contributing when Midland’s shelter population needs her most.