Community animal welfare organization T-Town Paws is teaming with the Animal League of Birmingham to create a coffee table book featuring the dogs of Tuscaloosa. The book will be called “Hottest Hounds of Tuscaloosa,” and one of the final photo shoots for it is taking place Sunday at Shelby Park.

“Anyone and any dog is welcome, rescue or pure breed,” said Cassie Moore, the book’s coordinator. “It’s really fun, and the book has become a popular thing.”

Moore, a Birmingham resident, completed the Birmingham edition in November with the help of The Animal League of Birmingham and said the response was so great they decided to take their idea to different cities. Tuscaloosa is their second.

“People loved it so much that we wanted to do it more, plus it’s a great way to raise money for local animal organizations,” Moore said.

When they decided to expand their reach, Tuscaloosa was their first choice, and upon asking around about which animal organization to support, Moore said almost every person told her about T-Town Paws.

“They are a great organization, and we are happy to be in partnership in this book,” Moore said.

T-Town Paws will get a percentage of every book purchase, as will the Animal League of Birmingham.

The Birmingham edition of the book, released last November, featured over 270 dogs and currently sells for $40. For its release, the Animal League of Birmingham put on a premiere party, complete with a red carpet and “puparazzi.” Moore hopes to hold a similar event for the Tuscaloosa release.

It does cost money to have your dog or dogs in the book, but prices are according to page space, not number of dogs in the photo. A half page picture costs $50, a full page is $100 and a full two-page spread runs $200. There are over 30 dogs signed up for the photo shoot on Sunday, and Moore said there is still room for more appointments.

The book is being published and printed in Birmingham by Ebsco Industries, who also published the Birmingham edition. The photos will be taken by professional photographer Ann Wade Parrish, who worked on the Birmingham edition, as well. Moore said the first book turned out so well that she didn’t want to change anything.

The book is slated for a May or June release, and the cost will be either $40 or $45.

“It’s a great way to support the local animal organizations and to get a really good coffee table book,” Moore said.

Those interested in signing up for the Sunday shoot should contact Cassie Moore by phone at 205-752-8298 or e-mail at [email protected].