A pet photographer’s tools? Let me see…  camera, lens, tripod, memory card… Yes, all that is needed. But don’t forget the essentials: harmonica, squeaky toy and treats! My photo bag is stuffed with all kinds of toys that make high pitched squeaks and sounds to get a dog’s attention! And it usually works.

Geronimo was turned in stray to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on April 10, 2019. After six days, no owner had come to claim him and no adopter had expressed interest. So it was time for some outdoor glamour photos.
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Geronimo was a calm boy that didn’t have too much facial expression in the first photos. But pulling out my trusty dog squeaky toy, I got some decent head tilts out of him. The expressions must have worked because Geronimo was rescued the next day by Atlanta Lab Rescue! His rescue was sponsored by generous donations to the rescue from Polly, Lorraine and Anne. 

Just some random birding to relieve stress and enjoy some nice spring days. 

“Is that a wolf?” If I were asked that question only once, I would have easily dismissed it. But it came up several times on social media and in emails. True, “Wiley” was a very unique looking boy. I was guessing he was part Shepherd, but the narrow face and build reminded me of a Collie. Wolf never really crossed my mind.
 
He was picked up by animal control on April 10, 2019 from a local veterinary clinic. They said a client found him and dropped him off.  Although he was an older dog and already neutered, no owner came looking for him.
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I did his photo session on April 16, 2019 and posted him right away on the shelter’s website, www.waltonpets.net. He was finally adopted into a new home on April 22, 2019!

“Doc” was a happy mixed breed boy that came into the Walton County Animal Control shelter on April 11, 2019. Sadly, he had just been adopted from another animal shelter, but was turned in after only five days. They said they “weren’t allowed to keep him.”

It seems like common sense, but before adopting a new pet, make sure everyone involved approves. The landlord is the top of the list. If they say know, then you and/or the new dog are homeless. Make sure your spouse agrees too. In fact, if you have that kind of relationship, maybe you should mention it to the neighbors. There is nothing like getting complaints to animal control right after adopting a new puppy.

If you plan to adopt a pet as a gift for someone, don’t make it a surprise. I know, the kids would love to have a new puppy for a birthday gift or Christmas, but you don’t need to box up a pup. In fact, you can extend the joy. On that special occasion, cut out a photo of a dog and put it in a card with a note that the whole family will go together to pick which pet to add to the family. That way, everyone is involved and embraces the newcomer as family!
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Thankfully, Doc was rescued by Atlanta Lab Rescue on April 17, 2017 and will hopefully get a permanent home soon. Just a little bit of diligence can keep a dog from being bounced around from place to place like Doc.  Doc's rescued was sponsored by a generous donation to the rescue from Anne. 

You can take the cute puppies (along with all the housebreaking and training), but I love the senior dogs! They are usually so much more calm and laid back. “Delilah” was a sweet, older girl that was surrendered to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on April 9, 2019. Sadly, her elderly owner had become disable and could no longer care for her. I had to put a bit of extra effort into getting this girl safely into a new home.

“Delilah” had her outdoor photo session on April 10, 2019. There is a small patch of woods behind the animal shelter. If I start early enough, I can get in a photo session before the sun rises too high and creates too many glares. “Delilah” was a compliant subject and posed well for her photos. I love the calm seniors!
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Delilah’s sweet face attracted an animal sanctuary and rescue named Five Freedoms Farm. They came and picked her up the same day her photos were posted on the shelter’s website. She was sponsored with donations to the rescue from Gail, Anne, Peggy and Dana. 

"Shea" was brought in to the animal shelter as a stray on April 3, 2019. She was rescued ten days later by Pisgah PAWS Rescue! 

I had the pleasure of adding several Life Birds this week! My first trip was to an eBird hotspot on Braswell Church Road to find some recently spotted Yellowlegs and Sandpipiers. 

On my Friday afternoon lunch break I happened to come across another lifer: a Louisiana Waterthrush. I heard it calling and knew it was something different than I'd heard before. After a few minutes, it alighted above me and i got a quick photo (though poorly backlit). 

"Faith" was a funny Bulldog girl that was picked up by a Walton County Animal Control officer on April 8, 2019. No owner ever came to look for her and she was rescued by Pisgah PAWS on April 11, 2019. He rescue was sponsored by generous pledges made to the rescue from Valerie, Sharlena, Laurie and Anne. 

Poor Booge got left behind.

Booge and his buddy, a beautiful white Siberian Husky, were out running and having a great time when they were impounded by Walton County Animal Control on April 1, 2019. Thankfully they had microchips and the officer called the owner right away to claim them. But in a strange turn of events, Booge’s owner came and claimed the husky, but left Booge behind.

Booge sat and waited for over a week but they never returned. So on April 10, I had the privilege of making Booge’s Furtography session happen! He was a sweet boy and did well with the camera. When told to sit, he did exactly that! Photo sessions are so much easier with a compliant subject!
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Two days later, on April 12, Booge got his lucky day and was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue! He had a lot of people pulling for him. Donations were made to the rescue by Booge’s generous sponsors: Alice, Lisa, Tara, Andrea and Anne. 

Giant, gorgeous, and with great personalities… that’s Great Pyrenees dogs for you! And “Willow” was no different. She was turned in as a stray to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on April 9, 2019. The finder had her a few days, but could not find her owner.

Her quick in-the-kennel photograph got her some immediate rescue and adoption applications, so she probably didn’t really need a Furtography session. But I was on a roll photographing dogs that morning and always enjoy working with these giant white fluff ball Pyrenian Mountain Dogs!

​During our photo session, the morning sunrise burst over the rim of the world and bathed one portrait in a glorious glow, capturing a spark of warm light in her eyes.

"Willow" had her lucky day and was picked up from the shelter on April 15, 2019 by Great Pyrenees Rescue of Atlanta! Jason made a generous pledge to the rescue for saving her. "Willow" didn't really need a glamour photo session to find a new home, but it was a privilege to photograph this gorgeous girl anyway!

"Cash" was picked up stray April 5, 2019. He was rescued by Pound Puppies N Kittens Rescue on April 22, 2019!

The weather is warming and the days are getting longer. I can finally start enjoying Sunday sit-downs on my back patio! It is time to clean the dead leaves and algae from my backyard koi pond, not to mention the incredible amounts of pine pollen that clog the filters each spring.  As I start the process, I found a large visitor has returned. I have no idea where it over-winters, but it is already back and living the good life!  

This native American Bullfrog is quite common here in Georgia and throughout North America. It should be no big surprise to find it in my koi pond since one source states, "Bullfrogs can also be found in manmade habitats such as pools, koi ponds, canals, ditches and culverts." Each summer it spends its days sitting on the decorative stones only to make a quick and dramatic splash into the water each time we come out onto the back patio.

Of course, I am never one to pass up a good nature photography opportunity. So as I am able to net this large amphibian while cleaning the pond, I took it to the side for a quick photo session in a more natural setting. 

"Charcoal" was a handsome black pitbull dog that was picked up by an animal control officer on March 16, 2019. He spent quite a long time in the shelter but was finally adopted into a new home on April 6, 2019!

I had two opportunities for some lunchbreak birding this week to note some of the comings and goings of the spring migration.