4th of July Dog Safety

While families are out having back yard BBQ's, picnics at the park, traveling to visit family and friends and experiencing the joys of a fantastic fire works display we want to include the entire family in the festivities.  Our pets.  Just sharing a few helpful hints and tips on keeping your pets safe this 4th of July Holiday!

 

However, there are a few things to keep in mind!

Do you know that more pets are lost during the 4th of July Holiday  than any other holiday? Why is that? 

 

While we think fire works are beautiful and inspiring our pets find them scary and terrifying.

 

Keep in mind that dogs are sensitive to loud noises, and lights and all of the unusual commotion that comes with a fun 4th of July.  While it's fun for us, it's torture for our dogs.

Many times dogs will panic and try to do whatever they can to get away from the commotion, including fleeing the safety of their own home, or yard or chewing through a leash when they are out and about with family. 

 

There are some things you can do to make sure your pet is safe during the 4th of July Holiday.

First and foremost keep up to date ID Tags on your pets collar ALL of the time, and make sure the collar is secure and not damaged.  A damaged collar is easy for a panicking dog to break.  Plus, there is no use having ID on your dogs collar...if you aren't going to put the collar ON the dog.  That's where it belongs, on your dog.  If you can't afford a dog tag, get a permanent marker and write the dogs name and a phone number! For just a few dollars you can go to some hard ware stores or even a few Wal Marts and they have an engraving machine that you can create your very own ID tag for your pet. Also, vet offices will often sell them as well!

Make sure that you have good clear photos of your dog incase your dog does run away.  A clear photo of the dogs face, a clear photo of the dog from both sides, showing any unusual markings the dog has that might distinguish the dog from another.  If going out of town, bring these photos with you incase your dog gets loose in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

Secure your pet in a kennel in a quiet room if possible.  Turn on a TV or radio to help calm the dog.  Do not coddle a scared dog as this just reinforces there fear.  Instead, distract the dog.  Engage the dog in a tug of war or fetch game. 

Do not leave your pet unattended even if your dog is in a fenced in yard they can still escape in a panic even if they might not normally leave the fenced yard. 

Try to leave your dog at home, or inside during fire works so your dog is not caused stress an anxiety.  Make sure your pet cannot escape out the door when it is opened and closed.  A secure room or a kennel is best during  fire works activities!

 

If your pet DOES get lost over the 4th of July please contact your local police department or Animal Shelter immediately.  Leave a description of your dog (photo if possible), and contact information and let them know where the dog was last seen.  Keep someone near the area where the dog was last seen as they will sometimes come back to that area trying to find you. Immediately start putting up fliers about your missing dog (include a photo or photos) of your pet.  Put them up all over town not in just areas near where the dog was last seen.  Dogs can travel quickly, especially when scared.  Or a well meaning individual make see the dog and pick it up, and this can mean the dog travels even further!

Hang up a sign in your own yard so passerby's can see you are missing a dog and keep an eye out.

 

NEVER give up on finding your pet!! Pets have been returned home after being missing for days, months, weeks, or years!

Social media has made it a lot easier to cross post missing pets.  Be sure to search Facebook and Twitter for your missing pet, and to find all kinds of local pages (swap shops, and pet pages) that you can post your missing dog on to help return the pet home, but be sure to include the following: 

 

• Photos of dog (good photos where you can clearly see the color, markings etc)
• Size of dog (weight and height if you can)
• Color of dog
• Gender
• Last location seen
• If the dog is micro chipped
• Color of collar
• Name
• CONTACT information! It's good to have a couple of different numbers people can call or text if they see your pet. 

Please consider, and check into getting your pet MICROCHIPPED! It is more affordable than it used to be and there are often micro chipping clinics that are cheaper you can go to as well.  Most shelters will scan dogs for microchips as soon as they come in to the facility making reuniting pet with owner quicker!  Make sure you keep the information updated though! Things like addresses and phone #'s (and even the owner of the dog) can change over time so make sure the information is kept up to date so the dog can be returned to it's owners easier.

Make sure people are able to share your photo, often times social media settings make it difficult to share a photo or information.  Don't let your dogs photo be tangled up in social media settings that make it difficult to share their photo by making sure the dogs photo is PUBLIC. 

 

A lot of times it will be a complete stranger that ends up saving your dog!

If you are out and about for the 4th of July and YOU happen to come across a dog here are a few things you can do. 

 

If the dog will come to you, carefully let the dog know it can trust you (even the friendliest dog can be dangerous when frightened!) Contact your local police department or animal control so they can catch a frightened dog.  If the dog comes up to you and is friendly to you.  Try to stay in that area and look for the dogs owner.  Knock on doors.  Make a call to the shelter or police department letting them know you found a dog and  give a description and contact information.

Look around on social media pages for missing dogs in your area (check craigslist too and other social media pages as well)  Most newspapers will let you put a little something in the newspaper for free about a LOST or MISSING dog.  Just a few words and a phone number will do it (brief description, location, and contact info). 

Post photos of the dog around saying FOUND dog.  Give contact info, but keep a few identifying features to yourself so owners can make sure the pet is there's.  Like if you notice the dog has been spayed or neutered don't mention it and if someone calls saying they have a dog missing that meets the description and they can tell you the dog has been neutered or spayed, then chances are it is there dog.  It's ok to ask for proof that the dog is theirs.  There have been cases of people claiming dogs are there's when they are not.

Or if the dog has an unusual marking, or scar or docked tail try to keep it out of photos so it can be used as an identifying marker.  People missing a pet if they see a dog that even looks close to their dog will often call hoping  that it is theirs! If they can tell you an usual mark about their dog (that only the owner would know) chances are you found the dogs owner.  Or you can turn the dog over to your local shelter where they can check and make sure the dog goes to proper owners. 

 

Also make sure you have a found pet SCANNED!! Many shelters and vets offices will scan a pet for free to see if owners can be found.  Microchips can be placed in the neck area, or leg areas, or the tummy or side sometimes so make sure the dogs whole body is scanned just to be on the safe side.  Also make sure to check the found dog for any ID tags (check the inside of collars to for name and phone #'s). 

 

Not only do dogs run away over the 4th of July but it can be a dangerous time for dogs! Dogs can be frightened and run into traffic.  Dogs can step on a hot sparkler or other hot fire work and be burned, or try to eat a hot fire work and be burned.  A fire work could misfire and injure a dog (especially if it is a dog that is left chained up outside all day). 

 

Also, do not forget the cruelty that some people can display (if people is the term you want to use to describe them!)  Bored and mean teenagers and some adults have been known to torment and injure animals with fireworks, so please be aware of this and keep your pets (dogs and cats!!) in where it is safe! Cats aren't fond of fireworks either and should have on ID as well and be kept in where it is safe.

I know it is cute and fun to walk your pet around on the 4th of July wearing their adorable patriotic gear but please keep these  above mentioned safety tips in mind if you MUST take your dog out with you. 

Also this is a very HOT time of year so keep your dog and cats hydrated and inside where it is cool.  Do not make your dog walk on HOT pavement or HOT cement.  If you must take your dog out please keep them in the grass where their feet will not be burned.  Would you walk on hot pavement bare foot in scorching summer?  Chances are, you would not, or at least not for very long so imagine how your poor dogs feet feel! If you have a dog with lots of fur, you might consider getting them a trim so they aren't quite as hot, but not too short.  If you have a dog with no fur or little fur you might consider just keep them in doors so they do not suffer from a sunburn (YEP dogs can get sunburn too!).  Black dogs do not do well in heat especially! Black/dark colors absorb heat so these dogs are even hotter, so keep them hydrated with lots of cold fresh water, and do your best to keep them in where it is cool, or in shade.

Sometimes, as much as we want to bring our pet with us...it can be in their best interest and safety to just leave them home. Even the best trained dog can be frightened and run away or be injured. 

Fireworks start early! The other evening we took the girls to the dog park since it was FINALLY cool enough to take them out and we had barely gotten to the dog park when people living at houses around the park began shooting off fireworks.  I decided we weren't staying at the dog park.  My dogs didn't seem to care about the noises, but I wasn't going to take any chances! We got back in the car after only a few minutes and came back home. 

 

Wishing you and your pets a happy and safe 4th of July!!

Not Your Typical Photography

Being a Pet Photographer has lots of fun advantages, and means you work a little differently, work a little "outside of the pack" per say. You have to be a bit more creative, patient, and pretty decent with problem solving! Working with the family pet actually isn't a whole lot different than working with the family toddler!

 

• They will both be a smidgen more cooperative if a treat is offered.
• They both love to come up and inspect the camera and often leave their tongue print or nose print or finger print on the lens.
• Both are predictably unpredictable
• That amazing photo can come at the most unexpected moment.
• They have both tinkled on the back drops before.
• The amount of weird noses the photographer makes to get their attention is astounding.  I need a job as a sound affects person. Or I need to hire a sound affects person...
• Sometimes expecting them to "sit" is not a valid option....
• Expect messes, and chaotic behavior, and enjoy it! Just go with it.
• Both require patience and time :)  Dog shoots and toddler/children shoots can be the most time consuming but the most fun!

I love what I do! I love how I can go from photographing a family straight into photographing the family pet. I love homes that have both children, and pets.  Never a dull moment that's for sure!

Just recently I photographed a very adorable little 6 month old boy, who has the most softest gorgeous red hair.  Their family pet Sissy, an almost 2 year old Beagle mix who was adopted from the local shelter last year, was more than excited to be in on the action!

Was able to snap a few adorable photos of her after her little human's photos were done, she's one sweet pup that's for sure!

We literally went straight from THIS adorable photo
and little cutie pie

To this adorable cutie pie!

At Fur Ever Yours we don't mind a little fur on the back drops, or a nose print on the lens, or big ol' slobbery kiss across the face.  It just enhances the pet photography experience.

Some of the most adorable grateful dogs I've photographed are those at the local animal shelter.  You NEVER know what they are going to do! Often times they are so excited to be out of their kennels that they pounce on you and you go backwards.  I've landed on my bum more than once from a sweet pooch so excited to see me they land on top of me and give me those slobbery dog kisses.

If there is a particularly shy dog at the shelter I want to spend time with that pup and let the pup know it can trust me, and that I'm not there to hurt the dog.  A dog that trusts you is more likely to look happy in it's photos which leads to a better adoption photo! That's the goal, adoption so you want the dog to look it's best, which isn't always easy.  Sometimes they are still too timid and want to hide from all of the noise and stuff going on around them. For instance, this weekend I was at the local shelter and I was photographing with a different camera than I'm usually used to, so that threw me off (my own fault I didn't charge the batter for my good camera), so I had to use my backup camera that I have not used for awhile so I was out of practice with it.

Using a camera I'm out of practice with combined with several dogs who were very timid didn't lead to the best adoption photos.  Plus photographing in bright harsh light was not in my favor at all. Rough day for photography.

This little lady was full of ticks and dirty
when she got to the shelter.  A fantastic
volunteer took her time and bathed, and
de ticked this little sweet heart.  Too
bad the sunlight was so bright and harsh
that it did not do this little black
dog any favors for her photo!
Black dogs are hard enough to
photograph, but in harsh sunlight
it can be even more difficult.

Meet HOWDY! He was a little shy, but I was able to get him
to give me a bit of a doggy smile and perk his ears up
a bit.  Still not THE best adoption photo, but
it wasn't as bad as I had thought it was going to be. 
He is a very sweet boy!

Meet Perdeeta, she was another slightly timid, yet oh so
very wiggly pup! She kept dashing up to kiss the camera. 
Bright sunlight and white dogs are also not that good either.
You get a lot of glare off of the white dogs, so her
head shot isn't as good as I had hoped, but this one
was the one that turned out the best.  You end up taking
at least 20 pictures of each dog to only end up with a couple that
are good.  Sometimes I don't think people realize how much
work it can be to get a GOOD photo to use!

Beautiful Sooki, she has apparently weaned puppies fairly recently.
She was very cooperative at standing still and posing.
Unfortunately the sun was working against us, but at least
you can see her gorgeous markings! She is a very
beautiful brindle boxer! She has a sweet personality too.

Shy Ang (like Tang, without the T) He and his sister Katara
are kennel mates and Katara is the fun outgoing one and Ang
is the more calm and shy one, together they bring out the
best in each other.  I spent quite a bit of time getting to
know Ang and petting him helping him feel safe. 
Trust me, this photo is an improvement over the
others I had of him.  He was just very
cautious.  However, he really is a fantastic dog. 
He wants to be a lap dog and just be somewhere calm where
he can be loved and come out of his shell on his own.

This mastiff mix pup was another VERY shy and timid pup.
Unfortunately I didn't have nearly the amount of time I
needed to be able to get a decent photo of him.  He wouldn't
even step foot outside the shelter.  He just wouldn't budge. 
Friendly but very very cautious.  He was very distracted by the
going ons around him! Very sweet boy though and will
make someone an excellent pet.  However, be prepared
for him to be a pretty good sized guy!

However, this experience taught me a few things so that's always a good thing!

Just keep trying, keep practicing, don't  give up, and do better the next time. You won't always have the most excellent photo shoots.  Sometimes they will be more difficult than others!


Mahala
Fur Ever Yours Photography

Fuzzy Wuzzy Shelter Dogs

So many adorable dogs at our local shelter.  I'm so glad I get the opportunities that I do! I really enjoy playing with these dogs and trying to get the best photos of them that I can get.  So many great volunteers helping out at the shelter doing so much to help! We all come together to make a difference in the lives of these animals. 

This is Hachi! He's a Sharpe' and will be in the
HOUNDS Program for 8 weeks learning
basic commands.  He'll be neutered
and up to date on his shots.  Such
a very sweet boy!

Dane is just a gorgeous boy!
He is also going into the HOUNDS
Program where he will have 8 weeks
of training and be neutered as well
as up to date on his shots.  I look
forward to see how he does, he came into
the shelter so very very thin!

This beautiful boy was just simply
adorable with his big brown eyes!
I do believe this handsome boy was adopted!

Kulo is another stunning Akita mix,
look at those bright blue eyes!
The sun shining in them made
them even more bright! His eyes
really stand out, and he is such a sweet boy!


This handsome pup is named Thumper, and he sure
is a sweet boy, very playful and also very
young, so he needs constant training to help him
become the best friend he can possibly be. 


Zane is very handsome and has one fun
personality.  He loves to play and take
a walk. 



Our shelter doesn't really handle cats, but
when someone ditches them in front of the shelter
in a card board box, what can you do? Aren't they
just adorable? So scared and looking for someone to love them.


This is BOXER! Isn't she just too cute? She is so fun
and just wants to be your buddy and play!


Poor Simon has been at the shelter for over a month now. 
He is our dog of the week.  Since he has been at the shelter the longest,
that means he is in the MOST danger should the shelter get full. 
We're hoping and praying someone steps up
to save this boy!

Laura here came in on volunteer day,
she is just sooo loving! She wants to lay on her back at your feet and just
get her belly rubbed all day long.  She is looking
for love and affection and someone to treat
her like she is part of the family. 


There are two other kittens that came in with the ones
above.  Beautiful babies!



Happy 3rd Birthday Molly Marie

Good golly, Molly just turned 3 years old on June 20th.  Yes, I'm a bit late in my posting of her birthday wishes, but it's been kind of crazy around Fur Ever Yours.  There's a new foster pup in the house and she has brought quite a bit of liveliness to the house! HA!

Hard to believe that beautiful Miss Molly has been with us for 3 whole years.  She came to live with us the day she turned 5 weeks old.  Rescued from a back yard breeder.  My husband just happened to come upon a sign that said free puppies and he was talking to the gentleman, and they weren't quite "right" so they were being given away.  My husband asked which puppy wanted to come home with him and Molly is the one that ran up tail wagging.  Well, more like waddled up since she was just 5 weeks old that day!

My daughter and Molly are best friends, and if Molly had to choose a favorite human in this house I'm pretty sure my daughter and I would rank #1 slots.  Her least favorite person in the house?  Probably my son Marshall.  They have a love hate relationship.  He sees how far he can push Molly's buttons (the whole time being told to leave her alone he completely knows better but he's at that age where he just HAS to do it anyway).  Molly let's him know that she's NOT going to let him get by with his crap.  However, the next moment after Molly has barked at him, they are laying together on the floor watching a cartoon together like Marshall was never being a little turd and pestering her.  They are more like brother and sister that's for sure! Marshall is notorious for picking on his actual big sister so why not do the same thing to his furry sister. Crazy kid.

Molly and Marshall have always had a good connection and bond though.  We  got Molly not too long after Marshall was diagnosed with his seizure disorder.  Molly was always VERY intuitive to Marshall and would stick to him like glue when she sensed a seizure was coming on and a few seconds later he would have one.  We very quickly caught on that Molly was highly intuitive. Marshall would snuggle up with Molly and just be relax for a few minutes after a seizure, so Molly has been very good for him. 

Keegan who has dealt with cancer since he was 3 months old and who still goes for cancer scans every few months also uses Molly as a therapy dog.  A lot of times (especially close to scan time) Keegan kind of wants to be left alone and just isn't his usual self.  Molly is about the only one (other than the cat) that he'll have anything to do with.  They will just sit there together and Keegan will pet Molly gently and talk to her on the couch while the other kids go off and play and go about their regular business. 

Sure, Molly gives off the 'tough dog' vibe, but really she isn't that tough.  She has a very soft spot for her human babies.

My daughter who has a speech delay loves Molly because the dog helps her make small talk when friends are over.  She loves to tell her friends about her dogs and how she likes to help at the shelter which helps her use her words more, which is such a good thing. 

Recently, when asked what my daughter wanted to do when she grew up she said (besides wanting to be a 'shopper', is there a job where you get paid for shopping because if so, I want it too) she wanted to have her own animal shelter, I asked her if she meant she wanted to have a dog rescue and she said that is what she wanted to do.  I asked her why she wanted to do that and she said because of Molly, Karmen, River and the dogs at the shelter.

Molly was the kids first dog. 

She's been a challenge in many ways, but she's been a JOY in so many others!!



Molly the DAY she came to live with us, she had JUST
turned 5 weeks old that day.  Normally, I do not
adopt dogs that young, but she was in need. 
We had no idea what future lay ahead of her if
no one adopted her.  We did the right thing.

SO hats off to Molly Marie on her 3rd birthday!

She received some new ceramic food dishes for her birthday, some dog chews in the shape of lollipops, and a new tug of war rope for her birthday.  I attempted to get some birthday photos of her but she wasn't feeling in the mood for pictures (she was more interested in what the new foster puppy was doing).  We'll try again later!

So here's a look at Molly over the years!

The day she came to live with us

Molly a week or so after coming to live with us.

Molly a week or so after coming to live with us.  I absolutely
positively LOVE this photo.  It speaks volumes. 
There IS no place like your FUR EVER HOME!

Shoving Kams down in the snow, ha! Molly was almost a year
old in this photo. 

Photo bombing Kams 4th birthday pics!

Molly loves getting her nails painted, she does quite well for it. 
However, go to TRIM her nails and you will see a NOT
happy little dog!

Molly all alone on the couch, before Karmen came to live with us
doesn't she look so lonely?

I dunno, I think they look alike, don't you?
They often share the same facial expressions
and attitude!

Bless her patient and forgiving little heart! She did so good in her
Halloween costume, trust me there were LOTS of dog treats
as a reward! She kept her costume on all night
and even walked the trick or treat trail
down town.  She got tons of compliments. 

Beautiful Molly Marie

Yep.  Molly, the infamous photo bomber.  Just lean on in there
and give Kams a kiss.



Molly always has enjoyed photo bombing....



My girls do NOT snuggle together.  One gets ONE end of the
couch the other is at the other side, it's not cool for them to
even think about touching.  Silly dogs. (Pardon the
stained couch at the time my sons were much younger and
were still in to spilling stuff all over the couch when ever they
got a chance!)

Molly takes her photos quite seriously, and loves posing
with her favorite human (Kams) and her fur sister Karmen.

Molly posing with her sister Karmen and
her human brothers Keegan and Marshall

Molly with her "sister" Karmen.  Apparently
Karmen told a funny joke.  I love this photo
because generally Molly is soooo proper
and "perfect" for photos she doesn't
like looking goofy in her photos,
so catching this one, was priceless!

A few days before her 3rd birthday :)

Taken just a few days before her 3rd birthday!

Molly says "Come to the dark side, we have dog treats"

HAPPY 3rd Birthday
Molly Marie!!

Foster Failing Is Not A Fail

So I know I've mentioned that from time to time my family will foster for the local animal shelter that I photograph for.  I love to foster, and generally it's only for a few hours to a night or two until they catch their ride to their rescue group, or an emergency drop off situation.  Occasionally we've had a dog for a few weeks, to a couple of months.  It's good to foster and get to know a dog and show it love and what it is like to be in a family. 

Currently we're fostering a Basenji/Jack Russell mix that we have named River.  Wow.  She's a fantastic pup (at least for our house anyway!) She fits right in with Molly and Karmen . It's like someone took our two dogs and mooshed them into one dog.  That would be, River.

Oddly enough, MOLLY is the one who loves this little pup.  Molly is usually the one that is hardest to sell on our foster pups, but she gets along quite well with River.  Yes, she gets irritated with River from time to time but for the most part they get along well.

Karmen, my generally good natured girl, is suffering from "middle child syndrome" and is taking a little longer to warm up to the pup.  Usually she is the one all over the pups and wanting to be their big sister.  Not so much this time.  I think she is completely jealous over all of the attention River gets.  So I've been making sure to evenly give out my attention to all three dogs (just like I try to do with my human children)!

Pretty sure we are going to be big ol' foster fails with River.  My husband and mother in law are absolutely in love with this dog and do NOT want her going anywhere.  My mother in law (who is staying with us now) has already agreed to pay for all of her vetting needs.  I've made sure she realizes any dogs living in my house must be:  Spayed, micro chipped and have all of their shots.  She agreed to that. 

It's odd how a dog comes into your life and your like WHOA...where has this dog been all of our lives? She's what has been "missing".  Though I never ever intended on having a third dog to keep. 

Paws crossed. 

River is a smart little pup that's for sure.  She acts like she has lived here her whole life and that Molly and Karmen are no big deal.  Minus the other night where I made a mistake that caused Karmen to hurt poor little River (but she's ok)!  Karmen has a few food aggression issues from the days before we got her where she was starved and beaten by her old owners, so scraps of food and dog treats she CAN become very territorial over.  I made the STUPID mistake of laying a couple of dog treats on the floor while taking photos of Molly (her 3rd birthday photos), and well, River and Karmen went for the treats at the same time.  I felt so bad.  It scared ALL of us.  Karmen was so scared about what she had done that she ran off shaking and had urinated herself (urinating is poor Karmen's thing that happens when she is TERRIFIED.  Over the past year she has gotten so good at never having this issue).  I felt so bad for Karmen, but even worse for the poor pup who didn't even know what had happened, or why! But things are back to normal and her and Karmen were paling around today sharing the tug of war rope and playing "tag".  I must admit I watch the two of them like a HAWK and feel a bit anxious and on edge when they play which is NOT going to help them any, because my dogs (most dogs do this anyway I'm sure) feed off of my body language so I have to try and keep things calm and easy so as not to spook Karmen and make things tense. 

When Molly plays tug of war she has a habit of taking it "too far" and "too seriously" which is something I do not allow.  When they start taking it too far, I make them release the rope, and they are done playing for awhile.  We've done this with Molly since SHE was a puppy.  Apparently, it has paid off. 

River loves to play tug of war, and Molly LOVES that River loves to play tug of war and they are tug of war buddies.  Gives my arms a break! They will play tug of war all morning.  Molly will be playing and will start taking things too far and before I get a chance to say her name as a warning...SHE drops the rope and walks away before she gets too riled up (letting the puppy have the rope, which is a HUGE deal in the whole dominance thing).  Glad to know Molly's "anger management" as we've always jokingly called it has been paying off.  Not to say that Molly doesn't still let River know when she is being an annoying little twerp, but she gets along with her pretty darn well.  Now my dogs will NEVER be the type who snuggle up together and fall asleep using each other for pillows and stuff, they are like my children in that regard.  You will NEVER catch MY children snuggled up together using each other for pillows either.  Not happening. 

At least they can all sleep somewhat near each other without wanting to kill one another.  Which is how my dogs are.  They can all be on the same couch, but Molly is spread out on the back of the couch, Karmen is at one end of the couch and River is at the other end (snuggled up with whatever human is sitting there).  Even the cat will SOMETIMES join them when he feels it's safe and he'll sleep in the very center of the couch very carefully NOT touching anyone. 

So much like my children.  If they all 3 end up in my bed in the middle of the night they have to be VERY careful not to touch one another or it turns into world war three which is never fun.

Karmen has been very stingy with the dog toys lately.  Karmen hates hard toys, she prefers her stuffed animals her "babies" as we call them.  She'll snuggle up with a stuffed animal and suck on it, or at least fall asleep with it in her mouth. The puppy prefers well, any toy.  We've been encouraging the durable plastic chew toys because she's a puppy and chewing is her 'thing' right now.  So we only have a couple of those hard plastic toys because Molly prefers tug of war ropes and Karmen the stuffed babies.  River was chewing on a plastic bone the other day and sat it down for a second, Karmen ran over grabbed it and jumped on the couch with it, dropped it on the couch and then proceeded to LAY on top of it shooting River a dirty look.  River kind of sat there and then looked straight at Karmen and yipped quite loudly to protest this thievery!  

I can tell there is going to be some sibling rivalry between these two!

Keeping my paws crossed that things work out and River can stay.  If not?  I know she will find a fantastic home, I already know of a rescue  group that wants her.

It's never a fail to be called a "foster fail" the dog isn't missing out, because obviously the dog found where it was meant to be!

Now it's time to run the little yipper outside for a bedtime potty break!

Mahala

What A Swell Group of Kids!

A few days ago I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph a very adorable group of kids! They were high energy and kept me moving with their constant curiosity.  We were at a gorgeous scenic park in town and it was just a perfect and serene place for photos.  I just let the kids be themselves and followed them around as a mini paparazzi, I was able to snap some great photos of them. 

If you would like to schedule a photo session, and you've had one before be sure to refer a friend, and when they let me know who referred them, you'll get $10 off your next session. 

Right now the trees are a beautiful and green and it's still not TOO awfully hot (though it's getting that way!) So it's a fantastic time to get your photos scheduled.  If pregnant or working with children please keep in mind the temps and schedule times in early morning or evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and bring plenty of water to drink to stay hydrated during your session. 

Without any further ado, here are a few photos from the family session I recently did.