Vincent Giordano/Trinacria PhotographyRemember Draven Rodriguez, the student from Schenectady High School in upstate New York who just wanted to include his gloriously fluffy cat in his yearbook photo? Of course you do. And if you don't, just take a gander at his photo above and it'll all come rushing back to you.
Well, he got his happy ending after petitioning to have his original and laser-rific portrait included in the school's yearbook. Sort of.
Principal Diane Wilkinson told the Times Union that Draven's photo will be included in the yearbook, just not in the official senior portrait section. Laaaame.
"Being principal of 2,400 kids, you want to think of all the kids who want to have a professional shot that looks consistent in that area," Wilkinson said. "I loved Draven's picture so much."
So much so that she decided to join him for another pet photo shoot to be used as the portrait on her yearbook page.
"I generally have a boring head shot and, like Draven, I loved his original photo," she said.
Draven and his cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, posed with the principal and her dog, Vivienne, for another laser-infused glamour shot. The magic was once again created by Vincent Giordano of Trinacria Photography.
The photo will run on her page with a message "advocating animal rescue and adoption," and all donations will go toward the Animal Protective Foundation in Glenville, N.Y., which is pretty damn awesome. We forgive the principal for keeping Draven's portrait out of the student section now, but only just barely.
"It's important that we give these dogs and cats and other rescue animals a good home because they deserve it," Draven said. "Everyone needs to be loved, and animals deserve no exception."
Mr. Bigglesworth and Vivienne…together at last! Now can we get an animated web series starring the giant cat and the wee dog? We'd watch the hell out of it.