Ever have one of those weeks where you have no energy, no will to do anything productive – even the fun stuff? I skipped my normal Tuesday night shift at the WCAC, but I just couldn't stay away for the entire week. So, while Charlie took his online Friday quiz for his Logic class, I went to the shelter to take photos of adorable dogs that need homes.
Friday always feels strange at the WCAC as that's Gabi's day off. This Friday seemed especially quiet, almost creepy. I went to put the new signs on the volunteer board and that's when I saw it – Gabi's letter to the volunteers that her last day as full-time volunteer coordinator will be February 15th. I'm so happy for her and her future addition to the family, but I am so bummed for the Center. I told her that she has to make sure her replacement has that same bubbly personality she has.
No time to sulk; I mean, after all she'll still be around part-time even after the baby gets here, and there are puppies who need new "head shots" to be "discovered."
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| Star (ID: 45565) |
My list of "OMG they need a photo shoot" was short this evening, but I found Star in Dog Room B and got to work. She's a beautiful little black & white bully mix. She was bouncing all over the kennel door as I got ready to go in, but she quickly calmed down once I was in her kennel. She didn't jump on me at all and sat as soon as I asked her to. And when she took the treats from me she was just super gentle. She has that soft muzzle that I first fell in love with on Keisha. I really need to make sure that her online bio gets updated with this info as "who she is when she's with you" is different from "who she looks like from the other side of the fence."
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| Paisley (ID: 45401) |
Next I came across Paisley – a he? Really, "he"? Who names a little boy Paisley? – Anyway, he was listed as being in foster care but here he was. I had noticed his need of a photo shoot when I was putting his foster post together earlier. He's a pretty good little guy. Still a puppy so he needs a little time to calm down. Again, I was impressed with how gently he took the treats from my fingers.
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| Robyn (ID: 45438) |
Robyn has an intense look and didn't seem to care for me the first time I came through Dog Room B. But later when I took off my glasses and started working with some of the other dogs she started making little crying noises. Yep, she suckered me into a photo shoot even though someone had just done an outdoor shoot with her. She's another one of those sweet bully breed mixes that has a rather intense, almost scary look, but is really quite gentle. I kind of like this "laughing" shot best.
George, Bruer, Alfie, & Billy Jean were sweet – not quite as gentle as well-trained – but they all had the potential. I do think the Center needs to have a mani/pedi spa weekend as they had some pointy little claws.
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| George (ID: 47153) |
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| Bruer (ID: 47038) |
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| Alphie (ID: 46562) |
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| Billy Jean (ID: 45754) |
Maybe it was a remnant of my mood this past week, but I had a moment Friday night where my heart hurt for all those pups in Dog Room B.
It was a quiet night. Only a couple of potential new owners. I didn't see any dog walkers or cuddlers – just one Canine College trainer. Even staff had finished for the night and gone. All the dogs were watching me, not a lot of barking, but so many of them standing up with one paw slightly higher than the other – a little gesture to go with the look, the look that was just asking for a little attention, a little treat, a little scratch behind the ears, a little cuddle, a little love.
The holidays really threw a monkey wrench in the works when it came to me taking pictures of cute dogs that need good homes, but I'm happy to report that of the dozen or so dogs that I had in my WCAC Paparazzi Flickr set, the majority were adopted. I do wish I could find out more about who adopted some of my favorites, though. Will they have lots of folks to give them love? Will they be someone's new "wingman"? Do they have a big yard to play in? Did they get a new name and what is it?
I was told recently "the menopause" can cause some clumsiness until the chemicals in your brain settle down. Well, let me just say last night I found that to be beyond just annoying. I had just gotten in the kennel with my fourth dog. She was a boisterous little thing, but not chaotic. As I took my camera off my neck to bring it around front to shoot, it happened — it slipped out of my hands and hit the floor. Let me tell you, the sound of a Canon Rebel XTi & 50 mm lens bouncing on a concrete floor cuts right through your heart. DANG IT!
Fingers crossed – pick it up – whew, it still turns on and off. Point at dog. Press button.
Nothing.
Inspect camera. Ah, nothing's happening because the camera won't focus. Well, that was that. I packed up and headed home, bummed about the money I would need to spend, money that wasn't in our new improved 2011 family budget. Mostly I was bummed because although this is an inexpensive lens, I rock with it and would have to replace it.
You've heard of "percussive maintenance," right? That's the one where you smack your computer on the side and it starts working again. Charlie performed what I'm going to call "applied pressure maintenance" to my lens when I got home, and IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING! I'll need to set aside some time this weekend to do a focus and depth-of-field test, but I think we might be okay.
Enough of the drama. On to the good stuff - the pups of the week!
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| Delilah (ID: 32629) |
OMG, Delilah - Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen? She's almost three years old, about 40 pounds, and as sweet as can be. She's already been spayed, so her adoption fee is only $45.00. It also means she can go home today if you like her.
Boone was just one of those sweet gangly dogs with lots and lots of energy.
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| Boone (ID: 46699) |
Tracy says he looks like a moonshiner's dog. I can just see him riding around with Bo & Luke Duke! LOL!
Ethel was on the top of my list to get a photo of last night. She's been at the WCAC for 20 days and the only photo of her was of the kennel door. She was a sweetie and not too crazy. She's kind of funny looking 'cause she's really skinny, has those sad, droopy Bloodhound eyes, and a long whip of a tail that feels like a whip when she wags it and it smacks you in the back of the legs.
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| Ethel (ID: 45960) |
Well, that's all for this week at the WCAC. Don't forget – spaying and neutering save lives! Happy New Year!
