Jul 20, 2014
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.
Jul 4, 2014
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…
May 2, 2014
Hi there! Posh Pets is back with another large group of dogs and cats from Toronto Animal Services! Some of these furry faces have already been adopted, so be sure to contact TAS directly to get a status update before you go. But, I wanted you to see their cute faces (and the fact that we now have green grass to sit on) so I am sharing their images anyway. See you next week!
Apr 21, 2014
They say the camera does not lie. And yet, I look at this photo of Lady Jane taken just yesterday, and I am stunned by how good she looks. She was always a pretty kitty and even at 17 years old, Lady Jane was a beautiful old girl. But, what this image doesn’t show is the sadness that surrounds it. For, it was taken during the brief space of 5 minutes yesterday when she had stopped vomiting, we had already contacted the emergency vet to say we were coming and were about to place her in her carrier for her final car ride. I got her to relax on our bed (truly one of her favourite places) and took a few final pictures. Within 10 minutes of this image, we were on our way.
Lady Jane was a wonderful girl and such a trooper. Cats often are. She had been diagnosed in early October with Chronic Renal Failure and her vet had warned us not to expect more than a couple of months. We were understandably shocked and it took us some time to process the information. We knew she had been losing weight, but I don’t think either my husband, Dean, or I were prepared for the severity of the issue. But our vet kindly answered all of our questions, sent us home with lots of information and medication to stabilize her, and we determined to simply cherish the time we had left.
And you know, we got into a rhythm with giving her her medication and ensuring that she ate properly. It was at that point that we realized that Lady Jane had probably been feeling unwell for some time, because the medication helped her to rally. In the 6 months since her diagnosis, Lady Jane has done things and explored area she had never done before. She learned how to climb onto the desk in my husband’s office so that she could sit on the windowsill and watch the world go by. She no longer used the stool beside our bed which had been placed there to help her old bones get up more easily – she bounded from the floor and back off again. And then sometimes, she leaped from the bed onto the dresser. Her greatest success was when she propelled herself from the couch onto our dining table. Most of these things would certainly would have been unacceptable in our house (no getting up on the dining table!), but the fact that she had the desire and the ability to do it astounded us. For a cat who had lived most of her life on one level (she had been a little portly in her younger years), it was a joy to see her enjoy herself.
And then there was her personality. When we adopted her brother Baxter 18 months ago as a companion to Lady Jane, we could not have picked a better boy. Baxter has confidence, without a hint of aggressiveness. His patient encouragement combined with her feeling much better, and Lady Jane had come out of her shell. She travelled easily and adapted to new environments. She greeted visitors when they came into our home. She stepped outside onto the balcony and felt the sun on her face. It was like she had a bucket list of things to do and we had the joy of seeing her cross things off the list.
We almost convinced ourselves that she would be with us a long time. Our friends would ask how she was doing and we would answer that she was doing remarkably well. Deep down, we knew the disease would eventually get the better of her, but given her newfound love of life and adventure, it seemed a long way off. And, we were not prepared for how quickly it would happen. It seems like on Friday the medication stopped working which translated into Lady Jane being extremely picky over her food. We had been very fortunate that throughout everything she was a great drinker – bowls and bowls of water helped flush her ailing kidneys and kept her happy. But, by yesterday morning, she had stopped drinking, stopped eating and begun almost non-stop vomiting. She also found it very difficult to use the litter box. I gave her her medication to help with the vomiting and offered her her favourite ‘treats’ – chicken and lactose-free milk. She refused the chicken, but lapped up the milk. Only to bring it all up within 10 minutes. It was as if her digestive system was shutting down.
Seeing her suffer this way helped us making a heart-wrenching decision. Of course, not only was it a Sunday but it was a holiday and therefore her regular vet was closed. Which led us to the wonderful people at Vaughn-Richmond Hill VEC who helped her pass, surrounded by the people who loved her most. I got to hold her and I hope that she felt me stroking her and that the last thing she heard was me telling her how much I loved her.
Seventeen years is a long time. A small furry kitten originally from Brampton Animal Shelter left her mark on our lives and on our hearts. She made us smile. She made us laugh. There is now only a gaping hole that she used to inhabit.
Lady Jane, our little furry face. You were loved. Please know, we love you still.
“You’re the one that I love, and I’m saying good-bye…” ~A Great Big World (Say Something)
Apr 16, 2014
Given the crazy weather we have had in Toronto this year, the Posh Pets family was happy to travel for a few days in January and enjoy the sun of the Dominican Republic. I am always up for travelling, especially if it means I get to photograph dogs! Although our primary reason for being down there was to attend a family wedding, I got to squeeze in a couple of photo sessions with furry faces too. Considering we got another snow fall in Toronto yesterday, todays post will be a nice reprieve to look at some beautiful, sunny imagery. If you missed the first Posh Pets photo session, featuring 3 dogs, you can find that here.
So…please meet Titef, a gorgeous soul who lives the good life! On an island…sun all year round, beaches to run on and lots of people and dogs to see and meet, Titef is one happy doggie! He is also a stunner and doesn’t worry about the snow or cold taking away all of that gorgeous greenery that surrounds him.
The islands have that laid-back vibe which keeps us coming back for more. Requests of any sort are usually graciously accommodated, and the great people of Hotel Alisei in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic let us have run of the place for Titef’s photoshoot. Here he is looking over his “domain”, which includes a gorgeous pool area.
Featuring incredible outdoor patios and terraces, complete with sun rays…what more could a dog (or his humans) want?
Then we headed to the beach (the Samana Peninsula has so many!) and finished up with some beach shots. Nothing like running and feeling nothing but sand between your paws!
Chilling and relaxing…island style.
Looking very dapper and well-travelled, Titef struck a pose as the sun set over the island…
Thanks so much Titef – we hope to come back and see you soon!
Apr 8, 2014
Well, the snow has melted, the sun is shining and temperatures are rising in Posh Pets land! After a very hard winter, even the dogs at Toronto Animal Services show such a relief that it is not freezing outside, and take their time to sniff their surroundings before settling in for their photography session. We haven’t exactly got beautiful green grass yet, but the fact that we see the grass is good enough for us!
This week we photographed a very cute group of doggies. Not many cats are currently at the shelter, but we know ‘kitten season’ is coming…it always happens in the spring. It would seem that spring is just delayed on all fronts this year.
If there is someone here that you would like to get to know better, please contact TAS directly to get an update and arrange an introduction. I will be featuring these little and big ones throughout the week via the Posh Pets Photography social media channels. If you like, follow us here or here or here …
Mar 7, 2014
Yesterday was a glorious day (for pet photography and otherwise) in Toronto! We finally had some bearable temperatures, beautiful blue skies, sun and fresh, clean snow. The dogs were excited to finally get outside and not freeze their paws and bums off and, quite honestly, we were too. It was such a pleasure to photograph these adoptables and give them a chance to shine.
Each of them are available at Toronto Animal Services – North Region. If you are interested in adoption, be sure to call ahead and make sure that your intended is still available. You’ll also see their adorable furry faces on the Posh Pets Photography Facebook page. For now, take a look!
Feb 1, 2014
Last week, the Posh Pets‘ family got to the see sun! Getting away to enjoy sunny days, blue skies and sandy beaches is reason enough to go, but this time we had an extra special reason – my sister-in-law’s wedding in the Dominican Republic. Las Terrenas de Samana, to be exact, and just so you all know I am not kidding when I say it is gorgeous, here is what you see as you drive from the airport.
Now, at this point, you would expect me to be sharing with you wedding photos. But nope, I’ve done a count – I have 51 images from the wedding and over 300 images of various dogs and cats! (You know you are a pet photographer when…) So instead, let me introduce you to Bella, Maya and Windy, 3 “siblings” that make their home in the Dominican Republic along with their humans. First up, was lovely Windy, who has a “sad puppy” face that melts your heart.
But, then she was quite accommodating and willing to pose like a super model.
Beautiful Bella who won me over with her quiet spirit.
And then I met Maya who made me laugh…her papa was a mastiff and the result is that her head looks like it is too big for the rest of her body. But, she can certainly do the head tilt!
However, the goal of this session was to capture a family portrait of all of them together. I was told that they really, really, really wanted this image, and to tell you the truth, I had no idea if we could get it. During my short time on the island, it quickly became apparent that Dominican dogs are very different from Canadian dogs. Their entire lifestyle is different – they live outside where they can come and go as they like and are usually employed in protecting the property and their family. In short, they don’t play with toys, they don’t do tricks, they easily block out any noises that would assist you in getting their attention, and they are not accustomed to being ‘posed’ in any sort of fashion. But, it was a challenge we were going to take up.
I wish I had the space to share with you all of the ‘outtakes’ that happened before this image was finally created. We had tongues sticking out, faces turned away, doggie bums toward the camera and one fall into a very thorny bush (ouch!). But, in the end, my camera tells me that it took only 1/200 of a second to get this. Makes it sound easy-peasy, right? 😉
We ended the high energy session in the blazing sun (read: very HOT) with this…a beautiful statement on the relationship the three dogs share with their people.
Would you like to immortalize your ‘pack’ in a family portrait? We can do that in Canada too! See our Investment page for your options and then contact Posh Pets Photography here. Hope to welcome you to the Posh Pets family soon!
Jan 17, 2014
We at Posh Pets love senior pets! There is something about the senior furry faces amongst us that is so endearing. It’s the maturity and calmness that comes from having seen it all before that allows them to slow down and enjoy the moment. The loyalty, trust and love they have for their human family and the fondness they have for routine. Somehow, they have made peace with the world and are happy with their place in it.
On a gorgeous fall afternoon last year (I am a little behind on blogging client sessions!), I had the privilege of travelling to Picton, Ontario to photograph two beautiful ladies. It was the halfway point between Toronto and their home in Ottawa. I am somewhat ashamed to say that I have lived in Southern Ontario almost all of my life and driven the highway to Quebec more times than I can remember, but I have never gotten off the highway and explored Prince Edward County. It is absolutely stunning and I will definitely be going back!
Amidst all of that beauty, I met Kona and Finn who are 11 and 13 years old respectively. Age is never kind to people or dogs, and their mom had warned me of the challenges that lie ahead. Kona has a bit of an obsession over shadows and reflections…anything that flickers can hold her attention for long periods of time and it can be difficult to break it. Finn is almost deaf and has a combination of a heart murmur and weak legs which meant we needed to take our time and go at her pace. Truthfully, their mom was worried we would have a hard time getting any sort of decent images.
As is often the case with pets, they prove us wrong – Kona and Finn were amazing. We were out on the water for some of the session, and while the afternoon sun hitting the water caught Kona’s attention a couple of times, it was nothing we couldn’t manage. And Finn was a trooper, showing off her best smile for the world to see. Come see some of the beautiful images that now grace their home…
We started on the dock and you Kona’s personality shone through – she is such a ham! I think she is actually smirking at me in this image.
Finn took her professional portrait session very seriously, showing me how gorgeous she is.
Nothing quite like feeling the sun on your face, eh Finn?
Then it was Kona’s turn for a professional portrait…with a little lean just to make it more ‘her’.
They have a beautiful relationship with each other. At this age, you have to cherish the moment and take in the beauty of the world around you.
The splendour of Fall!
Finn showed us her best smile…
…while Kona decided to mix it up and make sure I got a full show of her best howl.
And, finally, this beautiful black and white art piece of Kona showing the world that THIS is how you run.
One final note – I have a lot of clients who want images when Southern Ontario bursts into full colour, usually during a small window of time in late September and October. As a result, those Sessions dates are popular and are booked quickly. If you are thinking of a Fall Portrait Session for your furry faces, now is the time to contact Posh Pets and reserve your date. I look forward to meeting you all!
Jan 12, 2014
I headed out as we at Posh Pets made our weekly visit to photograph the adoptables at Toronto Animal Services – North. We met a lot of furry faces this week! Lots of wiggly dog bums and many happy kitties in the bubble…all awaiting their special someones to show up and give them a forever home.
As you look at their lovely faces, if you see someone you would like to meet, please contact TAS – North directly. They will be able to answer all of your questions and give you a current status on any individual pet. Even if you are not planning on adopting right now, please share this post in the hopes that many, many eyeballs will see it and through the power of the internet, we can help them find their homes!
Jan 10, 2014
This week’s Project 52 theme was Joy. And, we at Posh Pets believe that there is probably nothing more joyous than a dog enjoying the wind in his hair, running around with his beloved ball! Plus, this image shows green grass and beautiful sun – given the past few weeks we have endured in Toronto, it brings me great joy to just see something other than ice, snow and cold! I hope it brings you some joy too!
As you may already know, this is a blog circle where each pet photographer interprets the given theme in their own way. Next in the blog circle is Emily Fuss Photography in Sarasota, Florida. Please click through to see what joy she found this week!
Jan 3, 2014
Welcome to a new year! For many people the start of a new year is filled with fresh promise, new projects and a chance to start again. And so, it is with Posh Pets Photography and the Beautiful Beasties Project 52 series. Each week, we’ll have a new theme where we try and create an image or images that represent that theme.
The theme for this week was introductions. We’ve been asked to introduce you to the beautiful pets we share our homes with and who will often be the subject of our photographs for Project 52. In our case, if you follow the Posh Pets’ blog, you will already know these two furry faces already. However, here is a chance to meet them again!
This is Lady Jane sitting so regally on my bedside table (where she knows I do not want her to be). She will be 17 years old in March and was diagnosed with chronic renal failure in October 2013. We’ve had a few crises since then and there were times when we were sure she would not see the end of 2013. At her peak, she was 17.3 lbs, but now she weighs a mere 9 lbs., and I reminded of this every time I pick her up. But, she is holding her own. It frightens me when she climbs to places she should not because she is not very steady and I fear for her little bones. But, she is a stubborn little old lady and if Lady Jane wants to sit on the bedside table, then that is where she will sit. You can see a little of that determination in her pose.
And this is Baxter Huntington, our 3 year old rambunctious, friendly, playful, in-your-face-and-give-me-affection cat. He likes to thwart any attempts I make at taking his picture by closing his eyes. (Yes, he has figured that out.) But, he loves us, loves his sister Lady Jane is just so darn cute that I can’t resist taking his portrait whenever I can! He loves to explore and has taught his older sister to go places where she never would have dreamed of venturing before. And at the end of the day, he grooms her and settles down to nap beside her, often with a paw laid gently touching some part of her body.
Both of our kitties originally came from the shelter and are wonderful furry family members. If you are considering welcoming a pet into your home, I wholeheartedly encourage adoption. You’ll be seeing a lot more of these two in the weeks and months to come!
This is a ‘blog circle’ which means that each photographer will interpret the week’s theme. You can start with Denver Pet Photographer, StinkDog Photos and get introduced to her crew. Then, if you like, follow the circle all of the way around until you end up back here with Baxter and Lady Jane.
