In a city that has been plagued with blight, corruption, bankruptcy and gentrification, Detroit’s pets often fall between the cracks.

For many Detroit citizens, dogs are more than a pet — they are property, protection and they are income. But what happens when people are unable to care for these dogs?

Each year, Detroit’s Animal Care and Control picks up thousands of stray dogs from the streets and deals with countless dogs being surrendered to their care each day. Many more dogs are killed or left for dead in alleys, basements and abandoned homes, traces of dog fighting or unwanted animals left to rot like pieces of trash.

These are just a few photos from my journey working with Detroit Dog Rescue, a nonprofit that is not funded by the city, but chooses to operate and help the City of Detroit and its citizens on a daily basis.