Three years. Three years of a warm, dry, safe place to sleep at night. A full belly. An older sister you comforted and cared for. A little sister you adore. Conversations. Head bumps. Snuggles. Naps in a sunbeam. And lots of love from your two humans.
Happy Gotcha day Baxter! A celebration of the day you left the shelter behind and entered the Posh Pets family. Truly, our world is so much better with you in it.
xoxo
Celebrating the life, love and legacy of your pet.™
As a pet photographer, I get quite a number of requests for sessions with cats. I love our kitty friends – their quiet and calm demeanor, the grace with which they carry themselves and the nuances of their individual personalities. My sessions with them are always a joy.
I met Bart on a quiet summer afternoon in August. Those perfect days when it is not too hot, the sun is shining and no one is running tools to disturb the quiet peace of the neighbourhood. Bart was a 15 1/2 year old black beauty with a kind and gentle nature. He had been adopted by his humans when already full grown (I love it when people fall in love with the adult adoptables!) and had lived a wonderful life with his feline brother, Toby, and his human family.
When his mom first contacted me, she told me worriedly that Bart was a black cat and very difficult to photograph. He was exclusively an indoor cat, so he needed to be photographed inside. Additionally, he had recently been diagnosed with cancer and she really wanted some beautiful images that would highlight his gorgeous eyes and ensure that they had tangible, physical memories to hold onto when the time came to say good-bye.
We spent a couple of hours that afternoon photographing Bart in all of his favourite spots in the home. He was quite happy and was engaged for his photo session. I am always amazed by pets who ‘seem to know’ and therefore muster up the energy to give their families this last gift of photographs. As I was leaving his home, I gave him one quiet cuddle and told him to be a brave boy and let his family know when the time came.
Four weeks later, Bart said his final good-bye at home, surrounded by his loving family.
As I delivered Bart’s final artwork, we talked about what a great life he had, how hard the past couple of weeks had been on everyone, but how right the decision had been to have him photographed professionally. As always, I left the meeting with tears in my eyes.
“Bart, you have left a huge hole in the hearts and lives of those who loved you. I was privileged to have met you and to photograph you. I will remember you with fondness, always.”
Celebrating the life, love and legacy of your pet.™
If you have been wondering why things have been a little quiet around Posh Pets lately, it is because I have been travelling in Eastern Europe! Bulgaria, to be exact. Now, it might seem a little off the beaten path, but the country is surprising accessible by major airlines. It also boasts membership in the European Union, but has not adopted the Euro, so travel is fairly safe, easy and inexpensive.
Our first stop was in the south, almost at the Greek border. We took a drive up to Kovachevitsa in the Pirin Mountains which was a breathtaking route.
The tiny village of Kovachevitsa is a place where time seems to have stood still. So much so, that I am told that the village is used as a backdrop for movies when they need a authentic balkan experience.
Tons of tiny streets and alleyways to explore…
But, you know my first love are the animals and I had the pleasure of meeting lots! Almost immediately, this sweetheart greeted us.
And not far off was this little one, peeking at me from under a car.
This beautiful boy commanded my attention! He thought I was quite a curiosity with my camera and strange noises. And when he had figured me out, he walked off gracefully…
A friendly little kitty followed us around while we explored the winding paths and ‘streets’ of the village.
However, this beautiful, BIG boy was the most outgoing of them all. He really was quite large – he easily matched me in weight and size. And he was a ‘leaner’ too. If you reached down to pat him, he nearly pushed you over with his big furry self. Just wanted to lovins’.
This is ‘his’ tavern (the translation of the word MEXAHA) and I could believe it when he was willing to pose beside the sign.
Sometimes, though, you have to look down and see the wee ones of the world. This tiny snail actually lifted his head and struck a pose for my camera – I guess he thought this was his moment of fame!
There’s much more to show and tell from our trip! I’ll keep sharing as I manage to process some of the photographs (I’m writing this post from an airport right now), so stay tuned…
Pet photography is alive and well in Toronto these past few weeks! With all of the trees showing their best fall colours, we at Posh Pets have been busy as little beavers meeting lots of furry faces for their sessions. Even with the flurry of activity, we cannot forget about all of the lovely animals waiting for forever homes at Toronto Animal Services. It is such a pleasure each week to hand out treats and nice cuddles and belly rubs to the new dogs and cats I meet.
A lot of the animals in the following images are not quite ready for adoption. There are still some health-checks to be done and sometimes they have to be scheduled for their spay or neuter. But, if you are looking for a new family member, keep a close eye on the TAS website where their photo will be posted as soon as they become available. Rest assured, they are all lovely and would love to meet you just as soon as they can!
One other thing…if you adopted your pet from TAS – North, we would love to hear about it. Head over to the Posh Pets’ Facebook page and send us an update and/or a photo or two. Happy endings are just awesome!
Fall is always the busiest season at Posh Pets. I love the change of the colours, the crisp autumn air and the lovely furry faces I get to meet (and their humans, of course). But, I still make time for all of the little adoptables at Toronto Animal Services. After all, Fall is also a great time to find a forever home!
So, here is this week’s group of eager boys and girls all waiting to meet you. Contact the North Shelter to get more details and arrange a meeting. And even if you are not currently looking for a new family member, make sure to show these guys some love by sharing their lovely little faces…I am sure that there is a ‘somebody’ out there for each and every one of them!
At Posh Pets, we see our share of unforgettable four-footed clients. Today, I would like to introduce you to Simon, a furry face who will stay with me a long time.
Simon is a cat. A lovely, big, brown tabby cat to be precise. With gorgeous eyes that you could look at forever. Simon loves his people and enjoys playing with them. He is mischievous. He loves his treats and the opportunity to jump and run around the house. (If you can combine all of those things together, he is one happy cat. Actually, combine anything with treats and he is content.)
Simon, however, has also battled cancer.
It was June when I got a call from Simon’s human Mom asking if I had any availability on short notice. She wanted me to come to their house and take some portraits of her beautiful boy. Simon had recently been diagnosed with ocular cancer and the decision had been made to remove one of his gorgeous eyes – a very difficult decision for the family, but one that was made with the realization that it would save Simon’s life. The surgery date had been set which is why time was now of the essence. His Mom wanted images to forever preserve the memory of him in his prime.
I moved a few appointments around and headed over to meet Simon and his honest-to-goodness, real kitty mom, Jackie. If Simon knew he had cancer, he was not about to let me know about it. We spent a lovely afternoon playing, running, hunting, jumping and yes, getting treats in order to capture his good looks and beautiful personality. And, his Mom and I talked about his life. We laughed. We cried. We hugged. When it came time to finally say good-bye, I held Simon close and told him to be a good, brave boy and return home even stronger. Simon let me give him that snuggle and then went off to play.
I waited for news of his surgery…which was an awesome success! Although the first night of his recovery was difficult, it has all been positive news since then. In fact, it would now appear though that the loss of his eye was something far worse for his people to contemplate than the reality Simon lives. During the Ordering Session, Simon was already up and about, curiously interested in what we were doing. And by the time I delivered his final art prints, he demonstrated for me his ability to stalk, chase and yes, jump much like he did before. Simon may have lost an eye, but he certainly has not lost himself.
Today, Simon’s larger-than-life art work sits above the mantle in his home. His folio box and matted art prints are loved and cherished by the family. And dear, happy, healthy Simon seems content with it all.
Every week, I meet a new group of furry faces looking for homes. I often wonder: how did these little loves end up in a shelter? Abandoned, unwanted, with no place to go. And yet, they have such a forgiving spirit and are usually more than happy to meet me, thankful for the few moments of pets, cuddles and belly rubs. (If you want some free ‘therapy’ when you’re having a blue day, volunteer at a shelter and you could spend an hour doling about belly rubs.)
If you want to visit the following group in particular, please contact TAS – North directly. They’ll be able to give you all of the details!
This week is no exception. These first two are a bonded pair, Molly and Riley. It is always a little more challenging to photograph a pair of dogs, but I think these two did just fine!
For those of you who aren’t sure if there are any puppies in the shelter system, here’s proof that the cute and little are available. This is Bane and, by the time you read this, he is probably already adopted 🙂
And then we have our lovely feline furry faces. This trio are all in the cat pod which means they get along with other kitties and are lovely, cuddly ones. Puchi, Buck and Gerard are all waiting to meet you and purr their way into your heart.
It would appear that this is the week that Summer decided to make its appearance in the land of Posh Pets (Toronto). Up until now, we have had an unseasonably cool summer. But not this week – lots of temperatures in the 30s with humidex levels in the 40s. I think it took some of us by surprise. It’s also a good time to remind everyone – leaving a dog or any pet in a locked car for even ‘a few minutes’ can be deadly. Try waiting for a friend in your car without the doors open or the air-conditioning blowing and you’ll see what I mean. Keep those precious furry faces safe! We did however, have a chance to have the dogs outside at TAS (in the shade) and take some lovely portraits. And the kitties make an appearance this week too – camp is over and we have use of the Cat Pod back where the cats roam and interact with each other. So nice to see you guys again! These guys and girls are all available from Toronto Animal Services – North. If you would like to meet one of them, give TAS a call and they will set up a meet-and-greet for the both of you. Enjoy your last week of summer! 
I love my weekly visits to Toronto Animal Services! The kid’s camp is still in full swing so it is nice to see all the adorable furry faces get their fill of walks, play, love and cuddles from eager campers. They also seem to get a good amount of treats and rewards as they learn new tricks and commands. And I have some very willing assistants to help me with handling the dogs as we get gorgeous adoption images of their charges.
All of these furry faces are available for adoption. You can find out their current status by contacting TAS – North directly. I will, of course, feature their little faces on the Posh Pets Facebook page and you can help by sharing their images around…it is amazing how many proud pet parents found their fur-baby via an image that was shared on social media! If that is you, feel free to contact Posh Pets Photography and let us know – it is sooo nice to hear the details of the happy endings!
Thanks to all the fans of this blog for following along! We’ll see you all next week!
This week Posh Pets got some new ‘assistants’! Toronto Animal Services is now hosting a kids camp for the next few weeks which mean the dogs get lots of socialization, interactive play, exercise and oodles of cuddles. And the kids are more than happy to help me get awesome adoption images of the dogs. The different campers have spent time with their canine friends, so they know all about them and more importantly, know how to handle them and help me get their attention to the camera. Plus seeing as there are lots of treats involved, the dogs are more than happy to play along. So, it truly is win-win-win!
So, here you have the fruits of our labour. Lots of cute furry faces, all looking for forever homes. They are currently at Toronto Animal Services – North, so contact them directly if you want to meet any of these guys and girls personally.
So, this weekend (July 4-6, 2014) is the first Mega Pet Adoption Event in Toronto. It is being held at the Exhibition Grounds on the waterfront and is a joint effort between Toronto Animal Services, Toronto Humane Society, Toronto Cat Rescue and Pet Smart Charities…all in an effort to get lots and lots of furry faces forever homes! Adoption fees are only $25 for either cats or dogs, plus the license fee if you live in the City of Toronto. By all accounts the event is going very well and we are only at the end of Day 1!
Last week, I spent a few hours at Toronto Animal Services – North photographing as many animals as we could. It is so nice if they can have a beautiful adoption photo that showcases their beautiful little mugs and charming personalities. If you or anyone you know ends up welcoming one of these guys or girls into your home, please drop me a line at Posh Pets and say “hi”. I absolutely love to hear happy endings.
If you are thinking of adding a pet into your family, this would be the weekend to come down to the CNE. Don’t believe me? Well, I have news – my husband and I just adopted a new little furry girl into our family! I’ll definitely be sharing more about her shortly 🙂 In the meantime, enjoy these lovely faces…
I’m a little behind adding to the Posh Pets blog, but I just had to share these little furry faces. There are so many lovely adoptables available (or soon to be available) at Toronto Animal Services. If you are thinking of adding a furry member to your family, this is the place to be!
Each week I get to meet all these cuties…big ones, small ones…I wish I could take them all home! I am so happy to say that when I share their faces on the Posh Pets Facebook page, everyone is so supportive in helping them find homes by sharing their images. Me and the dogs and cats wants to say thank you all so much!
If you want to meet any of these adoptables in person, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North Region directly. The staff there are great and will be happy to answer your questions and arrange a meet-and-greet for you and your family. Of course, if you do end up adopting someone, please feel free to send us a quick e-mail and/or pictures with an update of how everyone is doing. It is always such a joy when we get to share happy endings!
See you next week!
