Fez and Lucy - Puppies!

It's never easy to lose your pet. Especially when it's unexpected and way, way too early. Sometimes the hole left in your heart is so big, it takes two pets to refill it. Earlier this year, my clients unexpectedly lost their dog at the young age of 7. When they were ready to hear the pitter-patter of little feet again they thought, "how about 8 feet instead of 4"? This is how Fez and Lucy entered their lives. Not wanting to forget a moment of these little guys' puppyhood, my clients decided to have them professionally photographed at the ripe age of 3 months.

Fez (the brindle Boston Terrier) and Lucy (the black-and-white Boston Terrier) brought the cuteness and had me smiling the whole photo shoot (well, between the awwwwwws)! I hope you enjoy their sneak peek!

Puppy cuteness!!!!!Lucy was OBSESSED with the tall grass. It was ADORABLE! Her goal was to catch every piece in her mouth...and she was pretty good at it!Of course there's some sibling rivalry. In a whole field of sticks, the best one is the one your sibling has!Oh, Fez...Lucy may have been obsessed over tall grass, but Fez was obsessed over sticks. And I mean sticks that were WAY to big for him!This little family is just too cute together...Fez and Lucy, I look forward to watching you grow up. Keep putting smiles on your mommy's and daddy's faces! 

Bowling For Fur

This past Sunday, I got to hang out with a great group of people and volunteers from the Humane Society of Iredell (HSI). They hosted an awesome event, Bowling for Fur, at Victory Lanes in Mooreville. The day was filled with bowling, food, raffles, and of course, pet adoptions. I was on hand to offer a gift certificate in the raffle and grab some quick shots of the pups on display. I was even allowed to bowl and I didn't do *too* shabby ;). Many thanks go out to the the sponsors, volunteers, NASCAR drivers, and supporters that came out to make this event a success. I had such a blast and couldn't keep the smile off my face the whole day! I can't wait to do volunteer work for this great organization!

HSI is not supported by government, county or state funded, nor are they supported by the Humane Society of the United States. They are a volunteer-based organization that rely solely on donations and support from people like you. If you would like to adopt a furry friend, volunteer, or donate food, blankets, towels, crates, leashes, etc, please contact the Humane Society of Iredell.

On to the doggies!

This first gorgeous girl is Lilly. She is still pretty young and just the cutest lady!

Next up is BB. She is a little scruffy dog and, yes, I LOVE me some scruffy dogs! Not to mention her underbite and Gremlin-style ears are to die for! :)This next girl is Sarah. Her foster mommy spoils her with pretty dresses and Sarah just eats it up! Can't you see the love these two have for each other?

This is Sarah's "sister" Daphne. She also gets to dress up and hang out at the adoption events with the volunteers.What is a pet adoption post without a success story? Well almost two years ago, Chaddy, the kitty pictured below, was rescued from HSI and placed in the best home EVER! He gets to hang out in public just like a dog and even has his own tricked-out stroller. He travels to races and has even had his picture taken with some of the greats in NASCAR! He gets the best clothes and is sporting a HSI volunteer shirt in these photos. Oh, what a life!

The Dog Days of Summer - Part 2

I'm soooo excited to write this blog post - I can barely type!!! Why, you ask? Well, two reasons. Number 1 is because most of these shots were taken with my awesome new 50mm f/1.4 lens - in fact, these are the first pictures I have taken with it. I must say, I love it already!!! I can't wait to play around with it some more and see what all that baby can do. Reason number 2 is because you, my friend, are in for some major Great Dane Rescue cuteness overload...like out of this world cuteness! Now on to the pics... I'll start out with a kicker! Who can resist this furry little face with those oh-so-adorable eyelashes!?!

I'm not really sure if these little ones are going to be up for adoption, but I just couldn't resist posting their pics!

This sweet little man is Charlie. He is about 12 years old and was brought to the rescue as an owner surrender. This poor guy is so confused why he is here and just wants to curl up in someone's lap and feel safe again...

Next we have Sammie and a handsome white poodle. Sammie is the sweetest girl and has given birth to several of the black doggies I have photographed at the rescue. She isn't too good around other dogs but is a real cuddle bear with people. The white poodle is currently nameless but was definitely someone's baby at one time in his life. He loves to sit on your lap and will give you instant attention when the treats are pulled out!

Here they both are with their cutest faces and best smiles...

Luke is a Boxer/Hound mix of sorts and has a heart of gold. He will be awesome with a family that can give him tons of playtime because he loves his toys!

This next set of puppies will really get your heart racing. In total, there will be 6 little Hound pups available so get ready to make room in your house...

These last couple images remind me of why I volunteer at the Great Dane Rescue. No matter what breed, age, size, or shape, all these poor dogs want is for someone to take them home, give them a warm bed, plenty of food, and lots of kisses. I hope I help that happen.

The Dog Days of Summer - Part 1

As most of you know, it has been a hot few weeks here in the south. Luckily enough, most of us are blessed to have a comfortable home with a thermostat and chilly air conditioning. However, not everyone is so lucky...especially the animals that get left behind. This past Sunday, I spent some time volunteering at the Great Dane Rescue of the Carolinas. This time it seemed different - it seemed strangely quiet and I didn't see all of the dogs as I glanced around. Well, with temperatures closing in on 100 degrees and the humidity hovering at 50-60 percent, most of the dogs were hiding in their houses in what little shade the high noon sun could provide.

Please don't forget these helpless animals this time of year. They would give anything to be able to sprawl out on your living room floor and chill under the ceiling fan and A/C vent. Here are just a few of the pups that need a comfortable home...

This sweet boy is Waylon. Despite the heat, he was ready to play with me and then settle down for a good chest scratching. He was definitely my favorite of the day!

Next is Christian (on the left) and WillowBear. Christian is a new arrival and WillowBear has been at the rescue for quite some time. WillowBear will be a gorgeous dog with some grooming and care. She is a sweet girl with great manners!

Next we have some Great Dane puppies!!! They are super cute and will melt your heart!