What Does Aging Mean?

Old animals

Buddy

the horse

Blind after, the owner sent it to the animal shelter. Later, because of rainbow eye inflammation, 'Buddy' was operated on.

Old 'Buddy' the Appaloosa horse was 28 years old, which is considered old age.

'Allow to Grow Old' is Isa Leshko's 10-year photography project.

Ten years ago, Isa's mother was unfortunately diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and her memory quickly disappeared from her brain. As a photographer, she couldn't muster the courage to preserve her mother's increasingly aging photos. One day, Isa encountered 'Buddy' at a relative's farm, and spent an afternoon with the old horse, taking many pictures. When Isa sorted the film in the studio, her emotions finally found release, and she found a way to dispel the pain of facing disease and aging – by photographing old animals, treating all life equally.

'Blue', is Isa's first recorded Australian Carlbury dog, it was already 19 years old. The average lifespan of a dog is 10 - 15 years. After being photographed, 'Blue' lived peacefully for 10 years until it died at the age of 29.

'Buddy' and 'Blue' were just the beginning, Isa continued to visit animal shelters in the United States, and began to consciously photograph old animals in different backgrounds. These animals, like humans, differed in their emotions and states due to different experiences – some were abused, some were well-cared for, some were domesticated, and some were used for commercial purposes…

St. Croix, California, is just a stone's throw from Los Angeles. In the 19th century, it was an important area for supplying basic raw materials to the city. With the changing business model, the island's livestock industry quickly went bankrupt, the ranchers left, leaving only sheep.

'Forest' is the descendant of those sheep. A few years ago, the U.S. government classified these wild sheep as causing ecological damage and began organized extermination, which was learned by animal lovers, many sheep were rescued from the island, including 'Forest'.

When this sheep was photographed, it was 16 years old.

'Forest' the sheep of St. Croix was 16 years old.

'Friese' is a Finnish sheep breed named Zebulon and Isalah, both suffered from severe arthritis due to premature birth, and were kept in cages until they were taken to the shelter.

While Viole, a pig, was born with a congenital disability, the owner couldn't take care of it, so it was also sent to the shelter.

Zebulon and Isalah were Finnish sheep, 12 years old.

Viole pig, 12 years old.

According to statistics, about 50 billion livestock animals are raised in factories globally each year, most of which are slaughtered before they are 6 months old, and the lives that slowly grow old in animal shelters are undoubtedly real miracles.

Belser Holstein cow, 20 years old.

Abe Highland goat, 21 years old.

Sofia short-haired cat, 19 years old.

Bob's donkey, 24 years old.

Kelly Irish Wolfhound, 11 years old.

Phyllis without wool sheep, 31 years old.

Rooster, unknown age.

Moonlight Quarter horse, 32 years old.

Tree frog, monkey, 30 years old.

Creek wolf, 17 years old.

Pumpkin Morgan Arabian horse, 28 years old.

Reed dog, 14 years old.

Marino Bronze Turkey, 5 years old.

Through 10 years of photography, Isa not only could face her mother's disease, but also had a deeper understanding of aging and death. The charm and dignity reflected in these images are the best proof.

In nature, there are many lives, including those of species other than humans that grow old and die, and what does it represent to slowly grow old?

It is a luxury, not a curse.

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