Life’s Rollercoaster

It’s been a crazy couple of months for me. Traveling to China for the first time in five years can really throw your system off balance – and just about the time I felt steady on my feet again, Tippi left this mortal coil. It was the best for her. She didn’t have to suffer her ever growing list of illnesses, including a tumor in her stomach that Dr. S. found while he had her under to remove a cracked molar. She stopped breathing during recovery and they were unable to revive her.

Flying off to the Rainbow Bridge
October 11, 2011

I’ve pretty much kept up my normal shelter volunteering schedule. I think I’ve been hoping that the dogs I photograph will give me the doggy love I’m missing at home. The first week I only got a few photos done. Reggie, Rayna, & Hansel were all pretty young and not looking for someone to cuddle with.

Then last Wednesday I had some good little photo shoots. Itty-bitty puppies that would fit in your pocket. They had just eaten dinner and their bellies were HUGE. They looked like ticks ready to pop. One of them had eaten so much he was just sitting there crying.

Rubinos (63161)

McDonalds(63162)

Wendys (63163)

Bojangles (63164)

I was also able to finally get some good photos of Tiny Princess. In previous weeks her kennel was never clean, but D was working Dog Room A and Dog Room C that evening so any post-regular cleaning accidents were cleaned up. D’s the best and I was pleased to see her training A, one of the new volunteers, to those standards. A even brought warm fresh towels from the dryer for the itty-bitty puppies as her last task of the night.





Lola Baby is a wonderful spaz of a puppy. She’s going to be a big girl when she’s done growing as she looks to be about 20 lbs. and she’s only three months old. She’ll need someone who is a confident leader of the pack, but she’s a smart little dog.

Lola Baby (62118)

And then there was Rob, or better yet we’ll use his real name – Frog. A & L were talking about him when I first got to the Center, so I made a point of finding him and getting some photos of him. He was BIG and beautiful – friendly and very gentle. I would have sat down and cuddled him in the kennel, but there just wasn’t any room.





Saturday I went into the Center just to upload some photos and maybe take a photo or two. I ended up spending most of the day with lots of good photos shoots and doggy time.

I took photos of another litter of puppies – the “Smurf” family. These guys were bigger than the itty-bitty puppies from the other night and much more rambunctious. They immediately started a game of tug with my gown, which actually made for some cute shots.

Smurfette (62106)

Happy Smurf (62107)

Dreamy Smurf

Clumbsy Smurf

Riley - a.k.a. Azrael (62114)

Curious George was a real cool looking dude that I kept coming back to both Wednesday and Saturday. I love the shape of his head; it reminded me of a smooth-coated Chow Chow. A very sweet dog who just wanted someone to spend some time with him; after his photo shoot he kept looking down the aisle as if to say “aren’t you going to come back here and pet me some more?”

And this sweet little Pittie-type momma convinced me she needed her picture taken and a little attention. She was in the kennel next to the "Smurf" puppies and just quietly stood at the door and watched me go in and out. She gave me those big sad puppy dog eyes and I just had to stop in to see her.

"Sometimes you pick them and sometimes they pick you."

I found out that Frog had a brother – Bruegger (a.k.a. Booger). Bruegger is a big boy, not as big as his brother, with one blue eye and one hazel eye. Just before I did Curious George’s photo shoot I let a nice couple in Bruegger’s kennel for a meet and greet. He didn’t seem interested and kept looking at me wistfully. I wandered off hoping that they would make a connection. They didn’t, and another volunteer told me Bruegger acted the same with a couple of other potential adopters.

Bruegger was next on my list after Curious George and from the moment I stepped into his kennel he was wagging his tail and giving me his happiest expression. He was such a sweetie that I decided to sit down on the floor with him for a little while. He was immediately in my face touching his nose to mine. I told him to come sit down next to me, him being such a big boy. But he did more than that. He draped his big ol’ upper body into my lap and pressed his big ol’ head into my chest. We sat there and cuddled for the next 10 to 15 minutes. He was so sweet. He’d look up at me and put his snout up to my ear if I stopped stroking his head.

 My heart broke a little ‘cause he was all wrong for the Foote family: too soon – we decided no new dogs ‘til after the first of the year; too big – Charlie was thinking in terms of a smaller dog, like Snips, and Bruegger is bigger than Tippi in some ways; and too old – Bruegger is about 6 years old and we want a dog who isn’t quite so close to the “senior dog” vet visits.

I was hoping to go back on Sunday and cuddle with him some more but another volunteer pulled him that evening to go to Paw Prints Animal Rescue. I’m glad, as I know they’ll take good care of him until they find him a perfect home.

“Maybe Frog told him how nice I was or maybe Bruegger just recognized that I needed some serious doggy love that day.”

All my jokes were funny ...

Okay, not all of them ...

Return to the Dogs (& Cats)

“Is this the same as going to the dogs?”

Between To-Do Lists and a two-week trip to China it felt like forever since I had been to the Center. And with all the staff changes I felt like a real stranger walking in the back door as I always do. But a hearty “Hello, we missed you!” from A and J and I felt at home again.


I have two photo shoot sessions of pups to talk about so some have already found their way to their new forever homes.

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Laddy (52960)

Laddy’s a sweet little pointy nose collie-looking mix. He was very shy but buried his head in your lap once he knew you just wanted to love him.

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Frances (45930)

Frances is a chubby little Bull Dog mix. She gave me lots of “pitiful me” looks. I don’t know if that is her adoption strategy or her “get more treats” strategy.

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Lady (41434)

Lady is a beautiful brown and white Pittie mix. She has wonderful golden eyes and a cute brown nose that can make a Pittie face so endearing. She’s also full of energy that she uses to work that tail so hard her whole butt moves.

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Howard (61534)

Howard is a classic shelter pup, full of energy and looking for love. He did have some manners already and knew how to sit politely for a treat. I think he’ll make a good companion with love and proper training. I think he’ll make a good companion with love and proper training.

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Leroy (61630)

Isn’t Leroy handsome? Such a regal look. And those eyes, just pleading to go home with you. He was such a gentleman during his photo shoot – no bolting for the open kennel door, and sitting ever so patiently for a treat. I might have to visit him on my next shift just for a cuddle – that is, unless one of you lucky people takes him home first.

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Gabrielle (62431)

Gabrielle is tagged as a Border Collie/Irish Setter mix. She’s solid black with a small white blaze or two on her chest and the fur on her body is wavy – it reminds me of how my dad used to style my hair when I was a small girl. She loved being petted and would put her paw on your shoulder (I was sitting on the floor with her) while you gave her affection. Look at that happy face.

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Melinda (61692)

I stopped to get Melinda’s photo ‘cause all she had was a photo of the kennel wire. Volunteers had noted on her card that she was good on a leash and very sweet. And she is such a sweetie. She even let me hug her neck and kiss her head. And she’s so beautiful.

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Tiny Prince (52589)

I saw Tiny Prince online and was in a quandary – little dogs are adopted quickly, so why was he still there after several days? Maybe he was one of those crazy Chihuahuas that my friend R hates. Nope. He’s just shy and timid. He was pressed into the back corner of his kennel and began to shake when I got in there with him. It didn’t take too long to coax him out and then he just wanted to be in my lap. He even remembered me and ran up to the front when I walked through the room at the end of the night. He is heartworm positive but between his size and the Vet School offers he shouldn’t be that expensive to treat.

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He even laughed at my jokes!

I ended my evening by sneaking in to the cat room and taking some quick shots. Cuties one and all.


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Robin (62400) & Stacy (62401)

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Muskrat (62416)

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Stephen (62301)

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Scarface (62415)

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Windy Waddles (62167) & Timothy Twinkles (62168)

Red Heads

Sometimes it’s just all about the red heads; maybe it’s that we’re just naturally drawn to each other.

It was good to get back in there with all the dogs and I rather enjoyed working Saturday morning – the lighting was certainly better. But enough about that, let’s talk about the dogs.

Ella is one of those gangly young ladies who is super shy but has lots of energy. It just took one treat for her to warm up to me. She seemed like one of those dogs who should be a member of a family of runners or hikers – I think she’d really like that.

Tiramisu – another sweet redhead – just loved the attention she got from me. I think she would have been happy to have me sit with her in her kennel and love on her the rest of the day. Even when I accidentally rubbed her infected ear too hard she didn’t get upset – just a yelp to let me know that something was wrong and that I needed to leave a note on the board for the vet to take a look at her.

I think Big Boy got adopted before I even got home to download the photos. He did very well for a puppy – sitting still for those boring nasty treats we’ve been switched to. And yes, I can say this as I’ve tasted the Pupperonis and I’ve tasted these and they just have no taste … or smell.

I suspected this during my previous visit when stray dogs off the street would sniff the treat you’re handing them and turn away uninterested.

Molly Jackson was another lucky dog that was adopted before I could get her new photos exported. At three years old she still had plenty of energy and would love lots of walks. She was also quick to roll over and ask for a good belly rub.

Midnight is just your average run-of-the-mill sweet Pittie momma – but then again that’s what will make her very special to someone. Just look at that smile.

And then there was Cyrus. Don’t be fooled by his photo here, he is one large Akita mix. His pitiful teddy bear eyes drew me in and even though his size was on the scary side for me I knew I wanted to get in there and spend a little time with him. He is twelve years old and had been surrendered by his family the day before.

With all that fur he was in desperate need of a spa day as no one had bathed or groomed him in a very long time. The back half of him looked like he was covered in lambs wool rather than dog fur. Jenny got there just before I was planning on leaving and we took a couple of brushes to him. He was very sweet and patient with us for being in such a new situation and us working on all his mess. I’m hoping and praying that he finds a wonderful home for his golden years; somewhere to hang out with kids and do his favorite thing … sleep.


So I'm actually a little behind with my blog post - it was Saturday the 13th of August when I did this photoshoot. Everyone I talk about here has gone to a better place - some a new fabulous family and some to a place without hunger or sickness.

Oh, the Fluffy Ones

Yes, another fluffy one won my heart on Thursday. If only Tippi liked other dogs more and didn’t have her ‘elder-issues’, I would have asked Charlie if we could bring Aj home.

But first the puppies – I know they need me to photograph them, but it is so not my gig. Peteranya was okay – I – well, okay, she was more than okay – I really liked her. It was her beautiful blue eye and her lovely speckled coat. And she is nine months old so she has some manners.

Peteranya (57698)

Kris and Kristen are adorable, but they are all “rambunctious puppy,” even for just having their spay surgeries back on the 22nd. My photos don’t do them justice – they wouldn’t slow down enough for my camera. It just reminded me that I need a partner if I want to do puppies – need to set something up with Tracy.

Kristen (56376) & Kris (56373)

And this is Aj. He is so handsome I want to post every photo I took of him – from the regal to the laughing. He was so soft and could move his eyebrows that gave him such wonderful expressions. He was very mellow and oh, so sweet. He never jumped on me but would nuzzle my hand to be petted (no ‘hand flipping’ from him), and then he’d lick my fingers if I didn’t take the hint. Once or twice he lifted his paw to gently touch my knee for just a little more attention.

Aj (57532)

One of the rescues is probably going to pull Aj this weekend, but I’m sure the Center would help you find him. He is a wonderful dog.

Can’t Let the Mood Stop You

It came over me quickly at the end of the day. I didn’t want to go to the shelter. It wasn’t the dogs; it wasn’t the people; it wasn’t even the weight of working in a shelter – it was just a mood.

But I had to go. There was a Boxer there who desperately needed a photo shoot ASAP. After all as a Boxer she is part of the Bullie Breed crowd and when friends who have issues with Pitties and such tell you that you need to get a better photo of her you know you have to go. BTW: Her intake photo had her in a funny position, with a mushed face and glowing red-devil eyes from the flash.

Cersi (ID: 56812)

Cersi in Profile

When I found her she was in a kennel with her sister. Two white Boxers with blue eyes, cropped ears and nearly the same markings on their noses and chins. We were cozy – the three of us in one kennel. They were very sweet. Cersi was the more dominant of the two but not in a bad way. Arya was camera shy but took the best photos. You can really see her blue eyes. Cersi has blue eyes as well. It’s just a thinner ring of blue. Cersi was very good about sitting for her treats but they both like to put their paws on your chest looking for a treat or some affection. When Cersi did that she would snuffle in your face – luckily it was just air.


Arya (ID: 56813)



Life of the Party

Next I went and found Carley. I had taken some photos of her last week and she looked kind of pitiful with some hair loss that she has going on around her eyes. I’ve seen it before at the shelter and it’s nothing bad and the fur eventually grows back, but until then a black dog like her can look bad. So, I had Julie bring in the “Hello Kitty” hoodie. Carley still gave me pitiful looks every time I pointed the camera at her and I never could get the hood to stay up, but in the end I was able to get a few cute, happy shots. Her behavior has improved from last week; someone must be cuddling her and working on her manners. She already knows ‘sit’. She’s going to be a good dog someday.


Carley (ID: 54643)



Happy Girl




















Even spending time with the dogs didn’t improve my mood. I just felt tired so I went home. I felt bad – there were so many dogs that needed their photo taken and so many of the sweeties that I’d photographed in the past were there looking sweet and pitiful all at the same time. And that’s when you realize that you can’t give up – you might have to cut back a little for your own wellbeing, but you have to keep going for these guys.

And isn’t that true in most things we do in our lives that we care about? Charlie had a real tough moment with Tippi this week. The diapering, controlling her water intake and especially cleaning up after her finally maxed him out. But after we had a chance to talk about it and revisit another solution to finding shredded-wet diaper all over the house, he looked at her and realized you can’t give up on her … not now … not yet.