Missed It

Well, here it is mid-March and I missed taking pictures the entire month of February.

And I also missed talking about spaying and neutering your pets. February was National Spay and Neuter Month. But you know what, it’s never too late to talk about this important topic. Responsible ownership is very important to making sure that every dog, cat, and rabbit has been spayed or neutered. Not only is it better for your pet, but it also makes them part of the solution in keeping down the stray pet population.

Each year the Wake County Animal Shelter (WCAC) takes in tens of thousands of animals, too many to find homes for and many of them are damaged by careless owners and not adoptable. Let me show you some of the sweet dogs that didn't make it out in 2012.

Hoppy Fuziwugs

Gabba

Mr. Wrinkles

Meea

Gary

Buffy

Nano

Cookie

Vanilla

Lizbeth

Goldy

Melanie

Lauren

Maola Mae

Joyeux Noel

Riddick

Zeus (I do occasionally photograph cats)

So, tell your friends, tell your family, tell everyone the importance of spaying and neutering. And head over to the WCAC website to see all the great animals looking for furever homes – your new best friend could be just a click away!

They Aren’t All Alike

So, when I look back on all the dogs I photographed Wednesday evening I find they look a lot alike … black and white Pittie types … but meeting each one you know that underneath all that pent up shelter energy is a personality all their own.

Ruff Stuff (WCAC ID: 72815)

This little guy Ruff Stuff was quite insistent while I was in with other dogs to come into his kennel. He had lots of energy and started to turn circles in his kennel when he got too excited. Even so, he was pretty polite for a young dog. And those ears, you got to love those ears!

Mason (WCAC ID: 73426)

Mason is on the other end of the spectrum as far as age goes – he’s a little over seven years old; but I found him to be almost as energetic as a young pup. He lost his home and his family. He has a great set of tricks that he knows like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” “come,” “give paw” and “play dead.” He had just returned from an evening walk with JP so we got to see lots of that pink tongue of his.

We don’t know much about George because he came into the shelter as a stray. He is a volunteer favorite and A made a point of pointing him out to me as one who would sit nice for a photo. He has the best pleading look. He wasn’t comfortable with the camera so I was only able to get this one shot of that look. But even with his ears out like airplane wings he does have a little bit of a regal look. He was gentle and low energy, which is great when you’re spending a lot of time with exuberant puppies.

Dragon Fruit (WCAC ID: 74310)

This little girl, Dragon Fruit, is not only cute as a button but is very sweet as well. She’s about four months old. For being such a young thing, she did very well during her photo shoot.

Bonita (WCAC ID: 74423)

Now although Vanilla, Mike, and Bonita look like a family they each have their own specific story. Bonita is just a cute pup. She’s about five months old and had some spunk, but settled nicely once I brought out the treats.

Vanilla (WCAC ID: 73923)

Vanilla could be Bonita’s “Other Mother.” She has beautiful black and white coloring like Bonita. She too had just come back from a walk and was still excited from it all.

Mike (WCAC ID: 73376)

And then there’s Mike. A told me to take his photo as he was a really low key dog who knows “sit” and would take a great photo. He’s a handsome boy and seems like a great dog for that right person.

Volunteering at the shelter has brought out an appreciation of Pittie types that I didn’t know I had. Recently, my search for a Bulldog for a friend and dog sitting Princess has made me appreciate the “smushy face” … even Charlie says that since our fostering of Bubba Rex he’s been drawn to the cuteness of Boxer types. Why do I bring this up?

Jeanne (WCAC ID: 73218)

Because of this cutie pie – okay, maybe Jeanne’s face isn’t as smushy as Princess or as boxy as Rex’s, but isn’t she adorable?!?

These are just a sample of the dogs that need homes. Check out the Wake County Animal Center’s website to see all the great pets. You can also stop by any day of the week between the hours of noon and 6:00 p.m. to meet all these babes in person. Don’t wait, stop by today!

So many you can’t pick just one

Thursday night I headed to the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) to take some doggy glamour shots. Oh, I knew there was a possibility I’d bring one home with me as Princess had gone home and her visit had made me realize the lack of dog in my life. Click here to read about our newest fosterdog, Sookie.

The WCAC is over flowing with dogs right now (cats, too) and that’s never a good thing. Click here to see all our animals in need of a home.  Or click here if you want to become afoster for the WCAC.

While they were processing my foster request for Sookie, I tried to get some photos of pups who had been there a while but who hadn’t had a photo shoot yet.

As it is said, “Always start with dessert first.”

Brownie is a sweet pup.  I love his eyes and his coloring. He’s still a puppy, so yeah he needs some training and manners but did very well during his photo shoot considering I had forgotten to bring any treats with me. Look at those ears – you just have to want to see them perk up as he sees his loving family come for him.

Now if I found Brownie to be full of puppy energy, Goldy showed me what true puppy energy is. If you’re looking for a playmate or a running or hiking partner, this is the girl for you!

Reilly is finally being adopted. I say finally ‘cause I couldn’t believe that no one had scooped up this handsome guy before now.

If you like big furry dogs, stop by the WCAC any day of the week between noon and 6:00 PM and meet Hercules. He is such a beauty. Look at those eyes and the cock of his head. Doesn’t it just draw you in and pull your heartstrings to bring this boy into your family? He is heartworm positive, but there are low cost treatment options. I will always do preventatives to keep my dogs from getting heartworms, but all I’ve learned over the last couple of years from WCAC staff had made heartworms less frightening than I once thought.

Hercules (ID: 73777)

So, don’t wait – click here to see all the lovelies who are looking for their furever families and stop by any day of the week to meet them in person.