Haunting Photos Capture the Silence of Dogs in Cars

When London based photographer, Martin Usborne, found himself locked in a car at a young age, he was profoundly affected by the fear and uncertainty the experience caused. It was around the same time that Usborne saw a documentary of a dog enduring terrible abuse that he also developed a strong affinity for animals and the issues they face.

“What appalled me most was that the dog could not speak back.” He said of the life altering experience.  “I should say that I was a well-loved child and never abandoned and yet it is clear that both these experiences arose from the same place deep inside me: a fear of being alone and unheard.”

Leaving a dog unattended in a vehicle for any length of time causes them stress and concern at the very least. During the heat of the summer, that discomfort can become deadly as the temperatures inside of a car increase rapidly enough for a dog to succumb in as little as five minutes. It’s obviously fun to bring our best friend with us while we run our errands, but considering that it can be unpleasant or downright dangerous for them, it’s best to leave them home if we can’t bring them inside of our destination.

Usborne decided to turn this theme into a photo project called The Silence of Dogs in Cars, the results of which are deeply thought provoking. Filled with poignant images of dogs sitting alone in empty vehicles, their expressions run the gamut from contemplative to scared and even downright angry. Looking at these photos, there’s no question about the rich emotional undercurrents that dogs experience. They may not be able to speak, but their expressive eyes and telling body language speak volumes about their desire to be loved and their fear of losing that which they hold most dear. Their humans.

Prospero

Bones

Flo

Lottie

Peggy

Bolt

Hector

Pico

Stan

Bear and Kessie

Bones

Margaux

Clover

Congo

Maus

Jackson

Lula

Misty and Pickles

Tyke

Boris

Milo

Dasher

Alfie

Lola

Buzz

Rosie

Burt

Baxter

Prospero

Hector

Winnie

Shep

Jess

Chara

Pico

Lola

Murphy

Ruby

Hector

Nelson

Image Credits: Martin Usborne/martinusborne.com