​“Jamie” was impounded by Walton County Animal Control in Georgia on February 6, 2019 during the course of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. She was rescued by Love Shack Dog Rescue on 2/25/19!

​Dixie was an older Boxer that was surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Second Chance Habitat Rescue on February 15, 2019!

“Bella” was a young, mixed-breed dog that came into the animal shelter on February 7, 2019. She was picked up by an animal control officer and sadly had no collar or tag to find her way home. Her cute little ears folded over her head, almost like a Shar Pei’s ears. Her inquisitive personality made her a favorite of the shelter staff.

After four days, Bella had not yet been claimed by an owner and her hold was expired. Going outdoors for her “glamour photos”, Bella struck some nice poses, her tan coat blending nicely with the brown winter grasses in the photography area.
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Four days after posting her photos to the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net, she was rescued by Second Chance Habitat Rescue in Chesapeake, VA! Her freedom ride was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Anne, Kay, Gael and Jason.

​“Jesse” was impounded by Walton County Animal Control in Georgia on February 6, 2019 during the course of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. She was rescued by Love Shack Dog Rescue on 2/25/19!

It is sad at times how dogs get bounced around from home to home. I understand that things don’t always work out, but if there could be a little more effort and tolerance on the part of pet owners, the constant in-and-out within animal shelters could be reduced.

Otis was a handsome blue Pitbull dog that at one time had a home as a puppy. But later on in life he ended up in an animal shelter. There he was neutered, microchipped and adopted out into a new home. Happy ending, right?

Well, on February 11, 2019 he ended up as a stray in the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia. Otis’ last owner didn’t register his microchip and there was no way to find his home.  Otis waited over a week but his owner never came forward. Sad ending? Not yet!

Otis got his chance for a photo session on February 15. There were a lot of dogs to shoot that morning, so I only got a few photos. The shots were posted on the shelter’s website, www.waltonpets.net and Otis began waiting for a new home. ​His first adoption application was denied by a landlord that didn’t allow Pitbulls on the property (a common theme). The second applicant said she wasn’t able to get out of work to come meet him. But when all looked bleak, a rescue came forward!
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On February 26, 2019, the Humane Society of Valdosta sent up their “rescue wagon” and took Otis along with five other dogs!!!! His rescue was sponsored by donations pledged to the rescue from Melonie, Alice, and Anne.  Once Otis gets adopted in into a new home, hopefully it will be a forever home this time!  

​“G” was a pit bull dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 14, 2019. His owner never came to claim him and he was rescued by the Humane Society of Valdosta on February 26, 2019!

In an open-intake “pound”, there is no way of knowing when more dogs will show up. The officers can return from their calls throughout the day with dogs. An owner might pull up with a momma dog and box full of puppies. It is always a careful balancing act. So I am thankful when rescues and adopters step up quickly for the pets in the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia.

“Max” was one of those quick turn-arounds. It is hard to believe, but after 12 years, his owner surrendered him to the shelter because “he keeps getting out.” Although it can be a little harder to re-home senior dogs, Max’s cute Corgi-ness helped him get out quickly.

He was surrendered on February 12, 2019 and I got him out the following day for an outdoor photo session. He was put on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net and was adopted the very same day! Now that’s quick! And there was no holding up a kennel that could be used for other incoming animals. 

​Alex was a Shepherd and Mastiff mixed breed dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 13, 2019. He was reunited with his owner on February 18, 2019!

“Carmine” was a Shar Pei mixed breed dog surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on February 16, 2019!

​“Rio” was a playful pittie puppy picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on 2/18/19!

Thursday, 8:59 AM - There are days I walk into the animal shelter and just get so despondent seeing pitbull after pitbull in kennel after kennel. All the other breeds tend to get quicker interest and are rescued almost right away. But the poor pitbulls have less hope of rescue, and even less hope of being claimed.

When there is so many of a particular breed, it can be hard to get them noticed. But one stood out to me this morning because of her sweet, submissive eyes and her pretty white coat. “Sherry” was picked up by a Walton County Animal Control officer on February 6, 2019 and time allowed for “glamour photo” the following day.

Sherry’s soft and gentle nature really showed through in her photograph: deep brown eyes, her chain at rest on the pine needes, and her tail gently padding in the background.  How could someone resist? 

Thank God she attracted the attention of Athens Canine Rescue! A foster came to the shelter, tested how Sherry would get along with their other foster dog, and ended up taking her in on February 11, 2019. Sherry’s rescue was sponsored by pledged donations to Athens Canine Rescue from Barbara, Anne and Lorraine. 

What do you do when life has you down? Pray and go birding! When your job is stretching your stamina to the breaking point? Pray and go birding! When you need to relax and shake off the nerves? Pray and go birding! When the next little thing will tip your headache to a migraine? Pray and go birding!

There is no need for a scientific study to tell me that getting outdoors is a way to reduce stress. There is no need to write a paper about how getting away from a ringing phone will calm my nerves; how unplugging from email and social media will lower my blood pressure; how fresh air will clear my lungs and refresh my mind. I don’t need a scientific study because I know first-hand!

There isn’t a need for the Mayo Clinic to tell me the supernatural benefits of prayer. There is no need for them to post a blog telling me that having a purpose in life reduces depression; that prayer and meditation produces actual physical benefits to my brain; that focusing outside myself can alleviate worry and fear. I don’t need that blog because I know first-hand!

Try it sometime. Stop reading this blog, close your browser, push back the chair and walk out the door. Talk to God; cast your concerns at His feet; enjoy this world that He created. You just might get addicted. I know because I go there every day. So, pray and go birding! 

Thank God its Friday! It is a bright and sunny day, but a very chilly 24°! This is my first birding walk with a brand new pair of Zeiss conquest HD binoculars that I ordered from Redstart Birding. 

To save some wear and tear on my camera, I recently decided to purchase my first pair of binoculars for my routine bird listing. My camera could stay safe on rainy or drizzly days. Being thoroughly entertained by Bill and Ben on the Out There With the Birds podcast, I wanted to purchase from their company, Redstart Birding.

I watched the great videos on their website and somewhat narrowed down a choice. I emailed and immediately received a response from “the LeBron James of Birding Optics”, recommending the Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42. How could he be wrong?

The first time I put these new specs up to me eyes I was blown away. Compared to a 600mm camera lens, the field of view was incredible. I could actually move my eyes around in the frame and see more than through that telephoto lens. And I suppose since I was looking with two eyes, rather than squinting through just one, everything looked so clear and less flat. Even backlit birds had more detail than through the camera lens.

It was a new, awe inspiring experience. But I quickly found one problem. When I spotted two pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks on the pond, I quickly realized there was no shutter release button on the binoculars to take a photograph! I guess you have to rob Peter to pay Paul, or something like that.
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What a great purchase experience with Redstart Birding and a privilege to email chat with Ben. Praying Bill gets well soon! 

Monday, 9:30 AM - “Luke” and his shepherd mix sister “Leia” were both dumped out on a nice lakefront property in Walton County, Georgia on January 25, 2019. Although just 7-months-old, Luke was already a big boy! He wasn't too well socialized and didn’t know the first thing about walking on a leash. That always can make a photo session difficult.

I got “Luke” outside and like an uncooperative kid at a portrait session, he just froze; not wanting to relax or strike a pose. You an even see a bit of a nervous look in his eye. But I did the best I could. I decided to not prolong his misery and returned him to his kennel next to his sister.

Almost immediately after posting the only two decent photos from his session, Atlanta Lab Rescue emailed and said they were interested. I decided not to put Luke’s sister (and myself) through a photo session.
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Both Luke and Leia were rescued by Atlanta Lab Rescue on January 29, 2019. Their rescue ride was sponsored by pledged donations to ALR from Ellen, Gael, Jason and Anne. 

Monday, 9:26 AM - When photographing in an open-intake shelter that has to euthanize unwanted dogs, it is best to not become attached. But that is quite hard to do, especially with dogs like “JoJo”.

JoJo was a quiet Coonhound mix that was picked up by a Walton County Animal Control officer on January 16, 2019. Even though she had a decorative collar, no owner ever came forward to claim her. It was a slow week of rescues and adoptions and JoJo just wasn’t getting noticed. Her intake photo wasn’t too bad, but she sat and sat. I finally had to push all else aside and get her some better outdoor photos.

JoJo was always happy to go out for morning walks and was a complaint model for her photo shoot. It was almost as if she knew I was taking her portraits by the way she sat there so patiently posed until I was done.
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Luckily it worked! After posting her new outdoor photos on January 28, she was picked up by Safe Haven Furever rescue transport!  It took JoJo a little bit longer to get rescue, but it finally came! Her rescue was sponsored by pledged donations from Kay, Jason, Eileen and Anne.