Woody & Max Sneak Peak

Last Sunday morning, I had my last session of 2010 with Beagle Woody and Tabby Max.  They were both very sweet and handsome models (even if Max was less than thrilled with the situation). 

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Hayden & Katie Sneak Peak

I spent Sunday afternoon with Hayden & Katie (and their mom, Laurie).  Hayden is a 7 year old Basset Hound.  Katie is a 9 year old Corgie/Beagle/Basset Hound mix.  These two absolutely loved my treats and followed me anywhere, as long as I had one in my hand.  Oh, and I absolutely loved  the St. Louis Cardinals & Chicago Bears jerseys as I am a fan of both as well!

Thanks to Hayden, Katie, and Laurie for a fun afternoon!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Handsome & Puck Sneak Peak

On Sunday, I met Marcy and her loveable pups, Handsome and Puck.  Handsome, a Goldendoodle, is so appropriately named…he is a very handsome boy and a complete love-bug even at 115lbs!  Puck, a Bichon Poo is equally handsome and sweet.  He even danced for me! Marcy, thanks for the opportunity to meet you and your wonderful boys!

Marcy is the owner of THE PAMPERED PAUSE (a luxury pet spa & retreat for dogs and cats) in Highland Park, IL.  THE PAMPERED PAUSE offers EXPERT ALL BREEDS GROOMING, Dental Care, Dog Walking, Pet Sitting Services, and also Pet Taxi Service.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Doozer, Snoopy, & Charlie Sneak Peak

On Saturday, I got to meet up with friends from Maggie's training classes:  Doozer and his mom.  I also got to meet his dad as well as his brothers Snoopy & Charlie.  This was one fun group!  We even got to take advantage of the beautiful first snow of the season.  Charlie had a great time romping in his first ever snow.  And even though the other two weren't quite so impressed, they made for great models too.
 
I loved spending the morning with these sweet boys (and their mom & dad).

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Black Friday Specials!

Tails of Love Photography will be offering great Black Friday deals!

Feel free to pass this on!  Tell your family and friends you want Tails of Love for a Holiday gift!

Buy Gift Cards online!  Email Jessica!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Onyx & Eboni Sneak Peak

I met up with Onyx & Eboni today at The North Pond in Lincoln Park.  For mid-November it was quite a lovely day.  The pups were happy and playful and the fall foliage was still hanging on for a bit longer, which made for a great backdrop.

Thanks Ericka, David, Onyx, and Eboni for spending a lovely day with me.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Sullivan, Jasper, Fiona, and Charli Sneak Peak

Saturday was chilly and windy but this lovely family braved the weather to spend a day with me at Norwood Park.  With four humans and four dogs, it was quite a party!  Thanks to Betsy, Tony, Nick, Max, and all four pups for being such great models.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

2011 Furry Friends Opportunity!

Want to get cool photos of your pet for extremely discounted rates? Want to have some great images for Facebook, and your MySpace portfolios? Want to get free prints, photo albums, and more?

Introducing 

Tails of Love Photography's Furry Friends

Tails of Love Photography is now seeking pet representatives for 2011! If you have a dog, cat, or pretty much any type of pet who might like to be a Furry Friend, here's what you need to know.

If accepted, you will be representing Tails of Love Photography and telling your family & friends about our Pet Sessions throughout 2011. For every friend you refer us to, you will receive special discounts on your print orders. 

In order for your pet to be a Furry Friend, they (or you) must: 

· Have lots of personality and show it in front of the camera. 

· Have basic skills (such as sit, down, stay). 

· Live in Chicago or a 30 mile radius. 

· Be available to have one session completed by March 31, 2010. 

· Agree to tell your friends and family about Tails of Love Photography and share your portraits with them. 

· Sign a model release form. 

· Agree to represent ONLY Tails of Love Photography.

As part of our Furry Friends program you will receive the following: 

· Free (fun) photo session(s). Photos may be completed in one session or several sessions at Tails of Love's discretion. Several locations may be used. 

· The opportunity to earn print credits (or cash) for every person you refer to Tails of Love for pet portraits. (Oh, and your family and friends get perks too!) 

· 45 personalized referral cards to give to family and friends with your pet's name and portrait, and our business information. 

· Custom mini accordion album with up to twelve photos. 

· Several of our favorite photos as low-resolution files to share on social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, or Blogs (with our logo on them). 

· A digital slideshow on your Facebook, Myspace, and Blog pages. 

· Discounts on your print order. Discounts apply to orders purchased before expiration date of gallery. Some exclusions apply.

Referral Discounts:

$20 print credit for every referral* 

     After each of the specified referrals you will receive: 

          1 Referral: 20% off all print and product purchases** 

          5 Referrals: 12x12 Storyboard Print (Total Gift Value of $190) 

          10 Referrals: 10x20 Float Wrap (Total Gift Value of $440) 

          15 Referrals: 10x10 Custom Layflat Book (Total Gift Value of $725) 

          20 Referrals: Custom Framed 11x14 Print (Total Gift Value of $1000+)

*$10 cash can be substituted for $20 credits 

**20% discount does not apply to digital files or frames. 

***Credits may be used as accumulated or saved until end of program. Cash will be paid out within 30 days of the end of the 2011 program. Furry Friends reps will be notified every time they pass a referral level (1, 5, 10, 15, 20).

2011 Furry Friends Program Information & Terms

2011 Furry Friends Application

Got questions?  Comment on this post, email Jess, or find Tails of Love on Facebook!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Survey link pet owners with career choices...

Are you a cat person or a dog person and what does that mean for your career path?  A new survey from CareerBuilder looks at pet ownership in relation to chosen profession, compensation and job satisfaction.  The nationwide survey was conducted between August 17 and September 22, 2010 and included more than 2,300 workers with pets.  
Key findings include:

• Workers with dogs were more likely to report holding senior management positions (CEO, CFO, Senior Vice President, etc…)
• Workers with snakes/reptiles were the most likely to report earning six figures.  
• Workers with birds were the most likely to report being satisfied with their jobs.

In terms of career paths, owners of certain pets were more likely to report being drawn to certain professions:

• Dog owners were more likely to be professors, nurses, information technology professionals, military professionals and entertainers
• Cat owners were more likely to be physicians, real estate agents, science/medical lab technicians, machine operators and personal caretakers
• Fish owners were more likely to be human resources professionals, financial professionals, hotel and leisure professionals, farming/fishing/forestry professionals and transportation professionals
• Bird owners were more likely to be advertising professionals, sales representatives, construction workers and administrative professionals
• Snake/reptile owners were more likely to be engineers, social workers, marketing/public relations professionals, editors/writers and police officers

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder among 2,301 U.S. workers with pets (employed full-time; not self-employed; both government and non-government) ages 18 and over between August 17 and September 2, 2010 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 2,301 one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2.04 percentage points. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.

From PR Newswire

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Buddy & Ellie Mae Sneak Peak

My original session with Buddy and Ellie Mae had to be rescheduled due to rain, but it was so worth the wait!  On Sunday, we headed to the beautiful Portage Park for a super fun session.  These two Basset Hounds were real troopers and didn't even notice the cold Chicago wind.

Buddy & Ellie Mae seemed to have so much fun exploring the new territory (mostly with their noses...they are bassets).  They were both so sweet even if they thought that silly woman with the camera was just getting in the way of their sniffing.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Mies Sneak Peak

Mies is a very sweet boy.  He was a shelter dog, so his owners aren't sure of his exact age and mix but they think he is around 3 years old and from the look of him, I'd say he's a Chocolate Lab/Pit Bull mix.  His coat was a gorgeous golden brown as were his eyes.  He is every bit as beautiful as he is sweet.

Mies wasn't really too sure about the camera and the funny noises it makes, but I was able (with lots of help from the family) to get some pretty nice shots of him.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Lily Sneak Peak

Last Saturday, I met the sweetest Long-Haired Chihuahua, Lily.  Not only was she a total sweetheart, but she was so adorable (even though it was her nap time and she was clearly a sleepy girl). 

Lily was such a good model and the camera loved her!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Prop B Passed in Missouri!

Missouri's weak laws regulating commercial kennels had made the state a haven for substandard breeders, aka puppy mills.  Missouri is home to 1/3 of commercial dog-breeding facilities in the US and provides more than 40% of all puppies sold in pet stores through out the country.

Prop B (also known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act) was a citizen supported initiative. It will provide relief to tens of thousands of adult breeding dogs not to mention the approximately 1,000,000 puppies born in Missouri kennels each year.  This is a huge victory and hope that other states will follow suit.

Read more at ASPCA, BallotPedia, or the Yes on Prop B website.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Butler & Lexy Sneak Peak

This past weekend, I met Butler and Lexy (and their wonderful family)  Butler is a 14 year old American Eskimo and Lexy is a 7 month old Sheltie.   I had so much fun running around the yard with these two sweet girls (and their two human sisters). 

More photos soon!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Ollie, Max, Bassie, and Pixie - Sneak Peak

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting four wonderful dogs and their four wonderful people.  Thank you Julie, Bob, Jessica, and Peter for welcoming me into your home and letting me play with photograph your beautiful pack.

Julie actually won a Deluxe session from me at the Guardian Angel Basset Rescue Waddle 2010 that took place in Dwight, IL last month.  I couldn't have been more excited to meet her entire crew.

Without further delay, I present to you Max (age 4), Bassie (age 15), Pixie (age 16/17 - not sure as she is a rescue), and last but not least Ollie (age 4 months). 

Much more to come!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Sign this petition to tell Burger King to stop canine profiling!

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Here is the petition text:

Burger King's new breakfast commercial depicting a mailman walking down the street with two dogs hanging off him singing "Rottweilers and pit bulls-doing the mailman thing" is extremely offensive to dog lovers. 

This ill-conceived commercial reinforces the stereotypes of pit bulls and Rottweilers as dangerous dogs. It will fuel breed discriminatory legislation costing innocent dogs their lives. As we have seen from the Michael Vick case and the new book, the Lost Dogs, all dogs are individuals and should be judged by their temperament not their breed.

I urge Burger King to reject canine profiling and help stop breed discrimination by pulling this offensive commercial.

Thank you for your consideration.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

BuyWithMe.com FAQ

Today (10/22/10) Tails of Love Photography is running a fantastic promotion with BuyWithMe.com!   If you are considering purchasing the package here are some Frequently Asked Questions.


Q:  What do I get for the $50?

      A:  The BuyWithMe.com deal is for the standard package (valued at $200).  It includes:

• 90 minute photo session for up to 2 of your pets at the location of your choice.
• 15+ professionally edited images in a private, password protected, online gallery within 7-10 days of shoot.  This gives you lots of choices for your prints or any additional products you might want.
• 2 - 8x10 prints of your choice.
• DVD or download of 5 low resolution watermarked file perfect for sharing via email, facebook, etc.

 Q:  What if I want a different package?

       A:  You can upgrade to any of our other packages and just pay anything over the $200 value of your voucher!  For example, if you would like to get the Deluxe package (valued at $300)  instead of the standard, you can use your voucher and pay an additional $100.

Q:  Am I obligated to purchase anything else?  Additional prints/products/etc.?

       A:  Absolutely not!  You are welcome to use your voucher, pick your two included 8x10 (or smaller) prints, and nothing else.  However, if you are looking for more, we offer a wide array of very cool products to showcase your furry family members...everything from holiday cards and ornaments to gallery wraps and photo books.  We even have great gift items such as tote bags, mousepads, and coffee mugs.

Q:  What if I want to buy the digital files and print my own photos?

       A:  We offer digital high resolution files (with print release).  You can purchase one photo or as many as you want. 

Q:  How long do I have to use my voucher? 

       A:  You must at least call to make your appointment before the expiration date (1 year).  Depending on availability, some appointments may occur after the expiration date.

Please feel free to contact me or comment on this post with any other questions.  I will do my best to answer all questions quickly.

Q:  How much is the additional pet fee?

       A:  If you have more than two pets, you can have them all included in the shoot for $10 each.

Q:  Do you have a studio where I bring my pets?

       A:  No, Tails of Love works exclusively on location.  We find that the photos will be better when your pet is in a familiar, safe place.  Our goal is to make your pet as comfortable as possible.  The shoot can take place at your home, a nearby park, etc.

Visit the Tails of Love gallery or the BuyWithMe.com.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Can you help Cain?

In June 2010, this dog (dubbed Cain) was surrendered to Dog Deserve Better by his owner (who thought he deserved better) after a gang retaliation left the poor guy with a broken back. He has made a lot of progress, but still has a long way to go.  DDB are taking donations to help Cain get the allergy meds/vaccines that he needs as well as doggy wheelchair.  I know he will appreciate any little bit anyone could give. 

You can also "Like" Cain's Facebook page, see lots of cute pictures, and follow his progress. 

Gang members may have broken my back but NOTHING can break my spirit!

I need a therapeutic doggie wheelchair to help me continue my journey towards learning to walk again and immunotherapy to help me with all my itchies!

I have more allergies than I thought possible. That's what happens to us wonderful white pibbles...we have very sensitive systems. Immunotherapy will help me to not be allergic to grass, bugs, trees, HUMANS, and even molds. I dont want to have to live in a bubble...please help!


Hugs & Wags, Jess

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! Gallery Exhibit - 1650 Gallery

I am very excited to have three of my photos included in the Dogs, Dogs, Dogs Gallery Show at the 1650 Gallery in Los Angeles, CA.  The exhibit is benefiting Dogs Without Borders and most of the photos will be auctioned off for that rescue organization.  They believe a dog is a dog no matter where they are from and actively work to rescue and place not only dogs from the US but many other countries as well.  Here is what they say about themselves:

Dogs Without Borders is a non profit 501-c-3 rescue organization which relies solely on foster homes. If you are interested in fostering, please send us a line. The more foster homes we have, the more dogs we can rescue. We currently rescue most dogs from local shelters and strays, but sometimes we rescue dogs from as far away as Taiwan! We believe a dog is a dog no matter where it's from. Some of the dogs you see on our site are not here in the States. If there is enough interest, we will help transport the dog using volunteer travelers. All foreign dogs are in good health, up to date on shots, and quarantined. If you are interested in one of our sponsored foreign dogs, let us know and we will have it here in no-time. There is absolutely no obligation to adopt the dog once it has traveled here.

Here my are my three photos that will be on exhibit beginning October 23:

Curious (Jack the Basset Hound)

Waiting (Mattie the Boston Terrier)

Into the Soul (Mattie the Boston Terrier)

 Please, no one tell Mattie about this...she'll start getting a big head considering this is her 2nd appearance in a gallery exhibit. 

Check out all the photos in the Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! Exhibit.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

History of Pit Bulls

Did you know that Pit Bull's were once America's favorite dog?  Watch this well-made, positive video to learn the history of this breed as well as thoughts from those who love them.




Visit Ken Bell's website, The Dog Files, for more informative posts and videos. 

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Dasty the Comeback Canine

What an amazing story!  

A Chicago Police dog returns to the force following a stem cell transplant.  

Dr. Cheryl Adams, Dasty's vet, explains how they got this police dog back on the job.  "Knowing that none of these traditional approaches were working for him, this was really the option that we had left to us to try and get his quality of life back where it belongs. We remove fat, their own fat from their body. One in 50 cells in fat is actually an adult stem cell."

The vials are shipped overnight to Vet-Stem Inc. near San Diego. Dr. Adams describes what's done at the lab.

"They process the fat. They take the adult extract the adult stem cells out they make them very concentrated. They put them into syringes and they ship them back to us."

Read the full article here.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month!

Did you know that October was Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) suggests people who are looking for a new furry family member to check out the millions of dogs at local shelters across the country.

Just remember though, caring for a pet involves much more than providing food, water and shelter.  The ASPCA provides 10 questions to ask yourself before adopting:

1. Why do you want to adopt a pet?

Are you looking for the loyal and steady companionship that an animal can offer? Are you hoping to fill the empty place left after a pet has passed? Maybe you want a companion for your child. Knowing why you’re preparing to bring a pet home will help you to determine the species and breed that will fit your lifestyle.

2. Are you ready to make a long-term commitment?

When adopting, you are making a commitment to care for an animal for the rest of his life—that could mean 10 to 15 years for dogs and up to 20 years for cats. As you go through lifestyle changes such as moves, the birth of children and new jobs, your animal will remain a permanent part of your life. If circumstances change, will you still be able to care for your pet?

3. Do you know what kind of pet is right for you?

Your personality and lifestyle, along with challenges such as space restrictions and amount of time spent at home, should be explored to determine what pet is right for your household. Research different breeds and ask shelter staffers what animals they recommend—they're experts at making perfect matches!

4. Can you afford to care for your pet’s health and safety?

Owning a dog or cat costs more than the initial adoption fee. Food, veterinary care, spaying or neutering and proper identification—that means a collar with tags and a more permanent form of ID such as microchipping—can add up. Check out our Pet Ownership Costs chart to determine what you can expect to pay annually for your pet.

5. Will you be able to spend quality time together?

Dogs thrive on several hours of exercise and companionship every day, and pooches who are constantly left alone can develop behavioral problems. Cats are healthiest and happiest indoors and love to be treated to energetic play sessions with their human families. If your work demands that you travel often, or if you’re out of the house most days and evenings, this may not be the right time to adopt.

6. Are you prepared to deal with an animal’s health challenges?

Fleas, allergies and sudden medical issues are just a few of the health-related problems that potential pet owners may face. Can you care for your pet if he gets sick?

7. Are you willing to train your animal companion?

Lack of training is one of the most common reasons that adopters return pets to shelters—are you willing to solve behavior problems? Basic training helps dogs and their owners communicate better, strengthening the relationship overall. And taking the time to understand why your cat does what she does, especially when it involves her litter box and scratching habits, will help you avoid potential problems.

8. Are you prepared to pet-proof your home?

Whether it’s tightly sealing your garbage cans or paying attention to dangerous decorations during the holidays, you’ll need to make your home safe before adopting. That includes keeping toxic foods, pet-unfriendly plants and dangerous household items out of paw’s reach.

9. Is your living space adequate for an animal companion?

Be sure to choose an animal who will thrive in your home. If you’re attracted to energetic large-breed dogs, but live in a small apartment, will your pooch have enough room? If you live on a noisy street, will it disturb your cat? Also consider that many landlords don't allow pets or place restrictions on having them. Be sure to check out your “house rules” before adopting.

10. Is your family ready for a pet?

If your kids are still toddlers, you might consider waiting a few years before adopting, as pet ownership ideally is a team effort. Children who are mature enough can happily share pet-care duties. You may also have another pet at home who’s not yet—or may never be—ready to share his kingdom with another animal. 

Source.

Some stats:

- 5-7 million pets enter local animal shelters nationwide each year and 3-4 million of those pets are euthanized (60% of dogs & 70% of cats).  Most of these are euthanized only because a home is not found.

- The shelter split is approximately 50/50 between pets relinquished by their owners and pick up by animal control. 

- According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

- Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)


- More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)

Also, according to a study by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy:

29 percent of people surrendered their dogs due to behavior problems 29 percent of people surrendered their dogs because of the family's housing situation 25 percent of people surrendered their dogs citing incompatibility with the family's lifestyle 15 percent of people surrendered their dogs due to the family's preparation and/or expectations.

Done your research?  Looking for a pet for your family?  Consider adopting a shelter dog or cat!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Holiday Session Special!

Now is the time to book your holiday sessions!  Book any size session and get 25 custom holiday greeting cards for free!  This promotion can also be combined with our fall special (15% off any session booked by 11.15.10)!

Holiday Special is available for sessions booked before 10/31/10.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Halloween Session!

Did you get the perfect Halloween costume for your furry family member?  Want to remember it & show it off?

Book a Halloween session with Tails of Love for only $75!

Session includes:

- 30 minute photo session for up to 2 pets at the location of your choice.

- 10+ professionally edited images in a private, password protected, online gallery within 7-10 days of shoot

- 2 – 5x7 prints of your choice

- All low resolution images (watermarked) perfect for sharing via email, facebook, etc.

Visit our website or email me at jess@tailsoflovephoto.com today!

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Happy Birthday Maggie!

On October 1, Maggie turned 6 years old!  We have been through a lot during that time and I've said it before and I'll say it again...I can't imagine life without her.


 
Yesterday, I attempted to bake her a doggy cake.  It was a little more difficult than I imagined as she has some food allergies...wheat and corn.  That makes finding cake ingredients a bit harder. I finally found some rice flour to substitute for normal wheat.


 
Here is the recipe:

Peanut Butter Delight Dog Birthday Cake

1 cup white or whole wheat flour  3/4 cup rice flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

Note:  Additional substitutes for regular flour are:  1-1/4 cup rye or oat flour OR 3/4 cup rice, barley, or potato flour or oats.  It is also a good idea to add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder per cup of non-wheat flour to improve the texture of the baked goods.  

 
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

Mix together flour and baking soda. 

 
Add remaining ingredients and mix well. 

 
Pour into a cake pan sprayed with a nonstick spray.

 
 
Bake for 20 minutes.  (The original recipe said 40 + additional 10-20 for non-wheat flour, but mine was browning around the edges at 20, so I took it out.)

Now, I had read that when using non-wheat flour, the cake has a tendency to crumble easily and mine did upon removing it from the pan.  It looked like a mess but it smelled and tasted good.  And yes, I did try it myself as there was nothing but real, people-grade ingredients.  It was pretty good, I have to say.  Oh and Maggie thought it smelled great.  She was sniffing all around the kitchen the whole time I was mixing this up and baking it.

Now for the Cinnamon Frosting:

 
Ingredients:



12 ounces nonfat cream cheese (room temperature)
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp honey

 

Combine the following ingredients and blend thoroughly.

 

 I ended up mixing the crumbled cake into the frosting.  At first I gave Maggie a couple scoops in her food dish, but I guess she figures anything that comes in that bowl is just ordinary and she only ate a little bit of it.  After that, I figured out that this made a great stuffing for her Kong and she gobbled it up!


 

First, Maggie checks it out.  "What is this stuff?"

 

Then she licks her chops, and then the bowl.

 

 

The she licks the cake, and then her chops again.  

 

Happy Birthday Baby!   

Hugs & Wags, Jess

More Maggie

This is one of my favorite photos of my pretty girl.  It shows that she can (occasionally) have a serious side and her tremendous love for her tennis ball.  Her eyes are very expressive and content.  I think she looks stoic.

 

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Good News! Vick dogs are leading the way for pitbulls!

Two years ago, 51 pitbulls were confiscated from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels for dog fighting.   The usual process involved putting down all the dogs, due to fears that they would be aggressive and never be rehabilitated.  In this case, 47 of 51 of the dogs have been given a second chance...and they are thriving!  Some of them have even passed the rigorous training and tests to become therapy dogs.  I think these dogs can show us much about strength, trust, and second chances.

View a news clip about the dogs here.



Hugs & Wags, Jess

Cats!

Although dogs seem to be much more common subjects, cats can make great models too!

This is Raja.  She loves laying in the sun.  Aren't her eyes just gorgeous?  

Raja also has two lovely little kittens.

This is Bingo...she looks a lot like mama.

And this is Shadow.  He has his mama's eyes but is very shy.

Hugs & Wags, Jess

GABR Waddle 2010

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 Guardian Angle Basset Bash.   My sister-in-law, Brandy (and her Basset Hound, Jack), invited me to head to Dwight, IL with them for the event.  I have never been to anything like it!  The event is held in their fenced in doggy area, so everyone can let their pups run off-leash.  There were Basset's everywhere and they all seemed so friendly!

There were Basset races, a pooch smooch contest (it involved peanut butter, an owner's face, and a Basset), swing dancers, and even a king & queen.  At one point Brandy, Jack and I sat down on the ground for some rest and we made several new friends.  It seems that once you get down to their level, Basset's aren't shy about requesting pets and love.  Here are a few pictures from the day:

For more photos from this event, visit the Tails of Love Event Gallery.



Hugs & Wags, Jess

100 Ways to Help a Rescue

I found this great list recently and it gives some great idea no matter what your resources are.  Most rescues do what they can on very limited resources so every little bit helps.  Anyone have any other suggestions on how to help?

100 Ways to Help Rescue

• 1. Foster a Dog
• 2. Adopt a dog
• 3. Transport a dog
• 4. Donate a dog bed, towels or other bedding
• 5. Donate MONEY
• 6. Donate a Kong - a Nylabone - a Hercules - a Buster cube
• 7. Donate a crate
• 8. Donate an exercise pen or baby gates
• 9. Donate a food dish or a stainless bucket for a crate
• 10. Donate a leash
• 11. Donate a collar
• 12. Donate some treats or a bag of food
• 13. Donate a Halti or Promise collar
• 14. Walk a dog
• 15. Groom a dog
• 16. Donate some grooming supplies (shampoos, combs, brushes, etc.)
• 17. Go to the local shelter and see if that Big White dog is a Pyr (or Kuvasz, or Saint, or whatever) or go with rescue to be a second opinion on the dog
• 18. Make a few phone calls
• 19. Mail out applications to people who've requested them
• 20. Provide local vet clinics with contact information for educational materials on Pyrs
• 21. Drive a dog to and from vet appointments
• 22. Donate long distance calling cards
• 23. Attend public education days and try to educate people on responsible pet ownership
• 24. Donate a gift certificate to a pet store
• 25. Donate a raffle item if your club is holding a fund raiser
• 26. Donate flea stuff (Advantage, etc.)
• 27. Donate heart-worm pills
• 28. Donate a first aid kit
• 29. Provide a shoulder to cry on when the rescue person is overwhelmed
• 30. Pay the boarding fees to board a dog for a week or two
• 31. Be a Santi-paws foster to give the foster a break for a few hours or days.
• 32. Clip coupons for dog food or treats.
• 33. Bake some homemade doggie biscuits.
• 34. Offer use of your computer to print forms
• 35. Host rescue photos with an information link on your website
• 36. Donate time to take good photos of foster Pyrs for adoption flyers, etc.
• 37. Conduct a home visit or accompany a rescue person on the home visit
• 38. Go with rescue person to the vet to help if there is more than one dog
• 39. Have a yard sale and donate the money to rescue
• 40. Be volunteer to do rescue in your area.
• 41. Take advantage of a promotion on the web or store offering a free ID tag and instead of getting it for your own dog, have the tag inscribed with your Club's name and phone # to contact This makes a reusable ID tag for dogs while in foster care.
• 42. Talk to all your friends about adopting and fostering rescue dogs
• 43. Donate vet services or a spay or neuter each year or some vaccinations
• 44. Interview vets to encourage them to offer discounts to rescues
• 45. Write a column for your local newspaper or club newsletter on dogs currently looking for homes or ways to help rescue
• 46. Take photos of dogs available for adoption for use by the Club
• 47. Maintain web sites listing/showing dogs available
• 48. Help organize and run fundraising events
• 49. Help maintain the paperwork files associated with each dog or enter the information into a database
• 50. Tattoo a rescued dog
• 51. Microchip a rescued dog
• 52. Loan your carpet steam cleaner to someone who has fostered a dog that was sick or marked in the house
• 53. Donate a bottle of bleach or other cleaning products
• 54. Donate or loan a portable dog run to someone who doesn't have an area for quarantining a dog that has an unknown vaccination history and has been in a shelter
• 55. Drive the fosters' children to an activity so that the foster can take the dog to obedience class
• 56. Use your video camera to film a rescue dog in action
• 57. Pay the cost of taking a dog to obedience class
• 58. Be the one to take the dog to its obedience class
• 59. Go to the foster home once a week with your children and dogs to help socialize the dog
• 60. Help the foster clean up the yard (yes, we also have to scoop what those foster dogs poop)
• 61. Offer to test the foster dog with cats
• 62. If you have livestock, offer to test the foster dog around the livestock.
• 63. Pay for the dog to be groomed or take the dog to a "Do It Yourself" Grooming Place
• 64. Bring the foster take-out so the foster doesn't have to cook dinner
• 65. Pay a house-cleaning service to do the spring cleaning for someone who fosters dogs all the time
• 66. Lend your artistic talents to your club's newsletter, fundraising ideas, t-shirt designs
• 67. Donate printer paper, envelopes and stamps to your rescue group
• 68. Go with a rescue person to the vet if a foster dog needs to be euthanized
• 69. Go to local shelters and meet with shelter staff about how to identify a Pyr.
• 70. Provide a shelter with breed information showing the different types of Pyrs and the different color combinations
• 71. Go to local businesses and solicit donations for a club's fundraising event
• 72. Offer to try and help owners be better pet owners by holding a grooming seminar
• 73. Help pet owners be better pet owners by being available to answer training questions
• 74. Donate or loan a crate if a dog needs to travel by air
• 75. Put together a *Pyr Owner's Manual* for those who adopt rescued Pyrs
• 76. Provide post-adoption follow up or support
• 77. Do a pre-placement home inspection for a potential adopter
• 78. Pay for an ad in your local/metropolitan paper to help place rescue dogs.
• 79. Volunteer to screen calls for that ad. (What? A Pyr is a big dog? I didn't know.)
• 80. When you buy your own dog food, buy an extra bag for a foster home.
• 81. Get some friends together to build/repair pens for a foster home.
• 82. If you are a breeder, spay/neuter all pet and LGD pups before they leave you. That way, their offspring won't become a rescue problem.
• 83. Microchip your own pups, and register the chips, so if your dogs ever come into rescue, you can be contacted to take responsibility for your pup
• 84. Donate a small percentage of the sale of each pup to rescue.
• 85. Save clean, groomed-out undercoat for that member who is a spinner and wants to make a hand-spun, woven item for fund-raising.
• 86. If your Rescue has an annual raffle, auction or other fund-raiser, when you see a really neat dog-item you "have to have" - buy two, and donate one to Rescue.
• 87. Make financial arrangements in your will to cover the cost of caring for your dogs after you are gone - so Rescue won't have to.
• 88. Make a bequest in your will to your local Rescue.
• 89. Volunteer to pet sit so the foster can take time off
• 90. Volunteer to take a foster dog or rescue dog to local pet stores and "adopt" days to educate the public about the breed
• 91. Offer to pet-sit or feed for a weekend so the foster family can get away for a holiday.
• 92. Donate a computer
• 93. Donate the use of your scanner or digital camera
• 94. Donate the use of a photocopier
• 95. Donate a fax machine
• 96. Donate a color printer
• 97. Donate printer cartridges
• 98. Donate a box of printer paper
• 99. Use your graphic skills to produce flyers and information pamphlets
• 100. Think of other ways to help Rescue, the dogs and your Rescue Representatives

Source

Hugs & Wags, Jess

Welcome to the all new Tails of Love Photography Blog!

It is only right that my first post would be a photo of my sweet girl.  Let me introduce everyone to Maggie.  She is an almost 6 year old American Staffordshire Terrier.  Maggie has more personality than any dog I've ever had.  She has been with me since she was 9 weeks old and I can't imagine life without her.

Hugs & Wags,
Jess