Merry Christmas From Fur Ever Yours!

Wanting to wish all of you a Merry Christmas from Fur Ever Yours Pet Photography.  I pray your holiday is filled with love and cheer from all of those that have gathered near.  I pray you have safe travels, and your stockings are over flowing!

I say a prayer for every little Fur Baby out there looking for a home on this Christmas Season.  I pray for all of those that have been adopted for "Christmas presents" that they will be IN their FUR EVER home and not an "until February" gets here home.  So many people get a dog for Christmas and then grow tired of them and cast them away because they are chewing things up, pottying on the floor, or need too much attention.  Puppies and kittens are like babies, they take our time and our attention.  It isn't easy to train them, it isn't easy to raise them.  If you wouldn't cast aside your child because the going gets tough, please do not cast away your pet for the same reasons.  They are a part of your family too and deserve your love.

I look forward to the New Year and meeting and photographing many new dogs! 

We had a snow storm several days ago that had high winds, and during that time we lost our power for a few hours.  So I took that oppurtunity to corral my Molly and Karmen into a photo shoot.  Didn't take much, just offering a few doggy treats and they were good to go.  Below is a result of our little festive photo shoot. 








They wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Over the weekend my family and I had the oppurtunity to stay at a hotel in Columbia, MO.  Residence Inn by Marriott.  They are a PET FRIENDLY hotel! Very lovely suites! They had a WONDERFUL contenintal breakfast, the indoor heated pool was lovely too! The staff was amazing, and they had dog treats at the front desk, and an area for your dogs to go potty with complimentary doggy bags and waste containment spot.  Below are some photos of Molly and Karmen enjoying the hotel.










Our trip was rather spontaneous and I knew there was no way I could get them squeezed into one of the local boarders for the 2 days we were gone, so I was thrilled that the hotel was pet friendly! This was the first time my dogs have been in a hotel, or on a road trip that was longer than heading to the vets office or the boaders house.  They did very well, I was proud of them.  Seems like all of the obedience training I'm always attempting to do with them, actually paid off! They were on their best behavior while we were there.  There was ONE time I was afraid there might be an issue....

We were getting off of the elevator and my gals were sitting at my feet waiting for us to get off at our floor.  The elevator stopped the girls stood up and got to the doors right as the doors popped open and BAM walking into the elevator as we were walking out....a HUGE great dane.  I'm not sure which of us was more suprised!  I ended up shutting the elevator doors and picking my girls up and pushing the button again and trying that again.  Went much smoother that time. The other pet owner and I had a good laugh at the suprised expressions on the dogs faces!

The dogs were good though, and it was nice to have the whole family together.

We had a bit of a family reunion over the weekend while we were out of town, which was nice.  My kids got to meet some cousin their age so that was super adorable.  I was able to take all of the youngers up to our hotel room and we made cookies, so it was so cute to see the cousins together baking and decorating cookies!












We're just sitting around home now...waiting for the youngest child to fall asleep.  Santa has some presents he'd like to put out before 5 in the morning!  However, the youngest son is being INSANELY difficult.  Can't wait to see the kids and the dogs in the morning with all of their gifts!

Again, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, to you and all of your pets!

Mae (Fur Ever Yours Pet Photography, find us on Facebook too!)

Fur Ever A New Start

I again, apologize for the lack of updating, that is my fault.  I get very busy around my house with my 3 kids, my own pets and volunteering for the animal shelter.  Most of the time it's all I can do to keep up with the Shelters Facebook Page.  I'll admit, I'm not always super at getting updates, but I try to do my best.  There just aren't enough hours in the day to always fill all the rolls I need to fill.

My latest journey is creating a Facebook Page for Fur Ever Yours Pet Photography (I do more than just pets, but I do specialize in photographing pets).  It's a small start, nothing big right now, still just getting my paws wet. 

If you'd like to check it out, please do so here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fur-Ever-Yours-Pet-Photography/443728815694388?ref=hl

Yesterday I went to a friends house, she is a dog groomer and has several dogs also that need to find homes, little rescue dogs.  I'd like to introduce you to a few of them.

This little beauty, is Hershey.  She is a 2 year old chocolate lab. 
Beautiful and sweet. She is also, blind.  So she needs someone super special
who can help her and work with her.  She needs a home
where she would be the only dog, or maybe 1 other dog. 
Hershey is spayed, up to date on shots, and heart worm negative.

I do not have a lot info on this little sweet heart, but
she is part shitzu. 

Another little lady, who is also part shitzu she has the cutest
little over bite.

This sweet little guy needs some vetting on an eye. 
He was found with a LOT of matted fur and cockle
burs around his eye so he has little eye infections
at the moment that they are trying to get to heal. 
So it is a little red and irritated around one eye, but
can be made all better with time and patience and
the care of a good vet.

Very sweet and loveable Molly! She is just the sweetest little dust mop of a pup! So playful and sweet and eager to be your friend.  She is so smart and friendly.Such a sweet little personality!

I had fun meeting these sweet hearts and photographing them, they did quite well.  Molly is very photogenic I think!

I can't wait to go out again and see so the adorable fur babies!

Still going to the shelter every Friday and working my hardest with the many other volunteers to help the dogs at the shelter.  The shelter sure does have some great volunteers! They all work throughout the week, not just on Friday's to help save the dogs at our local shelter. 

Several have gotten together and created an auction page to raise money to be used to help the dogs at the shelter, or other dogs in need.  Here is a link to the auction page they started if you would like to check it out! They do great work! Keep it up ladies!
https://www.facebook.com/SavingDogs4PawsAtATime?fref=ts

Another volunteer has created a page for ALL dogs and pets that are in need of rescue in Missouri! There are so many different pets that are often in need of rescue and help, and she is stepping forward to help these pets in need, helping get them in touch with others who may be able to help them, please check out that page here: https://www.facebook.com/SavingDogs4PawsAtATime?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/groups/611819788843929/?fref=ts

So many good things are happening for the animals at our local shelter! Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who show up for all of the volunteer oppurtunities, thank you to those who donate money and help sponsor dogs, and to those that network the dogs.  Everyone plays a part and we thank you all so much for all that is done.  As with all groups, there are times when communication isn't always the greatest, so sometimes there are mix ups and some people don't know about plans and what not.  It happens.  However, I appreciate and thank all of the volunteers for sticking together and getting through and realizing that accidents happen and none of the volunteers want to intentionally leave anyone out that would be of help to the dogs at the shelter.  It takes a whole community to come together to help the dogs.  A group of raised haunches and bared teeth do nothing to help the dogs at the shelter, so staying calm and acting adult is the way to go about doing things.  No one is "alpha dog" we're a team.  A team working together to help the ones that need the help the most, the SHELTER DOGS!   Please, check out the shelter dogs page here: https://www.facebook.com/MoberlyMOAnimalShelter?ref=hl

It has been nearly a year before I started helping at the shelter (February/March marks a full year since I started photographing dogs, March/April marks a full year since I started taking photos at the shelter.)  All thanks to my friend Jody and her passion for helping dogs.  She's the one who got this ball rolling! None of it would have been possible without gentle nudges from her. 

We have so many volunteers at the shelter now, it's fantastic! All ages are always welcome to come out and volunteer. 

What have the volunteers accomplished this year?

They've helped numerous dogs get adopted, they come out and they walk dogs on Friday's (and now several go out during the rest of the week and walk dogs too, NOT just on Friday's anymore!)  We helped organize a yard sale, and donated many many items to the shelter that helped the shelter purchase the items needed to make a big fenced in out door enclosure for the shelter dogs to go out and run and play in.  It has been well used and is fantastic.  The shelter has many more fosters now  thanks to having volunteers at the shelter. 

So many compassionate people coming together to help the dogs, that includes everyone from the ACO to even the tiniest volunteer.  Thank you to everyone who helps in anyway they can.
I have been so thankful to this oppurtunity in my life.  To get out and meet others, help my community, help dogs whom I have always loved, and it has helped me pursue and my photography, and helped me find the subject I love to photograph the most, pets, and their families. 

I've still got a long way to go, photography is a constant learning process you are always honing in on your skill and learning new ways to do things, always improving as you go along.  So many tips and tricks to learn. 

I look forward to meeting many more new people!

Mae

Help Your Local Shelters

Wow! So I am so proud of the Girl Scout Troop in Macon, MO! A town neighboring ours.  Girl Scout Troop 9501 is working hard for the Macon, CO Animal Shelter.  They are walking the dogs, and the girls have created a lovely Facebook group to help their local shelter.  I am very proud of these young ladies and their hard work and dedication.  Please, keep it up! You are making a difference!
 
I've been worried about the Macon shelter and have been hoping that someone would start doing this for them soon.  So I am definetley thrilled to see what these young ladies are doing.  Maybe eventually we can work on a project together to help our shelters, and get some dogs adopted! I love it when people get involved and CARE about their local shelter!
 
Anything that helps save these dogs lives, is wonderful!
 
If you would like to check out their Facebook page, please look for it here: Macon Animal Shelter 
 
I am so looking forward to all of the wonderful things these ladies will be doing for their shelter.  Way to go Girl Scout Troop 9501! Keep up the great work!
 
Our own shelter in Moberly, will be participating in the local Veterans Day Parade on Saturday Nov. 10th.  I do not have a time or location as of yet, I am hoping to have that this week from the Shelter Volunteer who is heading up our participation in the local parades. 
 
We have a few upcoming projects that we will be tackling after Thanksgiving and I am very excited to start them! Have already been getting a bit of a head start, and have some other projects lined up for this spring as well! I am very excited for the upcoming events and such!!
 
I am loving all of the volunteers we've had coming out, we appreciate all of the hard work from everyone, you guys are wonderful! All it takes is one volunteer to get the ball rolling!
 
I am so very happy that a friend asked me to come to the shelter back in March/April of this year.  Going in to that shelter has been one of the best things that has happened.  I've met so many AMAZING people, have saved the lives of MANY dogs, and have been able to do so many amazing things I never would have gotten a chance to do otherwise.  Going into that shelter, and beginning to photograph those dogs, and then from there creating the Facebook page for the shelter, and this blog, and the Shelter Twitter page...it's all been amazing.  It's made a difference in the lives of dogs in our community.  It's helping them get adopted into loving homes, and not meet their fate in a horrible gas chamber. 
 
Every single volunteer that comes to help at the shelter, you are saving lives.  You are making a difference! You MATTER!
 
Get involved.  What do you have to lose?  Think about all that you GAIN!

 

New friends

A wonderful volunteer experience
You might even add a new furry member to your family that you didn't even know you were missing!
It makes you feel good to help others who need your help. 
You are doing a GOOD THING .
 
There are so many other benefits to volunteering at your local animal shelter!
 
There are so many WAYS inwhich you can help.
 

• Share our posts.  Share the dogs that we post on the page, tell your friends ABOUT out Facebook page, and about the shelter.  Tell them how to get to the shelter, and tell them when Volunteer days are and that EVERYONE is important.
• Tell people to adopt from the shelter, adopt, don't shop.
• Encourage people to spay and neuter their pets.
• Show up and volunteer your time to walk a dog.
• Sponsor a dog (you can pay all or part of a dogs adoption fee, or if a dog needs some kind of medical care you can donate to go towards that)
• When you have a birthday party or something have people donate items to the shelter in your name (my 5 year old daughter just did that this September, collected donations for the shelter instead of getting presents for herself.  If a 5 year old can do that, than so can an adult!). 
• Adopt from the shelter.
• Become a foster.
• Help transport a dog to a rescue group (or help pay for gas so someone can transport a dog to a rescue group!)
• Show up and volunteer at one of our events (either an adoption event, or help at a parade, or something like that).
• Donate.  The shelter always needs bleach, collars, leashes, food bowls, toys, dog beds, blankets, chew bones, dog treats, and money.  Donations are ALWAYS awesome!
• Do you have an idea on a fundraiser you can do for the shelter?  Are you a local group (Church/Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts/4H etc etc) that wants to get involved?  Call the shelter and see HOW you can help.  Your help is NEEDED, your help is WANTED.  All you have to do is take that first step!

 
Call the shelter at (660)833-7330 to find out how YOU can be of assistance!

 

Below are some of the sweetest dogs that are currently at our shelter needing YOUR HELP! Please click the photos of the dog to be taken to their photo on the Shelter's Facebook Page and their information.  Clicking the Map will take you directly to our Shelter's Facebook Page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again way to go to the Macon Animal Shelpter, good job ladies of Girl Scout Troop 9501 great job getting involved!

Mahala

Moberly, MO Animal Shelter

Shelter Volunteer Photographer

Social Media

Trick or Treat Trail

Halloween was a fun time for the volunteers at the animal shelter. Many of them got together down town on Reed Street in Moberly, MO to hand out candy with many other local businesses.  There were quite a few kids that came through! Several cute dogs came through too and were given their doggy biscuits for coming out.  Lots of kids wearing adoooorable costumes as well!

Wanted to share a few photos from yesterday!

Joyce, Jody, Emily and Shawnda ready to hand out some candy down town!

Joyce busies herself handing out candy, while Jody samples some of the  candy to make sure
it's absolutely fantastic.

Jody and Shawnda taking some time to act silly.  These ladies are awesome and such
great volunteers at the shelter!

Our table was a busy place!

You gotta watch out for that Shawnda, she steals candy from children

Look at this adorable kitten! Isn't she just precious! Love her costume!

Oooh! Look at those costumes! Everything from scary to sweet!

Shelter volunteer Tasha and her family stopping by the shelter table to say
and get some candy for that cute little boy!

Busily handing out candy to the many cute kiddos coming by the table!

Handing out candy to ninja's, and spider men, and lions and everything else in between!

A ninja turtle and a pumpkin stop by the shelter table for some candy treats!

Shawnda working hard to open that bag of candy!

We're watching you Shawnda.  Always watching you. 

Oooh a sweet little Fairy and a Grim Reaper stop by the table to get some candy!

We all loved this unique and amazing costume!

Look at this sweet little lady who stopped by the shelter table for a dog biscuit!
What a sweet heart!

Caterpillars, and witches waiting for some candy!

Jody you guys better hurry up and give that HULK some candy!!

Aren't they adorable!? Thanks for stopping by our table for some dog treats!

Check out this sweet little owly and her Mom who came by for some treats too

Look at that pouty puppy dog face! Better hurry up and give him some candy!

Strawberry Shortcake stops by with her mom and little sister for some candy treats too!

Our next event is the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 10th.  We will be unable to have any shelter dogs with us, so people CAN walk their own dog in the parade, but be prepared for people to ask if they are up for adoption.  We would love for shelter volunteers to walk with us as FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER! Help pay your respects to our Veterans and help your local shelter too.

Will have more details about what time the parade starts and where we are meeting and what not at a later date.

We are also having a little baby shower for shelter volunteer Tabitha, as she is having a little boy and is due in December.  We thought it would be nice to have a little get together for her at the shelter.  She has been volunteering at the shelter since May and we are glad to have had her and her fiance Jeff volunteer with us! They even adopted a sweet and gorgeous dog from the shelter, her name is Sissy, and she is doing very well in her awesome Fur Ever home.

Don't forget that there are several dogs at the shelter looking for a home!

Mae