maggie | milton ontario pet photographer

It goes without saying that I love animals and I love photography. But as I continue on this journey of pet photography, I'm discovering that another part of my job that I also really love is hearing each client's story — how their pet came into their life, how their life has changed because of it and what they love most about their pet. Each story is special, and each family's bond with their dog or cat is unique. I am truly honoured that I get to capture these stories.

This is Maggie. She is about 14 years old (she could be as old as 16!) and she is the sweetest little muppet.

Maggie was found lying on the side of the road by a policeman. She had a paralyzed front leg and her hair was so matted and dirty that she looked grey in colour. As fate would have it, she was brought to an emergency vet clinic where Erica was working for the summer. Despite Maggie's appearance, it was love at first sight. When no one claimed the little white stray with the sweet personality, Erica immediately adopted her, even though she was a university student at the time and Maggie's leg had to be amputated.

"I was convinced she was the cutest dog ever and was so shocked when other people didn't immediately feel the same," says Erica. "However, when I look back at early pictures of her — before her hair grew back in and before she had her leg amputated — I can understand their reaction."

That was more than 11 years ago, and Maggie has been Erica's constant companion ever since.

Erica says Maggie has forced her to become more outgoing because everyone they pass while out on their walks will stop her and ask why Maggie only has three legs. This minor detail,  or her senior status, doesn't slow her down one bit!

For this next shot I asked Maggie for a "tough and gritty, urban dog look."

There's a sports complex in the area with big blue letters out front that I've always wanted to incorporate into a shoot. Erica was up for it — I love it when my clients go along with my crazy ideas! 'M' is for Maggie, muffin, muppet, Miss M ... I had only known Maggie for about an hour at this point and I was already coming up with my own nicknames for her.

Erica told me at the beginning of our session that she doesn't like to have her photo taken (I hear this a lot!) but I still managed to get a few shots of her and Maggie together, which I think is so important. I'm so happy that she chose this last one to be printed — it's a great compliment and a decision I don't think she'll ever regret.

Thanks so much Erica for the lovely morning and for introducing me to Maggie, your small dog with big heart.

Wags,

Stacey

charlie | burlington ontario pet photographer

I've posted a few photos of Charlie in previous entries, but it's about time this lovable giant gets blogged about properly.

Charlie is a great pyrenees, although his caregiver Heather is sure he's part part polar bear. His soft, fluffy fur is white as snow, and he's pretty huge. I often joke about wanting to smuggle my clients' dogs home with me in my camera bag, and this holds true for Charlie. But I would have to get a much bigger camera bag first!

I was smitten the moment I saw him. There is a soulfulness about Charlie that belies the trauma he has experienced.

Charlie's story is one of tenacity. His exact age is unknown, but he is a senior dog for his breed. He moves slowly due to the onset of arthritis and he is almost fully blind. It was in this condition that he was dumped in a marsh and left to die.

But Charlie is a fighter.

No one knows how long he was alone in that marsh fending for himself — although those that came to care for him say it could have been many months. Happily, Charlie was rescued and put up for adoption through Great Pyrenees Rescue. It was there that Heather, her husband and four children found him.

"When we first arrived to meet Charlie, the kids fell all over him and walked him around," she says. "You almost didn't notice his condition, he was so mellow and loveable. Almost. Under his thick coat of fur, he only weighed 70 lb (about 30 lb underweight). You could feel every rib and his backbone stuck out prominently."

Since he's been in his new home, Charlie has gained 12 lb. Heather says he loves to sleep in front of the fireplace and everyone adores him. "I hope he understands that he is with us forever, and he will never have to suffer again a day in his life," she says.

Even though Charlie is almost completely blind, he is very aware. There were many times during our shoot that I totally forgot about his lack of vision — he just seemed so present. He was happy sniffing away at all the smells during our slow walk through the forest, and there is just a serenity about his presence that is very calming.

Although I was hoping for a blanket of snow on the ground — our session took place in February! — I love the golden tones and light in Charlies images.

As a pet photographer, I always try to capture the unique personality of each animal I meet. And I think Charlie's images are some of my all-time favourites. He seems like an old soul, one that could teach us so much in life, and yet you can tell he enjoys each new moment, each new smell, each new hug from his family.

Kudos to Heather and her awesome kids for adopting a senior dog. He may not move as fast as a puppy, but he truly is the best first dog a family could ever hope for.

Wags,

Stacey

kyra | burlington ontario pet photographer

I have tried to write this post several times, and I keep tearing up. It's so difficult to find a starting point for such an emotional story.

Meet Kyra, a gorgeous three-year-old Siberian Husky. She entered my model call a while back and I picked her out of several entries, not only because I've never had a husky in front of my camera before, but also because her story — and the story of her companion Jill — is so powerful.

You see, Kyra saves Jill's life every day. With her devotion, companionship and ability to understand when humans cannot, Kyra stops Jill from taking her own life. Every day.

Let's rewind a bit before going forward. Jill is a competitive ultra long distance marathon runner. That's right, ultra. She runs distances of up to 160 km on forest trails. In 2008, she competed in 10 races and made the podium in nine of them. She was training to make the Canadian Women's Ultra Marathon Team. When Jill's original canine running companion (husky Kysmit) became too old to accompany her, puppy Kyra became a member of the family. By the time Kyra was three months old, they were running together.

"From the very first moment her little paws touched the trail I knew by the gleam in her eye and the grace of her gait she was born to be a runner," says Jill. "Not only because of her breed, but I could sense the desire in her heart and the ache in her soul to run. We were two peas in a pod."

At the time, Jill was also a busy volunteer and coach, worked a full-time job and had two active children. Her days started at 4:30 a.m. and didn't slow down until 11 p.m.

In 2009 she had a mental breakdown and attempted to end her life.

She was diagnosed with manic depression, anxiety and anorexia. One month later, her mother passed away, followed by her beloved husky Kysmit. Unable to work and alone all day, Jill turned to Kyra. Or perhaps it was Kyra that turned to Jill.

"I plummeted to the darkest place I have ever been to in my life and no one could understand me or knew what to do," says Jill. "But Kyra did. She would sit with me while I cried, resting her head on my lap. She slept by my side of the bed and paced the hallway with me when I couldn't sleep. And if I needed something, she knew what it was. Be it something to eat (she would lead me to the kitchen), get out of bed (she would pull off the covers and lick my face until I rose) or go running (she would bring my running shoes to me). She helped me feel just a little of her sunshine."

That sunshine began to grow stronger as Jill recovered.

In 2010 Jill competed in her first 80-km race in two years. Two kilometres from the finish line, Kyra was allowed on the course to bring Jill home. Kyra has also inspired Jill to follow a new path in life. She is taking classes to become a certified dog trainer and handler. She hopes to train therapy dogs for people with mental illnesses, and one day have those dogs recognized as official service dogs. 

Jill is still coping with her mental illness with Kyra by her side. She calls Kyra her safety net — Kyra can sense when Jill is about to have a panic attack and they travel everywhere together. With her canine companion in the car, Jill knows she won't run it off the road.

Now, when dark thoughts creep in, Jill thinks about what she will leave behind. She has a debt to Kyra that keeps her alive.

"I owe her a lifetime of runs in the forest, of snuggles at night, of cookies and unconditional love like she has given me," says Jill. "She does not label me mentally ill and did not pull away from me like some humans in my life. I don't know what she sees when she looks at me, but I know that when I look at her I see the sun, I see joy and I see hope for my future."

Thank you Jill for sharing your story so openly and honestly in the hopes of helping others. And thank you Kyra for being such a kindred spirit to Jill.

Although she was a busy girl during our session — always exploring, nose to the ground, eyes searching the trees — Kyra's presence is one of serenity and light, which I feel so lucky to have experienced.

The nurturing and healing powers of four paws is awesome. I hope the sun keeps shining bright for you Kyra and Jill!

Wags,
Stacey

heart strings tugged | southern ontario pet photographer

Utterly overwhelmed. That's how I've been feeling with the huge outpouring of submissions to my little model call. To be more specific, the past two weeks have been filled with teary, heart-bursting, emotional "aww" moments with every email I opened.

I am so honoured that so many people opened their hearts to me and shared such amazing stories of perseverance, compassion and unconditional love. That so many of you have opened your homes to a dog in need is truly inspirational — you are all heroes.

This was never meant to be a competition - I was just hoping to find a volunteer to help me with a personal project. How could I possibly choose a dog based on which one has the best story, or which owner loves their pet the most? That's impossible! Every dog is a winner in my books. I don't want anyone to be disappointed or think their pooch didn't measure up. Every single entry blew me away ... I even considered having Chloe draw a name out of a hat, but wasn't sure if that would be considered cheating.

So after much consideration and several sleepless nights (seriously, it's been ridiculously hard), here are my model helpers — yep, I just couldn't decide so I chose TWO:  Husky Kyra and retriever Smiley (can't help but be happy when you say that name!). I'll be in touch to book your sessions!

Photos submitted by owners

In addition, I just had to pick two runner-ups who will also be getting something special. They are: Sweet old man Charlie and little Miss Maggie! Check your inboxes soon for a treat!

Photos submitted by owners

But wait, there's more. Because I really was so touched by each and every story, and because EVERY dog is special and deserves a photo shoot, I'm offering everyone else that entered $50 OFF a 2012 Happy Tails photo session.

Thank you everyone for volunteering your dearly-loved pets for me. I'll leave you with this heartfelt quote that epitomizes all of your beautiful four-leggers: "Dogs are miracles with paws."

Now go give your dog a belly rub and sing their praises!

~ Stacey

model call and session giveaway!

Hi everyone,

I need your help!

I would like to undertake a personal project this year and photograph a series of dogs that are special. Now, I know that ALL dogs are special. But I'm looking for dogs that have truly heartwarming stories. Maybe they overcame adversity in their lives. Maybe they provided the inspiration and support their humans needed at a crucial time in their lives. Maybe they serve others or live with a disability. I'm looking for pooches that have had a life-changing or profound impact on the people around them and serve as a daily reminder that we all should live life fully and with the tongue-lolling exuberance of a dog!

So, to help me get started on my personal project, I'm looking for a model of the four-legged variety to participate in a FREE (yep F-R-E-E) Happy Tails photo session and receive a FREE 11x14 print — that's a $265 value! Breed, age, shape, size — I love them all. The only criteria is that he or she must have an amazing story and that you are willing to travel to my location. You can enter by posting a photo of your dog and his or her story on the Happy Tails Pet Photography Facebook page. More details are below (please note: digital files are not included in the giveaway).

Tell your friends, share this blog post and help me find a deserving dog!