Lenny & Teddy

Lenny and Teddy are a handsome pair of Newfoundland brothers who turn heads wherever they go. They are each around 200 pounds, but as you would expect, they are gentle giants – mellow, loving, and incredibly laid-back. Teddy is two years younger than Lenny and has some rare white markings on his chest and feet, while Lenny has some very subtle chocolate feathering around his feet.

They have wonderful bond with each other, and also with their dad. They are his shadow and always have to be wherever he is, whether they’re sleeping on his feet or asking for belly rubs. I could have photographed these boys all day – they loved the camera and the camera loved them!

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Luther, Lola, & Luke

These three have very important jobs. Their mom is the founder of Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption, and although she’s retired from APRA now, she is still busy as ever in the local rescue community. Luther, Lola, and Luke are the welcoming committee for the steady stream of fosters she takes into her home. They help the fosters acclimate to their new digs and show them what it’s like to live the good life!

Luther is the oldest, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who is very patient and low-key. He points out all the best napping spots to the fosters. Lola teaches the foster dogs manners and how to play, as she gets along with everyone and is as sweet as can be. Luke was recently taken in as a foster, but he’s here to stay – he and Lola are such good buddies their mom can’t bear to separate them. Luke is one of the most cheerful, outgoing dogs you’ll ever meet, with a very charming smile to boot.

Meet Luke, Luther, and Lola:

Whiskey, Gidget, Teddy, & Mr. Puppy

It’s a wonder I was able to shoot this session because I wanted to spend all of my time on the floor cuddling with them instead! They are quite the welcoming committee – they all rush to the front door barking when they hear a knock, but as soon as you step into the house you’re not a stranger anymore and they are wagging fluffballs jumping up and down to be picked up, held, and loved on.

All four are rescues with each of their own adorable quirks. Whiskey is a brown shih tzu who was saved from a puppy mill with burns down his back, but they have healed well now that he’s in a good place. He thinks he’s a cat – he’s always sneaking up on the kitchen table to snooze, and is so lazy that he sometimes won’t make it all the way down the hallway before he stops for a little nap! When treats are out, he’s a 100% awake, though. :p

Gidget is a terrier mix who was found as a stray, and the only girl in the pack, so of course she rules the roost. She LOVES tiny tennis balls and will toss them to herself when her humans get tired. Her ears are probably on their own frequency.

Mr. Puppy is the youngest of the group, and the miracle puppy – he was tiny when they rescued him and discovered he had a serious liver shunt. Thanks to lots of love and care, he recovered and is now in full health, the feistiest and most independent of this bunch. His human brother and sisters couldn’t agree on a name for him, so ended up with “Mr. Puppy.” When he is cranky they call him Señor Puppy!

Teddy is the most recently adopted – he’s a Biro Yorkshire Terrier, but he spent the first two years of his life in backyard breeder’s outdoor cage. Except for those moments he retreats to the closet, though, you’d never know he had such a rough start! He is very loving, super cuddly, and you know I’m especially partial to him because of his short little legs! He has the best smile and such a peaceful, easygoing personality.

Here are the boys – from left to right, Mr. Puppy, Whiskey, and Teddy:

And Gidget, the queen that she is, needed her own debut photo!