Samson, Moose, Belle, Gus, Chase, & Hank

What a pack!! This crew’s mom has founded a non-profit that provides pet food and other essentials to owners who can’t afford it, along with low-cost veterinary care. They also rescue and rehabilitate dogs in high-risk situations. The Paws Cause will open in Flowery Branch at the end of the year, so please help get the word out about this wonderful new organization! I had the honor of photographing the six mascots whose beautiful faces will adorn the new building when it opens.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived – I only knew there would be six dogs ranging in size from a Great Dane to a Boston Terrier – but this pack was so much fun to photograph it was nearly impossible to put down my camera at the end of the session! Moose and Belle are eleven-year-old Boston Terriers and the first Bostons I’ve ever met who don’t like to fetch – so go figure: Samson, the seven-year-old Great Dane, is the one who loved to fetch and was the most sprightly seven-year-old Dane I’ve ever met.

Chase is a nine-year-old Rottweiler mix who is all about lounging and belly rubs. He literally went from room to room with us and just laid down and watched us. Gus is a three-year-old pit bull mix who was rescued from the streets of Atlanta as a puppy and his wonderful parents kept him because they knew it would be next to impossible to find a home for him – he is extremely skittish and doesn’t always do well with other dogs and people. This pack is so balanced they have helped him out of his shell, and much to our surprise he voluntarily joined us for a few photos!

Hank is the newest member of the family, a four-month-old Golden Retriever mix who was also found as a stray. They intended to foster him, but of course he was bound to be a failure! He has the sweetest face and an even sweeter temperament. Now – on to the photos!

 

Lottie

Meet Lottie! She is a sweet little beagle mix who was adopted by her foster mom’s mom – I love it when fosters get to stay in the family. ♥  She is really blossoming in her new home – she was extremely timid and uncertain when she first arrived, but now she is gaining confidence and loves to play with her toys and follow her mom everywhere around the house.

Lottie snuggles in her lap each morning while her mom has her morning coffee and loves to go for car rides. They are a match made in heaven! Such a happy ending – another testament to the value of fostering and the joy it can bring.

I think Lottie knows something we don’t know…

Of course we had to sneak in a few with her Christmas bow!

Sully & Emma

I first photographed Emma five years ago – I can’t believe it has been that long. She’s eleven now and a big sister to Sully, a one-year-old pit mix who just hit the jackpot with his new forever home. He was sprung from Dekalb County Animal Services after showing off his amazing temperament and mad skills with kids. He’s very patient and gentle, and keeps Emma young by engaging her in play but also knowing when she needs a break.

Emma has always been insanely photogenic and she did not disappoint this time around! Since we’d photographed her before, Sully was supposed to be the main subject, but she kept stealing the spotlight as if to say, “This is how it’s done, little brother!” But Sully is a handsome boy in his own right and a complete master of the close-up shot – he’s so affectionate that as soon as he realized he had your attention, he’d get as close to you as possible, even scooting or army crawling if he was already in a sit or down position. I love these two!