Column: Soulful photos by volunteer help Pasadena Humane pets get adopted

A single photograph can make a world of difference for a shelter pet in need. A compelling online photo can connect an animal with the person who will take them home.

And behind many of those photos at Pasadena Humane is a volunteer named Wren Sell.

Last weekend, at our annual volunteer recognition lunch, I had the honor of presenting Wren with our 2025 Volunteer of the Year award. It’s well deserved and shines a light on work that doesn’t always get the same attention as hands-on animal care.

When Wren, a professional photographer and owner of Wren Louis Photography, first moved to the area in 2021, she felt a strong pull any time she walked past our shelter—something telling her it was where she was meant to be.

So, when a Pasadena Humane staff member reached out to ask if she’d volunteer to photograph a special event a few years back, it was a no-brainer. She quickly felt like she’d found “her own” — that place where what she loves and what matters most come together.

Since then, Wren has become an integral part of our organization, capturing the personalities of adoptable animals in our care. Photo day is her favorite day of the week. She sees it as her chance to reveal who a pet really is outside of the kennel and capture their unique character.

“I love knowing a single image can help someone see the real dog behind those eyes, the image that takes them out of the shelter and into a loving home,” she says.

Wren’s volunteer role became even more critical during the Eaton fire. Through her lens, she told the stories of animals needing emergency care. Animals like Riley, a badly burned white husky she connected deeply with.

“Every time I lifted the camera, he would look straight into the lens, as if he was connecting with me,” shares Wren. “I would sit with him whenever I could, talking softly and telling him he would get better and find a loving home.”

Those days and weeks following the Eaton fire were incredibly intense and emotionally heavy for Wren, but also deeply moving. It was heartbreaking for her to see animals arrive with burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries.

She still gets emotional thinking back to that time, witnessing the resilience and strength of those animals and the dedication, compassion, and expertise of the veterinary team caring for them in the ICU.

Wren is incredibly honored to be named Volunteer of the Year, especially noting how many volunteers pour their hearts into the shelter every day.

She sees this award as a reflection that the volunteer work that she loves makes a difference for animals in need. It is also a reminder of the friends and people she volunteers alongside each time she is at the shelter.

Wren is also quick to point out her appreciation for those who believed in her and gave her the opportunity to contribute.

“I’m so deeply grateful to everyone at Pasadena Humane who trusted me, welcomed me in, and gave me the freedom to capture moments through my camera.”

She adds, “You gave me the opportunity to be part of something meaningful and to contribute, in my own small way, to the incredible story of this shelter and the animals it serves.”

That gratitude goes both ways. Wren, thank you for everything you do for our organization and for the animals in our community who need our help.

Be sure to stop by Wren’s photography booth at our 28th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run this Sunday, April 19, at Brookside Park! And if you’re interested in becoming a Pasadena Humane volunteer, learn more at pasadenahumane.org/volunteer

 

Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.

This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on April 17, 2026.