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Luna & Tom - 12/17/17

Name: Luna (3.5 y/o) & Tom (2 y/o)

Family Members: Bryan & Christie

How long have Luna & Tom been in the family? Luna has been with us for 3 years and Tom for a year and half.

Profession: Bryan - Airport Fueler Christie - Teacher

Location: Centennial, CO

Nicknames:

Luna: Looney Tunes

Tom: Tom Tom, Thomas the Train

5 words/phrases that best describe Luna & Tom?

Luna:

Loving
Playful
Goofy
Intelligent
Stubborn

Tom:

Loving
Snuggler
Loves Dogs
Curious
but Timid

What makes Luna & Tom unique? Luna thinks that she’s a small dog-She crawls into laps and tries to stand on the back of the couch. While Tom is 100% purebred American Staffordshire Terrier, which is rare to find in a rescue.

Rescue Stories: Luna’s life before rescue is a mystery. She was in a shelter in Fort Worth Texas, and was tagged by Waggin’ Tails Canine Rescue. I adopted her when she was 5 months old.

Tom was owner surrendered to the BARC shelter in Houston, Texas. He was tagged by Animal Rescue of the Rockies and we fostered him. He was extremely timid and didn’t trust humans. We wanted to work with him to help him get over his fears and be more adoptable. After all, who would want a puppy that is so afraid of everything? After 2 months, we decided to adopt him.

What is life like since you adopted Luna & Tom? We adopted Luna to be a companion for our other dog Peanut (who later died of Distemper). Since adopting Luna, our life has been fun and crazy. Luna keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh. She also is a snuggle bug, and knows how to comfort us when we have had a bad day. She is an amazing dog and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.

Since adopting Tom, life has been interesting. The first few months were hard because we couldn’t take him anywhere. Now he is learning that life can be safe and fun. We truly believe that Tom was meant to stay in our home.

Photographers Note: After finishing up my previous photo shoot, which just happened to be at Christie's Mom and Dad's house (Sydney, the previous posted story), I headed over to Christie and Bryan's house. Christie gave me the heads up that Tom was a little shy and to give him his space. We went out in the backyard to let him play with Luna and run around a bit. Luna was feeling a little under the weather so her play time was short. So I started the fake move play with Tom and he would zoom around the yard after each move. Before you know it, I would be talking to Christie and feel a little "boop" on my hand or my leg from Tom. Not sure if he was tagging me as if to say "you're it" or letting me know that he was starting to trust me a little. Both pups are just beautiful, with Luna's amber eyes (which I had to highlight in her individual picture) and Tom's stunning markings...they were fun to photograph. I mean that individual picture of Tom above, may be one of my favorite captures. You see how his ears normally look, so to catch him when both ears are standing straight up like that....Lucky stuff right there! What I love about this Mother/Daughter team, is their friendly competition around number of fosters they have brought in and found forever homes for. The numbers are pretty impressive for just two people and almost as impressive as these two women. Keep it up ladies, you are saving so many lives and completing so many families!

Sydney - 12/17/17

Name: Sydney - 3 y/o

How long has Sydney been in the family? Since she was 9 weeks old

Family Members: Cheryl, Mike & daughter Kelli (24 y/o) Dog Siblings: Beau – 12 yo German Shepherd ,Cody – 5 yo lab mix & Coco – 8 yo Jack Russell

Profession: Mike - Works for the city, Cheryl - dog rescuer/foster mom & Kelli - just graduated & currently works at Target

Location: Centennial, CO

Nickname: Syd

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Sydney?

Lovable
Silly
A great snuggler
Perfect demeanor
Loves to play with other dogs

What makes Sydney unique? Sydney gets along with and loves to play with all other dogs. She acts like an idiot when we're walking because she thinks every dog she sees is there just to play with her. People too for that matter.

Rescue Story: Sydney & her mother were found stray on the streets in Houston, TX. There were a bunch of siblings but they were all dead. Her momma was able to keep our sweet Syd alive though. Momma and Syd were both transported to the Denver area and adopted out.

Puppy Syd  - as a new Colorado resident. — Puppy Syd - as a new Colorado resident.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We do a lot of hiking. She could walk forever.

What is life like since you rescued Sydney? We always say Sydney is one of the best dogs we've ever known. She's so friendly, with everyone, and everything. My husband was "afraid" to adopt a pit bull because of all the stereotypes and bad things you hear; but I talked him into it. We "had" to get a mix because he was so nervous about it. Now he knows how wonderful they can be and we've since fostered many. My daughter has adopted two more Staffies.

Photographers Note: As luck would have it, our photo shoot fell on Sydney's Adopt-versary weekend! So such a fun way to celebrate that milestone. The first thing you of course notice about Syd is her gorgeous markings and then you look into those soulful eyes and that sweet face; the package is complete. She was so funny, because when we first brought her out to their backyard she wasn't quite sure what was expected. Her family tried to get her to play, but she wasn't really up for "performing" for the women with the camera. Then they brought out their latest foster pup and it was GAME ON! Just pure joy at that point! Going through the photos, I noticed there were at least half of them where she had just a tiny bit of pink tongue sticking out, you almost couldn't see it. Reminded me of those people that stick their tongue out while concentrating (me included) and you knew she was taking this play stuff seriously. This family fosters a lot of dogs and they couldn't have a better ambassador to show them the ropes on the way to their forever homes then this sweet girl.

BuddyDog - 12/16/17

Name: BuddyDog - 5 y/o

How long has BuddyDog been in the family? 3 years

Family Members: Melissa - Mom, BuddyCat (Buddydog’s best friend), Bella -Chi-weenie

Michelle (other human/foster Mom, roommate) – Stevie - Black Lab mix (Diabetic, Cushings, Blind), Jack - Terrier mix (Diabetic, Blind) & Roo (kitty)

Profession: Webmaster/SEO Expert

Location: Englewood, CO.

Nicknames: Buddy, my perpetual 2 year old, my replacement child

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Buddy?

Love
Goofy
Wuss
Spaz
Snuggler

What makes Buddy unique? He is SUPER gentle with smaller animals. Plays tug of war with Jack and Buddycat.

Rescue Story: Michelle was doing rescues/fostering and I was in between homes, so she was going to watch my Buddycat. When I brought BuddyCat to her house, I met BuddyDog (who Michelle was fostering) for the first time. He was already up for adoption and being “advertised” and in articles regularly. When I met him I told him he was going to be mine. Little did I know a couple months later I would move in with Michelle and within about a month adopt him. Since then, he’s become my ESA officially and I’m looking to get him properly trained and to become my full blown service dog.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Right now it’s just cuddling with him and playing. Once he’s better trained we’ll go everywhere together.

What is life like since you rescued Buddy? He’s my boy. He pulls my attention away from work and gets me to take breaks. He makes me laugh all the time. I don’t feel so alone with my big boy around! My kids are grown now, and he keeps me company and happy <3.

Photographers Notes: Buddy is truly a victim of Breed Specific Legislation. He was seized by an animal control officer in Aurora, CO after escaping from his family's backyard. Aurora is one of several cities in the Front Range area of Colorado that has Breed Specific Legislation in place. Michelle was able to bring him to Englewood, which has no such laws. In November of 2014, Aurora put the ban to a vote and unfortunately it was not over turned. So Buddy stayed on with Michelle and then found his forever home with Melissa. Leading up to the vote, there were several articles written and Buddy was the poster child. Since those local articles were published, his image and story has and continues to be used in articles on the subject in Wyoming, Louisiana, New York & Canada. Including the most recent Montreal ban, that has since been reversed.

Of course Buddy has no idea that he is a bit of a local celebrity and what his image represents for many. He is just a sweet, energetic goofy dog, who is loved and is living in the present with his family.

Ellie - 12/16/17

Name: Ellie - 5.5 y/o

How long has Ellie been in the family? 5 years

Family Members: Alicia & Drew, Dog Siblings: Cosmo (12 week old Boxer) & Conrad (11 y/o boxer mix- foster)

Professions: Alicia- Process development at a pharmaceutical company
Drew-Manufacturing at pharmaceutical company

Location: Frederick, CO.

Nicknames: Ellie Belly, Sugar Bugger, Baby girl

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Ellie?

Vocal
Social
Loving
Snuggly
Food!

What makes Ellie unique? Ellie loves to talk to you and tell you how she is feeling. When she gets happy she will make a moaning sound. Some people don’t understand that she is just talking to you instead of growling. She does it the most when you are rubbing her ears in the right spot and she tells you how good it feels.

Ellie loves to roll on her back for belly rubs!

Rescue Story: The information that I know about her before she came into my home is a mystery. She had a broken tale when she came to me and the vet thinks it got slammed in a door when she was a puppy. I have had her since she was 6 months old. At the time, I had an older boxer and was considering getting another dog. I honestly didn’t think about getting any sort of pit or pit mix, but getting Ellie was the best decision.
To stat at the beginning my little brother had returned to my mother’s house with this little puppy in his arms and said that someone dropped her off at the dog park and just drove off so he wasn’t going to leave her there. His girlfriend at the time was going to take her as her own dog, but needed her grandmothers’ approval first. I told my brother right away after I met Ellie that if his girlfriend could not keep her I would take her. The next day my brother calls me and tells me that I would need to take Ellie. I was so excited! Once I had her I took her to a vet just to have her checked out and get shots going since I didn’t have any background information on her. At the vet, they wanted to check to see if she was microchipped, and scanned her. The vet tech started writing down the name that registered on the chip and it turned out to be my brothers. So, long story short…my little brother adopted her from a shelter and didn’t know how to tell my family that he decided to do this. I saved her from both the shelter and from an unfit human parent. I am over the moon in love with this dog and I couldn’t have asked for a better companion than her.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Ellie’s favorite pasttime is to go to the horse barn with me. I have 2 horses and she has been going to the barn with me since she was a puppy. She loves to go and interact with the people and other dogs that go to the barn. Her favorite type of person are children. She thinks they are the perfect height for her to kiss right on the face and then she will turn over and show her belly because she wants them to love on her.

What is life like since you rescued Ellie? Life with Ellie is so enjoyable. My girl has a slew of health problems ranging from kidney disease to allergies, but I love her anyway. She must have special food for her kidneys and shots to keep her allergies at bay, but I will happily do it for my baby girl. I’m so grateful to have a dog like Ellie that lets me bring in random dogs for a week to months at a time. I have been fostering dogs since the beginning of 2017 and we have had at least 10 dogs come through our home and Ellie has welcomed each one of them. She especially loves when we foster puppies and she gets to act as their mother for a few weeks. When I got her, I had an older boxer that she grew up with and loved dearly up until his passing this September. She has mourned his loss deeply and was seeking companionship in our long-term foster dog Conrad. My husband and I recently adopted a 9-week-old boxer puppy and it is so nice to see Ellie want to play again. She continues to love the foster dogs we bring into the house and acts as a great mother figure to our new addition to the family. On top of that she is gorgeous with her brindle coat and light brown eyes!

Photographers Note: I met Alicia and Ellie at the horse barn where Alicia keeps her horses. The setting was just beautiful, mostly flat prairie land and then a gorgeous view of the mountains to the West. When I arrived they came out of the barn to greet me and watching Ellie you can tell she is used to that job..greeter. Every place we went, it was like she was showing me around, taking us on a tour of her barn! She is just such a love bug, every chance she got she was rolling on her back to get some belly rubs from me. I mean it was the least I could do, I was taking her from her social time around the barn! The best was when we finished up and we were cutting through the barn to go back to my car. We came across two other dogs and she went running up to greet them. She even has her own doggie social circle there!

Kaiser - 12/15/17

Name: Kaiser - 6.5 y/o

How long has Kaiser been in the family? Since he was a puppy.

Family Members: Parents: Andrew & Elise Kids: Aidan (16) & Eva (12)

Profession: Andrew is in Real Estate

Location: Littleton, CO

Nicknames: Kais, Kaisee

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Kaiser?

Loving
Sweet
Gentle
Outdoorsy
Willful

What makes Kaiser unique? The very large vocabulary of words that he understands.

Rescue Story: Kaiser was part of a litter of puppies that the local Humane Society had brought up from Southwestern Colorado. The dogs were from a reservation there and were in poor shape. He had ear mites, kennel cough and worms when they got him. My wife Elise happened to see them at a local outdoor mall, and despite the fact that she never wanted a dog, Kaiser won her over. She texted me a picture and by the time I got there, he was the only pup left. Another couple tried to adopt him, but lived in an apartment, so he came home with us.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Hiking, snowshoeing & cross country skiing. I try to bike with him, but he likes to get in front of me and stop.

What is life like since you rescued Kaiser? He has woven himself into the fabric of our family – and to us is just another one of the kids. He loves his brother and sister and is very content.

Photographers Note: The first official Colorado volunteer. Kaiser is just as sweet as can be but on this day he wasn't really feeling the model vibe! Was happy to dole out love and kisses, but when it came to performing for the camera, not so such! Throw a toy and 8 x out of 10, he watched it fall. Andrew thought he might be a little grumpy because he hadn't had one of his long walks. In chatting with Andrew about where Kaiser came from, he spoke about the challenges of controlling the dog population on many of the reservations in the area and how most of those dogs have at least 25% pit in them, Kaiser included.

Unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts the rest of the family was not available for the family shot. However, once Eva came out and sat next to Kaiser, he just lit up. There is definitely a special bond between those two.

Rogue, Waffles & Chicken Wing - 12/9/17

Name: Rogue (8 y/o), Waffles (5 y/o) & Chicken Wing (2 y/o, will be 3 in January)

Family Members: Daphne & Wes

How long has Rogue, Waffles & Chicken Wing been in the family? Rogue was found when she was around 8-9 weeks old; Waffles was adopted at almost 4 months old and Chicken
Wing was adopted at 5 months.

Professions: Daphne - Adoption Counselor at The Atlanta Humane Society

Wes: Graphic Designer

Location: SW Atlanta

Nicknames:

Rogue: Rogue-Pie, Big Girl, Moo-Cow, Roguems, Pogues

Waffles: Fat Girl, Princess, Piglet, Piggles, Waffalitas

Chicken Wing: Wingles, Chickadee, Velvet ears, Chicky-wing

5 of the best words/phrases that describe these three?

Rogue: 1. Independent 2. Protector

Waffles: 1. Snuggler 2. Obsessive 3. Princess 4. Spoiled 5. Brat

Chicken: 1. Needy 2. Dependent 3. Clingy 4. Lazy 5. Just plain weird

What makes these pups unique? They sleep in a pile together!

Rescue Stories: I found Rogue on the side of the road shortly after moving to Atlanta. I had no experience with pit bulls and at the time just had a Miniature Pinscher. I fell in love with her and my eyes were opened to the world of pit bull rescue. From there I felt the need to begin
volunteering wherever possible with pit bulls.

Waffles was adopted from Friends to the Forlorn. I had started volunteering with them and this one little blue and white puppy stole my heart. I fostered her for two weeks and then signed the adoption papers to make her part of the family.

Chicken Wing was surrender to the shelter where I work. (Atlanta Humane Society) I
immediately fell in love. At the time I wasn't sure I was ready to take on a 4th dog. Then someone came into the shelter and asked for a discount on him; from there i knew he had to be mine. I officially adopted him that day. He fit into the pack perfectly and
they all became immediate best friends.

Little baby Rogue, heading to her forever home.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Hiking, trail walks & snuggling.

What is life like since you adopted these pups? My life since I began rescuing has changed so much! I changed my entire career in order to work in animal welfare.

Photographers Note: This photo shoot was so much fun because it was just after a pretty significant snow fall in the Metro Atlanta area and that doesn't happen very often. On top of that Wes & Daphne live near this beautiful trail that provided such an amazing backdrop to their family photo. Once we moved back to their yard, I got a lot of blurry photos of the pups racing around in the snow, just having the best time. There was also the small problem of Mr. Chicken Wing's addiction to the white stuff....so a lot of photos of him nose buried and eating away at the biggest snow cone he has ever seen! All in all it was a pretty successful session and I heard back from Daphne afterwards that all 3 were wiped out after I left. An hour of posing and 5 inches of snow will do that to a pup!

Gauge - 12/2/17

Name: Gauge - 4 y/o

How long has Gauge been in the family? He has been with us since March 2014

Family Members: Theresa, Nathan & Thor (2 y/o Shepherd Mix)

Professions: Theresa is a purchasing agent at Aqua EZ & Nathan is in sales at T-mobile

Location: Dallas, GA

Nicknames: Gaugie, Mr. Stinky

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Gauge?

Gentle
Lazy
Loving
Patient
Fast Learner

What makes Gauge unique? He reads humans well. He knows exactly when you are feeling down. He will sit there with you, put his big head on your lap and sigh in solidarity.

Rescue Story: I was working at the office of my old job near Fulton Industrial. It really seemed like a normal day. I was working on the computer, when I glanced over to the window and saw this dark creature. At first, I thought to myself that was a mighty big cat and returned back to my work screen. About 10 minutes later, I glanced over to the window again and realized that the cat I thought I had seen, was a dog. I decided to step outside to check it out. When I walked outside, employees of the neighboring companies had done the same and surrounded the dog. As soon as the dog saw me, he came running up to me and started to lick me. One of the employees told me, they saw the dog sleeping in one of the warehouses, with nowhere else to go. Further examination showed the dog had a terrible case of mange and a limp. I decided to scoop him up and took him to the vet the same week. The vet scanned him for a chip but could not find one. He said the limp was probably from exhaustion. They also told me, we would never be able to get rid of the mange and prescribed some expensive medication to help with the itch. At the time Gauge (that is what I ended up naming him) had a huge bald spot on the top of his head, his cheeks and spots all over his back. I had no idea, what a "pit bull" even was, so I decided to do my research. Read articles, spoke with dog trainers and changed his diet. Needless to say, he hated the medicine he was prescribed, and I ended up tossing it. A few months into his new diet, his skin started clearing up and hair growing into the patches. He was a completely changed dog. He is now full of life and a spoiled diva.

Gauge's car ride back to his forever home.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Gauge absolutely loves cuddling up with you. Time or day doesn't matter. He is always up for a good nap.

What is life like since you rescued Gauge? Our lives have completely changed ever since Gauge came to us. Not knowing what a "pit bull" was before I met Gauge, turned me into huge advocate. I try to educate people wherever I go and made a point to introduce him to all our neighbors. Gauge has been my best friend ever since and has helped me through tough times. A little over a year later, we adopted Thor (shepherd mix), who was a ten week old stray at the time. Gauge really enjoys spending time with his brother, although their character traits could not be more different.

Photographers Note: Upon my arrival, I was greeted exuberantly by both dogs and then as soon as we went outside, it was show time! Gauge went racing out into the yard locating the biggest sticks he could find and just raced around for a good 10 minutes. Meanwhile Thor stood next to me on the deck with his front paws on the railing and just leaned into me for some attention.

When Theresa told me about how when they moved in they made sure to introduce Gauge around to all of there neighbors because they wanted to be sure they knew him and his personality versus making assumptions based on how he looks. Since that point, he apparently has a pretty close relationship with his 4 year old neighbor next door. In fact, he got out one day and the neighbor brought him back...with Gauge and her daughter just hanging out in the back seat. I really love that Theresa and Nathan have taken the right steps to help educate their neighbors and truly show that Gauge should be identified with his goofy personality and "showman" techniques, versus grouping him into a perception.

Noodle, Honeybun & Sugarbaby - 11/19/17

Name: Noodle (6 y/o), Honeybun (1 y/o) & Sugarbaby (1 y/o)

Family Members: Angel, Thomas, & Aaron (nephew – 18 years old)

How long has Noodle, Sugar & Honey been in the family? Noodle - 4 years, Honey Bun - 6 months & Sugar Baby - 4 months

Professions: Angel – full-time Laboratory Manager of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant for ESG Operations, Inc. at Lockheed Martin AND part-time Bartender at SunTrust Park, Coca-Cola Roxy, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Fire’s Mobile Bartending; Thomas – EPIC Principal Trainer and RN at WellStar Health Systems; Aaron – Team Member at Chick-fil-A and student at Kennesaw State University

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames:

Noodle: Noodle Bug, Buggy, Bugs, Bubba, Noodle Strudel

Honeybun: Honey, Honey Bunny, Pretty Baby, Little Girl

Sugarbaby: Sugar, Sugar Booger, Sweetheart, Big Girl

5 of the best words/phrases that describe these three?

Noodle: 1. Pocket Pibble 2. Voted class clown in basic training class 3. Spoiled rotten crybaby 4. He loves to nibble on people’s ears 5. Mama’s boy

Honeybun: 1. Super smart (she aims to please her humans) 2. Loves to be snuggled from behind (little spoon) 3. Sleeps between me and Thomas under the covers so she can be squished 4. Makes some of the derpiest faces 5. Has mastered the head tilt

Sugarbaby: 1. Stubborn as a mule 2. She refuses to do any commands unless there are treats involved (manipulative!) 3. She’s a big doofus 4. LOVES her sister (her and Honeybun are stuck together like glue) 5. World’s best snuggler

What makes these pups unique? Noodle is the real-life version of Stitch (from Lilo & Stitch) – looks just like him, acts just like him, and is just the cutest little thing in the world.

Honey has the funniest little bark/howl you've ever heard. When she gets excited, she does this long drawn out “Rooooooooooooooo”. It’s so precious.

Sugar's features are majestic. She honestly looks like a cat in the face. She is our beautiful lion pup. Haven’t seen many dogs that looks like her. Gorgeous girl.

Sugar is not choosey on what she chews on!

Rescue Stories:

Noodle: Georgia Humane Society shared his picture on Facebook from the Urgent Animals of Fulton County page. He was scheduled to be euthanized the next morning. I fell in love with him upon first glance and knew he was my soulmate. I lived in south Georgia (Tifton) at the time which is about 3 hours south of Atlanta. After talking to the shelter staff, I left work and took off to get him. They said he was picked up as a stray and had not been claimed. I didn’t get home with him until about 8:00 that night. We kept him quarantined until he put on some weight and got rid of his kennel cough. He tore up every bed he ever had until recently. He has just been diagnosed with advanced arthritis in his back knees and lower back. He has finally realized that the beds are for his comfort, not his entertainment.

Noodle getting ready to leave the shelter for his forever home.

Honeybun: I went to the shelter looking for a companion for Noodle. I saw over 50 dogs that day and instantly connected with her. She was so sweet and just wanted to lick lick lick through the kennel gate. She had a few more days until she would be available for adoption because of pending litigation (she was confiscated by the police). Apparently, she had been locked in a small room with her own feces and urine everywhere while her “owners” were selling drugs out of their house. She was taken after the police did a drug bust and they discovered her in the house. She was basically being held as evidence. I went ahead and put in an application for her so once the shelter was given the all clear, I would be the first in line to get her. When I got her home, she was battling kennel cough. She ended up getting pneumonia and was super sick. After a round of strong antibiotics and rest, she finally kicked it 2 weeks later and was able to meet Noodle and officially join the family.

Sugarbaby: Paws & Stars Animal Rescue shared her picture from the Rockdale County Animal Shelter. They were trying to pull her, but needed foster arrangements first. TJ and I talked about it and decided to foster her. We couldn’t get that face out of our minds. I took Noodle and Honeybun to the shelter for a meet and greet. Honey and Sugar became fast friends and she was submitting to Noodle every time he asserted his dominance. She fit in perfectly. After 1 week of fostering her, we decided to keep her. She was just so much fun and a perfect companion for Honey since Noodle tires out quicker due to his age and arthritis. Best foster fail ever!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Noodle loves car rides, so we try to take him as many places as we can. People in drive-thru's love him! Honey is so much fun. We play many different games with her. She loves to fetch and we recently just started to do some nose work with her. She catches on to new things quickly. I’m a proud mama. Now Sugar is a couch potato. She loves to run and play, but she is the only one that will sit still long enough to watch a movie with you.

What is life like since you adopted these pups? Life has been an adventure since Noodle joined the family. He is a comedian and doesn’t even realize it. He has brought me so much joy. He holds a special place in my heart. I don’t love him more than my other babies, but I do have a special relationship with him... he is MY baby. I am obsessed with this little boy. Everyone who has ever met him has said he is the cutest dog they have ever seen. I get cuteness aggression overload with him more times than not. I smile every time I see him and he has shown me what true unconditional love is.

Honeybun smiles all the time, which makes us smile. She never met a stranger and just wants to be loved by everyone. When I took her to the vet for pneumonia, she learned how to open the door in just a few minutes after watching the vet and vet techs turn the handle. She almost got out! That’s when I realized that she was going to be a handful. She can be mischievous, but that’s why we try to do constructive activities with her. She keeps us on our toes, but we love it. There is nothing better than coming home to this pretty little face and touching her velvety soft head.

Sugarbaby is the sweet and submissive one of the bunch. She doesn’t know her own size, which is fine with us because who doesn’t love a 70lb lap dog?! She has stolen my boyfriend’s heart. He tries not to play favorites, but Sugarbaby is definitely HIS soulmate. She has kept us on our toes and helped us realize that we need to doggy proof our house (she will chew up anything she can get to). She ate my fitbit for goodness sake! You can’t stay angry at that face for long though. She is such a sweet baby and everyone flocks to her because of how pretty she is. She brings so much love into our house that we didn’t even realize was missing.

Photographers Note: I had so much fun with these three. We opted to do separate sessions with them to try and get some cooperation because they all three were about showing off for the new person at their house. When I put my blanket on the ground to sit and take photos at their level, all three thought the blanket was for them. They would come over and sit down, give me a glance as if to say, thanks for the spot to sit! I think Noodle actually opted to sit in my lap, but same same...right? :) Sugar and Honey would do fly by's as they were racing around with whatever toy they had in their mouth, cutting right in front of me to avoid collision. Angel was right, it's definitely good that Honey and Sugar have each other because they have some energy to drain, where sweet Noodle would have a spurt of energy and then he was pretty content to chew his stick and relax in the sunshine. All three are just silly goofy balls enjoying their forever home!

Daisy & Princess - 11/4/17

Name: Daisy (2 y/o) & Princess (2 y/o)

Family Members: Caitlin - Dog Mom, Sandi & Will (Caitlin's Parents), Christian (Caitlin's brother); Family Pets: Cash, Dixie, Shawty, O'Malley

How long have Daisy & Princess been in the family? Both one year.

Profession: Founder of Caitlin’s Vine Of Bravery Dog Rescue

Location: Roswell, GA.

Nicknames: Daisy: Daisy Duke

Princess: Babe, Block Head Beauty

5 words/phrases that best describe Daisy & Princess:

Daisy

Lovable
Caring
Sweet
Beauitful
Perceptive

Princess:

Energetic
Playful
Silly
Loyal
Smart

What makes Daisy & Princess unique? Daisy is my service dog. She follows me everywhere and sleeps as long as I will sleep. She will sleep with me even if I sleep until 2pm in the afternoon when I am sick. She never leaves my side.

Princess learns new tricks very fast. She is very hyper and full of energy.

Rescue Stories: Daisy was rescued from DeKalb County Animal Shelter before she was to be euthanized. She had been run over and had a broken pelvis. She needed FHO surgery (femoral head ostectomy). She was the first dog I rescued.

Princess was about to be euthanized at Fulton County Animal Services for fear aggression. She was severely beaten and left on a balcony for two weeks without food or water. She is terrified of new people touching her or approaching her but is making amazing progress.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Swimming with them, playing fetch and agility course. We also play with bubbles and lasers, along with taking walks by the creek and swimming in the lake.

What is life like since you rescued Daisy & Princess? My life is filled with so much more joy, happiness and laughter. Love from a rescue dog is the most amazing feeling ever. They are so spoiled and are the happiest and loving dogs.

Photographers Note: I really enjoyed spending time with these two adorable pups Both are so striking in very different ways and have such funny personalities. Being able to see Daisy loving her pool and Princess playing with her water game in the beginning of Nov, was such a treat! As Caitlin mentioned Princess takes some time to warm up to strangers, so I just let her take the lead and started out taking photos from a distance with my zoom. I didn't reach out to touch her when she came near (as much I as I wanted to), and by the end of our time together she was coming right over to me and sticking her head through the chair I was sitting on to get some attention. This is a big family with a lot of animals and as could happen they don't all get along. Instead of giving up on any of them, they are committed to doing what it takes so each member of their 4-legged family has a wonderful and spoiled life. It's truly a great to thing to see.

Lucky - 10/29/17

Name: Lucky - 3 y/o

How long has Lucky been in the family? Since Nov. 2014

Family Members: Alyse, Gabriel (Gabe) & a shepherd mix named Bailey who is 7 (also a rescue).

Professions: Alyse works for Marriott International and Gabe is a musician.

Location: Decatur, GA.

Nicknames: Luckster, Snoots (he’s an inappropriate sniffer), Donald (he sneezes like Donald Duck), Waggles, Goober, Fat Head

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Lucky?

Snuggler
Waggly
Happy
Goober
Lazy (he sleeps a lot)

What makes Lucky unique? He truly loves everyone he meets: strangers, other dogs and especially kids.

Lucky enjoying the park with his sister Bailey.

Rescue Story: It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2014, and temps were in the 20’s. Gabe was walking Bailey and took a shorter route than normal because he wasn’t feeling well. It was on a street he never usually walks down that he spotted Lucky in a pile of leaves on the side of the road. Lucky tried to get away but didn’t have strength to stand and just rolled over. Gabe scooped him up and carried him home. He was only 17lbs (3-4 mos. old) and a skeleton, covered with fleas and just pathetic. He got several baths, was wrapped up in a towel and sat with me by the fireplace. We fed him a little food at a time and he was happy to eat. When we took him to our vet they found no microchip of course and said other than some skin issues they just wanted to see him put on 20lbs or so; otherwise he was healthy! We did NOT intend to keep him. Well… Gabe wanted to keep him from day one. I was happy to foster him until we found a good home. In addition to Bailey we also had a 15-year-old shepherd mix named Buddy. I did not want a puppy pestering my senior dog. Buddy was my #1 priority.

We had someone interested in Lucky but they were going to make him an outside dog which I was not ok with. The more time Lucky spent in our house, the more I got attached to him. He is a lover! By December I decided we were keeping him. As Lucky got healthier and had more energy he did pester Buddy a bit, mostly because Bailey was not very nice to him. Buddy obviously wasn’t going to play with him though and over time Lucky figured out that Buddy made an excellent napping partner. He could often be found snuggled up next to Buddy. It was so sweet! Bailey was not nice to him, as much as he obviously wanted to be friends with her. He refused to give up. He was determined to make her his friend and over time he wore her down. Now they are brother and sister, they play all the time and I’ve even caught her being a bit snuggly with him a few times.

Buddy passed away in Feb. 2016. That was hard. Gabe and I adopted him in 2001 when he was 2 and he was our first baby. Lucky and Bailey didn’t seem to have much of a reaction to the loss. If they had mourned him like we were that would have been even more depressing. Having Lucky around really helped us to get through that sad time.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Lucky’s kind of a lazy dog. He enjoys a good walk every day but otherwise he sleeps a lot! So snuggling is a favorite pastime. I’d say Lucky’s favorite pastime after napping is laying in our backyard sunning himself! He loves to meet new people! He also loves to pester Bailey.

What is life like since you rescued Lucky? Lucky brings so much love and laughter into our home. We had no experience with pits before him and we’re absolutely enamored. I’ve never had a dog that made me smile as much as him. He’s pretty spoiled now and I’m not sure he even remembers life on the street!

Photographers Note: I met up with Alyse, Gabe, Lucky & Bailey on a very cold and blustery day in Piedmont Park, especially for Atlanta in Oct. In texting with Alyse before hand, she mentioned they would be the ones with the pit bull in a bee costume. Sure enough I turned the corner and saw Lucky immediately. They thought a bee fit his personality and I have to say it really did. Just as Alyse described Lucky, he was ready to meet every person, child and dog that was in the park that day! Thankfully the dogs were really cooperative because the humans were darn cold. Pretty sure between Lucky's fuzzy bee outfit and Bailey's beautiful coat, the dogs were loving the chilly weather!

Optimus - 10/21/17

Name: Optimus - 2.5 y/o

How long has Optimus been in the family? 2.5 years

Family Members: Andrea, Martin, human brother Victor (8 y/o) and Baby on the way (due Feb. 2018

Profession: Andrea is an Account Manager at BB&T. Martin is a Catering Assistant at Northside Hospital (Forsyth) & Victor is a student at Little River Elementary.

Location: Woodstock, GA.

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Opitmus?

Big Baby
Loving
Patient
Attached
Lazy

What makes Optimus unique? He has been socialized since we got him and he is such a people person. When we are in public he doesn’t bark at anyone. He is so friendly that he wants to say hi and give kisses to everyone!

Rescue Story: At the time, I was a single mom and my son was begging for a dog. One day I took him and a friend to the Atlanta Humane Society (Howell Mill location) to just “look” at dogs. Well, on that Sunday, Victor found “Finnigan”. He was the smallest of his litter. He was 8 weeks and 8 lbs. His mom had a litter of puppies and the family couldn’t keep them, so they took them all to AHS. That Sunday, we walked away. Victor really wanted the dog and I couldn’t stop thinking of him either. It was April and Victor’s birthday was coming up in May. That Monday, I kept going on the website to check if “Finnigan” was still available. I even called AHS to see if they could put him on hold but they told me “first come first serve”. That day I had my parents pick up Victor and I went straight after work to AHS and adopted the cutest little Pitbull/Terrier Mix that was black with white markings. I showed up to my parents with an early birthday present for Victor. He was so excited and we started going through names and we came up with Optimus, as in, Optimus Prime from Transformers. He has been the best addition to our family. He sleeps with Victor every night. He is our love bug that always wants to be by your side.

Little Optimus heading to his forever home.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? When time and weather permits, we like to take Optimus to Piedmont Park. We take him to the dog park there, buy him a King of Pups Popsicle and walk around while Victor rides his bike.

What is life like since you rescued Optimus? We always tell Optimus that he won the lottery with us but it’s definitely a “who rescued who” situation. I noticed a big change in Victor after adopting Optimus and now they are always together. They are best buds. It is very true that a boys need a dog to grow up with. I know that we always feel better when we get love from Optimus and he has been a companion for all. Even though Optimus is super sensitive, super allergic and breaks my bank account, I wouldn’t change him for the world. I love him and I know he loves each and every one of us right back. Life without Optimus would be a life without laughter.

Photographers Note: I was able to meet up with Andrea, Victor & Optimus (unfortunately Martin had to work) on a gorgeous Saturday morning at Woofstock, a lovely park complete with walking trails and a dog park. It was not hard to find good spots to take pictures because there were many. Our bigger challenge was trying to avoid photo bombers from all the other pups that were out with their owners enjoying the lovely day. Optimus wanted to greet and play with all of them! One of the things that I love most about their family photo above is, if you look closely you will see that Optimus is standing on Victor's foot. After reading Andrea's comments about what a pair they are and how bonded they are, this made me smile. Even in this situation, Optimus wanted to be as close as possible to his boy!

Bliss - 10/20/17

Name: Bliss - 5 y/o

How long has Bliss been in the family? Since late September 2016

Family Members: Catherine + Two other rescue dogs: an ultra enthusiastic lab/border collie mix - Hobie (9 yo) and a very independent corgi/Australian shepherd mix- Addie (12 yo)

Profession: Legal Recruiter (& wannabe dog rescuer)

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Blissie Petunia, Miss Sweet Potato Head, Blissie Blue & Miss Bliss (for formal occasions)

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Bliss?

Super chill & relaxed
Goofy - she does something that makes me laugh every day
Affectionate Lapdog - with a big 'ole supersized head & adoring eyes
The best snores that wake me up in the middle of the night & make me smile
Outgoing, sweet, gentle soul

What makes Bliss unique? Of course, there are too many things to list here … her resemblance to Eeyore; her favorite place to sleep is in my 2.5 yr old niece’s car seat in my office.

Rescue Story: In 2015, I was introduced to my first pit when I found a stray in my new neighborhood. I didn’t think about what type of dog she was. I just knew she needed help. I tried to find her owner, with no luck. I knew this dog was special and wished I could keep her. But, she and my pups didn’t get along and had to be kept separated at all times. I found a wonderful home for her eight months later and still see her often. She is the reason I care so much about this breed. One year later, when I read Bliss’s story on Nextdoor, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Bliss was found in East Atlanta Village in August of 2016. Like most other strays, she was underweight, had no microchip, hadn’t been spayed, had had several litters of puppies, and was heartworm positive. The woman who found her fell in love with her but couldn’t keep her, so Bliss went to the DeKalb County Animal Shelter. She was in a kennel with three other pits and was terrified. She hid in the back, trying to disappear into the floor.
As a new volunteer at the shelter, I got to meet this pitiful girl named Bliss & I fell in love, too. The shelter staff and other volunteers also cared about her. But, sadly, she was shutting down in that environment, getting more depressed each day and was too stressed to eat. I tried to figure out how I could add another dog to my house, but decided it was too much.
All of us who were cheering for Bliss to find a forever home were ecstatic when a family planned to adopt her. They were leaving town for a few days, so I offered to foster Bliss until they returned. The adoption fell through, and there was no way I was sending her back to the shelter. I continued fostering her until Feb. 2017, when I finally admitted to myself that I couldn’t give her up. Bliss was part of the family that day I brought her home.
Bliss and I will be signing up for therapy dog classes soon, and I’m sure she’ll graduate at the top of her class!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Our guilty pleasure is lying on the floor on a sleeping bag and watching a Pit bulls & Parolees marathon.

What is life like since you rescued Bliss? My heart is full and my home is even happier with Bliss in it. I couldn’t imagine life without her. She is good for my two dogs, helping my nervous one learn to relax a bit and letting my small dog continue to think she’s the alpha. She teaches my friends, family and neighbors that pitties are amazing, big-hearted, loyal dogs that deserve a safe, loving home. And, her shelter name, “Bliss”, which I once thought was cheesy, has grown on me. It suits her. She lives up to her name each day.

Photographers Note: Catherine and I both work from home and live not too far from each other, so we were able to pull the photo shoot together on a Friday evening. The lighting was perfect and meeting Catherine and her pack was a great way to end the work week. Bliss just has the best personality. She is so laid back and her expression about 90% of the time is basically what you see in these photos. I told Catherine she has the perfect version of "RPF" - Resting Pit Face. Then, as soon as I got down on the ground, she came right over to stand in my lap and give me some love. The words that Catherine uses to describe here are perfect, she is a sweet and gentle soul. So happy, that her life on the streets led her to Catherine and a life of lounging on couches and sleeping in baby seats, where she is so loved.

Damien - 10/14/17

Name: Damien Lewis Hank Lee - 3.5 y/o

How long has Damien been in the family? Since he was 8 weeks old.

Family Members: Jacolyn, Richard (Grandpa); 3 cats- Vincenzo (Vinnie), Cujo & Lincoln; 4 other dogs- Gus, Bronson, Max & Kairo

Profession: Dog Walker/Pet Sitter

Location: Conyers, GA.

Nicknames: DamiLew, DayDay, Doodlebug

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Damien?

Playful
Loving/ A total Momma's Boy
Silly
People-oriented
Easy-Going

What makes Damien unique? I suffer from depression, and whenever I’m having a rough day, Damien picks up on it and refuses to leave my side.

Rescue Story: Damien was actually a bribe to get me to finish college. I was struggling hardcore and considering dropping out, so my mother told me if I graduated, she would get me a pit bull (knowing I had always wanted one.) She put a call out to several local rescues, and during finals week we were notified a Momma pit bull had been seized from a breeder and had just delivered her puppies. Damien was one of the few survivors, due to parvo. When we went to pick out a puppy, he jumped into my arms and refused to leave my side. It was love at first sight, for both of us.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? I like to take Damien on hikes, but he prefers to stay in and watch TV on the couch.

What is life like since you rescued Damien? Since getting Damien, every day is an adventure. For example, his newest thing is to get on the kitchen table and throw things off of it. But it’s hard to get mad at him, because he keeps me grounded.

Photographers Note: I met up with Jackie and Damien at a small quiet park, which was a perfect spot for his photo shoot. Damien is just the cutest bug, that face and his adorable under bite would melt anyone's heart. He is also the epitome of a velcro dog. He just wanted to be touching or next to his Mom the entire time. (Dont worry, I was not deprived of attention. Sitting on the ground made me a very easy target for a few kisses and cuddles. Phew! ) The bond between these two is such a special one and the love they share was a pleasure to witness. Damien is just the typical pibble, happy, wiggly and smiley....

Willow Bugg & Petunia Potamus - 9/30/17

Names: Willow Bugg (8 y/o) & Petunia Potamus (3-ish y/o)

Family Members: Mallory, Joshua, Maverick (human brother) - 1 y/o & Stielmann - Staffordshire Terrier (8 y/o)

How long have Willow and Petunia been in the family? Willow since May 12, 2010 and Petunia since September 12, 2015.

Professions: Joshua and Mallory both work at Archer Western a construction company. Joshua is a Project Engineer and Mallory is the SE Regional Recruiter

Location: Smyrna, GA

Nicknames: Willow: Bugg, Ladybug, Lovey & Woman

Petunia: P, PetPot, Potamus, Woman

5 words/phrases that best describe Willow & Petunia?

Willow:

Loyal
Loving
Shy
Snuggle Muffin
Spazz

Petunia:

Hilarious
My Soul Dog Match
Snorbox
Loving
My son's best friend

What makes Willow & Petunia unique? Willow can fly! She loves to play frisbee! She’s amazing! I wish she wasn’t so frightened of everything and everyone, it would be so fun to get her into the sport. She had a rough start and is literally terrified of new people, stuff that makes noise or comes at her fast; really anything not normal in her little daily life.

P is a bulldozer, she literally is afraid of nothing and will push through anything to get what she wants. BUT is the gentlest mini giant with my son. She just lays next to him, wants to love on him, shares snacks with him…. Two peas in a pod these two. She must be next to her person, most of the time it is me (mom), but sometimes she will have to be with her dad. Mostly when he is working out, she is his coach HA! It’s just the best feeling to look down and see her smile. The love that over flows her little wiggle butt is the best!

Willow after some time with her flirt pole. Look at those fantastic ears!

Rescue Stories: Our first puppy Stiel was eating EVERYTHING and getting into trouble day after day… our vet recommended a second dog. So we of course set on a search to rescue! We saw this sad little girl online, fell in love, and went to meet her. I was so emotional going to the shelter, I was a wreck. She wanted nothing to really do with me that first meeting, I think she thought I was crazy. She warmed up to Joshua when they put us in a room to get to know her one on one. She was so scared, it was clear she had a rough start. We had to wait for her hold to be lifted and to get all fixed up to come home with us. It took a few days for her to get a little settled and realize she was safe and we loved her. Soon after that, she let me dress her, paint her toes and was so snuggly. She wanted to sleep under the covers and was settling into our little family, helping Stiel with his craziness. We have no idea of her past, but it lingers still after 7yrs. She is untrusting of new people, very shy and doesn’t like a ton of attention. Her terms or nothing almost… HA! A moody little lady, but she’s MINE! We love her to pieces.

Petunia was first seen by my husband on Facebook from Fulton County Animal Shelter ,they posted a video of her. Then later that morning I saw it and fell in love, just knew I needed her. Tagged my husband, he immediately called me and said I saw it this morning and loved her too. He actually was working next door to Fulton County at the time, one of our job site offices. I said go get her! Come to find out a rescue group snagged her, Hounds in Pounds, Inc. We knew someone that knew someone with the group, we filled out an application; we had to have her. She was a mess. Mange, underweight and a puppy. We had our house visit and she was ours, September 12th, 2015. A few months later I found out I was pregnant, and thought lord help us, how am I going to have a puppy, two older dogs, and a baby. The dogs were great while I was pregnant. The next September 12th we had Maverick! One year after getting P. It was just meant to be for these two. They are best friends! It all just meshed, we haven’t skipped a beat.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? For both Willow & Petunia snuggling on the couch is our favorite! We also hangout outside, play ball and have tugga - rope wars. Willow loves to play frisbee and be outside. She often hangs out on the deck in the sun, or out in the grass. She loves to eat anything in a wrapper. She won’t come if you ask half the time, but you get a cheese wrapper and she is the best girl, will sit and do other tricks for snacks… HA! Petunia is learning how to play with the flirt pole. Her short legs make it difficult sometimes. We love taking pictures of her for her Instagram page (@petuniapotamus) too, we have fun dressing her up and just taking fun candid shots of her.

What is life like since you rescued Willow & Petunia? Wonderful! We love Willow Bugg so much. My first girl dog ever, she is our little lady. She is very particular about things and has made Stiel a better man dog. HA! He stopped eating my shoes and books, I love her more for that. We always have the best snuggle bug on call. She makes us so happy. She gets us out of our moods when she wants to play outside and she has the best smile! Once in her circle always in her circle, she knows good people HA!

Petunia, it's just the best. I truly love all of my dogs, but something about Petunia, she is just my soul dog! She is my little shadow Potamus and has changed our little family for the best! We were so nervous about having three pit bulls. Nothing beats strolling down the street for a walk or going to the dog salon with my son in his stroller and three pits on a leash on their best behavior (after being threatened in the car before unloading). You truly know dog lovers and haters at that moment. Oh the looks I get. This little ball of energy that torments us to death sometimes, she then comes and makes herself comfy on you. You just can’t help but love her to death, smush her face and give sugars. HA! Always brings a smile to my face.

Photographers Note: Mallory had let me know that Willow was shy and took some time to warm up to new people. I told her I wouldn't have to get too close to take photos, thanks to a good zoom lens. When I arrived, I was greeted at the door by the whole gang, with Willow lingering a bit in the back not sure of who this person was. Petunia of course came right over and accepted some pets from me. After chatting a bit and watching how sweet they are with little Maverick, we headed out to their huge backyard to take some photos.

I have to say the bow tie shot of these two has to be one of my favorites. I am not sure if it's because several shots before it was a little chaotic trying to get them lined up next to each other and then all of the sudden with a little cheese coaxing, they just posed perfectly ( I believe I actual said are you kidding me? when that happened) or if it's because their expressions and adora-bullness is just too much. Either way, one of my favs!

It was so much fun watching these pups play with the flirt pole and then show of their frisbee skills. I could have taken their pictures for hours. I will say the best highlight was as we were walking over to get in position for their family shot, I felt a nudge and a cold nose on the back of my leg and hand. I turned to Mallory and said, " Was that Willow?" Sure enough, it was. That was a big win for me, even if it only lasted a second and she scurried off afterwards. Had I been there for hours taking photos, I feel like that we would have been fast friends by then!

Max & Valeo - 9/23/17

Names: Max (8 y/o) & Valeo (5 y/o)

Family Member: Tracy

How long have Max & Valeo been in the family? Max has been in the family 7.5 years and Valeo 3 years.

Profession: Special Education Teacher

Location: Snellville, GA.

Nicknames: Max: Maximus,

Valeo: Baby Girl

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Max & Valeo?

Max:

Energetic
Full of Life
Goofy
Determined
Unstoppable

Valeo:

Sensitive
Intuitive
Nurturer
Gentle
Silly

What makes Max & Valeo unique? Max is paralyzed after an episode of IVDD (Intervertebral disk disease). He has also had three cancerous mast cells tumors; all of which he beat! Max has an unwavering will to overcome all obstacles and does not let anything in life stop him or slow him down.

Valeo is a very sensitive girl. When she is upset she cuddles with her blanket and suckles on it. When she senses someone else is upset, she climbs in their lap and licks their face.

Rescue Story: I adopted Max from Fulton County Animal Services in July of 2010. He was my best friend and most trusted confidant for many years and many life transitions. He saw me through my teacher certification, my masters degree, has traveled thousands of miles with me on road trips, and has moved with me to more places than I can count! Max was diagnosed with IVDD in December of 2013. Unfortunately, the ruptured disc left him paralyzed. Between 2014 and 2016, Max battled three separate mast cell tumors and beat each one of them. He’s an easy-going guy who loves cuddles and love more than anything, but is known to get some crazy episodes of the zoomies with or without his trusted wheels.

I decided it was time to find a friend for Max, but due to Max’s paralysis and need to use a cart for his mobility I was very selective in choosing a dog that was a good fit. After meeting several pups available for adoption, the staff at Fulton County Animal Shelter asked if I’d be willing to meet a girl on the urgent list who had been an abuse case. As soon as Max and Valeo met, I knew it was the perfect fit. She was not scared of Max’s cart or of his over the top energy, but knew how to put in him place. Once she had enough of his antics, she placed her paw on his face as if to say, “ok it’s time to chill”.
Valeo (formerly Crane) was a special case at FCAS. She was found chained in a yard with a collar so far embedded in her neck the staff named her Crane after the headless horseman. She weighed 53 pounds at the time of intake and is a beast at 83 pounds today! She arrived timid and lacking confidence. Today she is a completely different girl; confident in herself and comfortable in her surroundings.

Valeo (aka Crane) in her adoption photo.

The "chill out" paw at their first meeting!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? For Max it's travel, hide and seek, hikes, school visits with the students and pack walks. Valeo loves zoomies, army crawls, and rolling around in the dirt. She accompanies me on many walks to the lake where we spend time on the pier taking in the natural surroundings. She loves frisbee and anything that involves meeting new people.

What is life like since you rescued Max & Valeo? My fur babies fill my heart to extents I never knew possible and make my life much more fulfilling! They have been my constant in a life that has been full of ups, downs, and consistent adjustments. They’ve moved from GA to MI and back to GA again, always ready for the next adventure. They are my best pals and my favorite companions.

Photographers Note: I had been communicating with Tracy since February, in the hopes we could get a Michigan photo shoot together. I am from there and she was living there at the time, but our schedules just didn't work out. Thankfully she stuck with me and we were able to get it done back in GA!

It was so much fun meeting these pups. First of all, she has the description of Max down to a T. Nothing stops him, he was even about to go down some stairs with his cart without assistance. Tracy grabbed his wheels and helped him down but apparently he has done it before, successfully! Max and dogs like him are such an amazing lesson we humans can learn from. Losing the use of his back legs and he didn't skip a beat. Tracy said he took to his cart immediately and continues to barrel through life with that big pittie grin and his happy go luck attitude. Same holds true with Valeo, she has ever reason not to want to trust humans but yet she is such a goofy, grass rolling sweet girl and has put the past behind her.

Both of these dogs, could have ended up a statistic very easily. Not many people would have taken a chance with Valeo and her abusive past or not given up in regards to Max. Thank goodness there are people like Tracy, who I have the privilege of meeting and showcasing doing this project!

Porter - 9/7/17

Name: Porter - 4 y/o

How long has Porter been in the family? Since he was 14 weeks old, August 2013

Family Members: Lisa & Adam

Professions: Lisa - Instructional Technology Coordinator, The Howard School

Adam - Territory Sales Manager, Bimbo Bakeries USA

Location: East Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Piggy, Wiggles, Wiggly, Piggly Wiggly, Prosciutto Butt

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Porter?

Adorable
Loving
Cuddly
Friendly
Sweet

What makes Porter unique? Porter is very sensitive in the best way! He is in-tune with people and their feeling, especially children. He is calm and sweet and always knows how to make you feel better.

Rescue Story: Our story began in June 2013, our sweet pit bull Stout was getting older at 16 years old, and having health complications. We had already lost his pit bull brother, Yoda, at the age of 13 to cancer the previous September. With all this in mind, we decided we needed a puppy to fill the void and loss we knew was our inevitable future.
We visited Fulton County Animal Services and picked out the sweetest little 8 week old pittie. We took him home that very same day and immediately began to make him part of our family. We named him Turbo Dog, and he was the littlest and cutest baby ever. Unfortunately, we lost him 4 days later to parvo. We did not know he was sick when we adopted him, and loved him every second he was in our home. This was one of the hardest, life changing, moments of our lives. In addition to losing him, our home was now contaminated and we were told we could not get another puppy right away. The parvo virus can live in your home and yard for 6 months to a year. I was heartbroken and so sad about losing Turbo, but also about losing the prospect of a new puppy coming into our lives before we lost our sweet boy Stout.
Enter Friends to the Forlorn in August 2013. I had followed Jason and his amazing work for years before this time in our lives. At about the same time we adopted our sweet Turbo, a litter of puppies was being born in Dallas, Ga. These puppies came to be known as “the gas station puppies”, as Jason found them being sold out of a plastic bucket at a gas station. He took the litter in and also covered the cost of vetting and fixing the mother and father dog. That is one of the amazing things about Jason and FTTF, they don’t stop at just taking a dog in, or a litter of puppies, they go the extra mile to educate and help owners to prevent this from happening again someday.
A picture of the Gas Station Puppies was posted to the FTTF Twitter account and I immediately fell in love with “the little brown one”. That excitement and love quickly turned to heartbreak when I quickly remembered I could not take one in. I replied to the Tweet and said I wished I could have one, and briefly explained the tragedy we had experienced with our sweet puppy Turbo. They responded and told me if we wanted a puppy and qualified for one, that they would keep him until he had all his shots and it was safe to be in our home due to the parvo virus. I could not have been happier to hear this! We immediately filled out an adoption application, which by the way is a few pages long and very thorough, and waited to hear back from them.
A couple days later we received word that our application was being processed and they wanted to setup a time for us to meet our perspective baby, Porter (then Buell). The meeting could not have gone any better and of course we fell madly in love. We were ready to move forward with our application. Next, the home check and the vet reference, again the process is very involved and these dogs do not get adopted to just anyone. After passing these next hurdles, we began to further discuss our needs and the fact that he would not be able to come home to us right away. His foster family already knew of our situation with Turbo and agreed to keep him an extra 4-5 weeks for us, until he had all of his shots. They let us see him during that time and sent us pictures often. They even began to call him Porter, knowing this would be his name when he came home.
Because of the amazing efforts of Jason and his rescue, Porter came home to us just in time to spend the last 5 weeks of Stout’s life learning from his big brother. Their time together is time we never thought we would have been able to have after losing Turbo. For this, I am eternally grateful to Jason and all of the members of the FTTF family.
Since Porter has come home he has been the light of our lives. He is now spreading his love and joy to the students at my school, The Howard School, where I am the Instructional Technology Coordinator. He is training to be a Therapy dog and will be READ (Reading Education Assistance Dog) Certified when we complete our training together. The students love him and he loves them. They sit in my office and read to him, which is amazing for our students who all struggle with some type of Language Learning Disability. He provides a safe space for them to read and does not judge them. In-turn, they do not judge him for who he is, they love him unconditionally, as we all wish to be loved.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We joke that we have a social life because of Porter! Visits to the dog park, walks on the Beltline, visiting friends and family, and his favorite day of the week… Thursday Ice Cream Social at Taj MaHound Bakery in Oakhurst. He has been going each week to visit with his furry and human friends since he came home to us. He lights up when you ask him if he is ready to go to ice Cream. It is the only time he doesn’t fight me to get in the car.
When we are home, all he needs is his yard and a tennis ball, and he is the happiest boy in the world.
What is life like since you rescued Porter? I do not know what we would do without Porter in our lives. He is truly one of the best things that has ever happened to us. We joke that we have so many friends and social events because of him! When people come over they are somewhat happy to see us, but they are thrilled to see him.

Photographers Note: I was so happy that Lisa suggested we meet up at Porter's favorite Thursday spot, Taj Ma-Hound for some ice cream (for him not me). After we took care of the bowtie shot, Porter was very eager to head to the shop. He went walking in there like he owned the place. Shortly after we arrived, some of the other regulars came in and before you know it was a pup party. Ice cream, tennis balls and running around.....I took the opportunity to get down on the ground with all the pups to be at their level and boy was I rewarded with a lot of kisses from cold wet tongues! (best reward there is). It was so much fun to share in this great activity that Porter has taken part in since he was just a pup.

Flynnigan - 9/3/17

Name: Flynnigan - 6 y/o

How long has Flynnigan been in the family? 1 Year

Family Members: Mikaela

Roommates: Ellie (a 4-year-old Rottweiler mix) and her human mama, Rachel.

Profession: Development at an Immigration Law Firm

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Flynnery Jones, Big Red, and Bud

5 of the best words/phrases to describe Flynn?

Snuggler
Snacker
Sleeper
Snorer
Sharer

What makes Flynn unique? Flynn is typically referred to as the “grandpa” of the pack and is protective of his doggie and human friends, but like any grandpa knows when it’s time to relax. He takes his guard dog duties seriously during the day but come night time, he loves being on the porch and snacking until his tummy is full. More importantly, he takes his pre-bedtime nap very seriously. His favorite part of the day is his actual bedtime with his humans, and every night he asks to be wrapped in a burrito of blankets before he dreams about chasing cats, hikes, and hamburgers.

Rescue Story: Flynn, formally named Otto, was brought to DeKalb Animal Services/Lifeline Animal Project in February of 2016, a stray dog weighing 43 pounds. At the time, he tested positive for heartworm, was infested with fleas and had a large tumor on his left leg. After an attack at the dog shelter in May which left his face slightly disfigured, he was fostered by two wonderful families where he was able to receive the attention and love he so desperately deserved. A long-timer at the shelter, he was one of the oldest dogs at the shelter, but that didn’t stop him from being the unofficial office mascot. In August, he found himself on the “urgent” list- one of the most crucial places a shelter pup could land.

Upon moving to Atlanta, I had been searching for a laid-back pup to go on adventures with, snuggle with, and enjoy all this wonderful city has to offer. Flynn’s adoption picture tugged at my heartstrings and I immediately made an appointment to visit him and his foster family at the shelter. After months of being in the shelter, THREE other families wanted to look at him the same day I arrived and I was not going to let that happen! I immediately knew he was mine, and told him he found his forever home. He knew he was in luck, kissed me on the cheek and we pranced into the moonlight together (or to PetCo- but same, same- right?).

Flynn’s been the greatest addition to my life and I could not have been more thankful to have been adopted by the kindest, hungriest, and most relaxed pup around.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Flynn’s favorite past time is hiking and riding in the car with his mama. He also *loves* making new friends (human, doggie, goat, cat, etc.) and would like to consider snacking as his favorite hobby but (shh!) he’s on a real serious diet, so that’s come to a halt.

What is life like since you rescued Flynn? Flynnigan has been an excellent addition to my life and has brought so much joy to the world around him. He loves unconditionally and knows there’s good in everything. He believes all humans are delightful and all pups are worthy of a good sniff and a sloppy hug. He sees the good in everyone, something I think we can all learn from and knows tomorrow is a good day, for a good day.

Photographers Note: Flynn and Mikaela were my first photo shoot after our August break, thankfully we got a gorgeous day with comfortable temps. Upon arrival at our location, I was greeted by Flynn's "Girl Gang" and his pup entourage. This laid back gentlemen was just as sweet as could be and is definitely a fan of the treats! Thankfully so, because he was a champion poser, especially with the bow tie shot!

I really loved Mikaela's comment above about Flynn seeing the good in everyone. There are definitely life lessons we can learn from our dogs...and Flynn is one of the best teachers!

Chia - 7/30/17 (Sibling Edition - Final)

Name: Chia - 4.5 -ish y/o

How long has Chia been in the family? Since January 2013

Family Members: Sara, Canine Siblings- Elli (blonde - 12 y/o) & Maddy (Black - 9 y/o)

Profession: Health Scientist at Center for Disease Control

Location: East Lake, GA.

Nicknames: Chia-poo, Boo-Boo

5 words/phrases that best describe Chia:

Quirky
Expressive
Heart Grabber
Perceptive
Gentle

What makes Chia unique? Chia is congenitally deaf (born deaf). We figured this out a few days after we started fostering her, because she didn’t respond to cues etc. like a normal pupster would. This freaked me out a little bit because although I have 2 other dogs that I have trained, I didn’t have experience with deaf dogs. I had no idea how to communicate with or train a deaf dog. I immediately started doing research online. I joined the “deaf dogs rock” Facebook page which was and still is a great resource and network. Much to my surprise:

Training a deaf dog is not a lot different from any hearing dog. You just replace words with hand signals.
Many white dogs are deaf due to a recessive gene they possess. Its more common in certain breeds as well, such as : Pitties, Danes, Dalmations, Australian Shepherds, and Boxers.

There are a few exceptions – you have to be careful not to startle them and also they can never ever be off leash because of the inability to recall them.

Rescue Story: The story is a little sad, but with a happy ending. I became associated with Animal Action Rescue (AAR) because our neighborhood found a stray Min Pin in July 2012. Our community raised funds for him to be taken in by AAR, and my ex-husband and I fostered him. He was a mess. He was a ~9-year-old that had his teeth filed down, hadn’t been neutered, and was advanced heartworm positive. He also had extreme social issues and was an escape artist. So we named him Chase. He was about 2/3 way through his heartworm treatment, ready for the worst part when tragedy struck. We were on our way to South Carolina for Labor Day weekend and when at a rest stop, after taking them all out on a break and getting back in the car…he escaped. He ran out into the highway and was killed immediately. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed.
By fostering Chase I was put on AARs foster email list. I had received several emails soliciting foster families for several different dogs over the following months but I just wasn’t ready. In December we offered to foster a puppy that didn’t come through because thankfully she was snatched up right away. Then, in January, I received the email about the 3 puppies from Villa Rica that AAR had taken on (they were part of a bigger litter but AAR could only sponsor 3). So I offered to foster one. I had no idea what breed she was, just that they were 7 weeks old. I met Susie from AAR at the vet right after she picked them up from Villa Rica. She handed me the tiniest, sweet nugget and my heart melted. My ex and I knew we were in trouble right away. The minute she was ready for adoption we stepped up to admit the failure. We couldn’t imagine letting her go.
I cant remember when it was that I found out about the owners of Chia’s 2 sisters. I believe it was through Facebook, I saw a communication about them. I asked the rescue if they could connect us. Everyone agreed to be put in contact. We found out we all lived within 5 miles of each other. We planned a reunion on Oct 2013. The girls met each other, and most importantly the owners had fun. On their first birthday, November 2013 we had a birthday party for them that was a fundraiser and the proceeds went to AAR.
We have all stayed in touch, are connected by Facebook, and occasionally get the girls together.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Running! Chia has been my running partner, along with one of my other dogs, since she was a puppy. If it wasn’t for my older dog that runs with us as well, she would definitively be pushing me to run 5 min miles and train for a marathon. She is in great shape and keeps me fit and motivated to run. On days I don’t have time to go running with her, I get a disappointed look that breaks my heart every time!!

What is life like since you rescued Chia? I was presented with 2 new experiences by adopting Chia: 1) understanding and loving the pit bull breed and 2) how to care for a dog with special needs. Ironically, no one thinks Chia is mostly pitty-poo because she is slender/not boxy. People literally honk and stop to comment on how pretty she is. They always ask what breed she is and I proudly say she’s a deaf pitty! Though I get shocked looks sometimes, it has never resulted in a negative interaction. I have become and advocate for both pit bulls as well as dogs with special needs. I feel like I landed a double win. She is for sure my heart dog. She weasels her way into the hearts of everyone she meets.
I feel like having her has made me a better dog owner to my other dogs as well, because I pay more attention to their body language and clearly communicating to them.

Photographers Note (Final): After the individual shots were completed, it was time to take on the challenge of getting all the families together for a group photo. It's always fun when you have a large group, multiple dogs and a couple kids as well. Thankfully with a lot of laughter I was able to get a couple good ones of the group, so they will all have something to cherish and a reminder of how they are all connected.

Related to Ms. Chia and her being deaf. That sweet girl was by far the best poser for photos. She responded so well to the appropriate hand signals to get her attention. Thankfully she couldn't hear the foolish photographer who would forget from time to time and call out her name to get her attention or use a squeker. Whoops! Definitely something you would need to get use to having a deaf dog and Sara has mastered the communication with her sweet Chia.

Overall this was such a rewarding experience, meeting these three ladies and hearing about how they were able to bring these 3 sisters back together!

The sisters flyer from their birthday fundraiser celebration!

Cricket - 7/30/17 (Sibling Edition - Part 2)

Name: Cricket - 4.5-ish y/o

How long has Cricket been in the family? January 2013

Family Members: Deanna

Profession: Director of Marketing at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Location: Decatur, GA.

Nicknames: Lovebug

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Cricket? Sweet, friendly, loyal, independent, impossible not to love
•   Cricket loves to give kisses, even to strangers!
•   She loves kids and has a special friend, Stella (age 10) who is her favorite.
•   She’s never meet a creek or pond she didn’t want to play in.
•   Her pastimes including napping in the sun, playing in water, playing hide-and-seek and kissing as many people as she can.
•   She shies away from dogs playing too rough, but is quick to try to comfort a dog if she thinks it’s hurt.

What makes Cricket unique? She loves people more than dogs and wants to make friends with everyone she meets. She is very sweet and loyal, but also has a serious streak of stubbornness!

Rescue Story: I met Cricket by chance; my friends were watching her and her sister while the original foster family went out of town. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play with puppies, so I invited myself over. As soon as I sat down, this sweet, tiny little thing crawled into my lap.
While I was looking for a dog, I had no intention of getting a puppy. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I contacted the rescue to find out more info and the moment I heard that she was going up for adoption that weekend, I blurted out “But I want her. Yes, I want her.”
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Cricket's first official photo in her forever home!

What if your favorite pastime as a family? Finding off-the-radar nature trails to explore. She loves being outside, and I’ve learned to love it too.
We also play hide-and-seek inside when the weather isn’t suitable for a nature walk. I hide, she seeks. It’s silly fun.
What is life like since you rescued Cricket? I have anxiety and depression and prior to Cricket would go days without leaving the house. She changed that. I’m outside more, I move more and I’ve met a lot of really great people.
She’s also shown me the importance of trusting my gut. I was a bit hesitant about adopting her when I found out she was part pit bull; they are so often depicted as vicious. But I couldn’t let her go. Little did I know that moment I met her that she was always supposed to be my dog. Oh, what I would have missed out on in my life if I’d let the prejudices of others get in the way!
Cricket is as much a part of my family as my parents. She’s made my life richer and happier.

Photographers Note (Part 2) - Once all the families had arrived at a beautiful park in East Lake, that we had to ourselves. We gave the pups a chance to play and catch up. On occasion there were some "discussions" had between each of them, which I totally get and kind of made me laugh,since I have two sisters myself! Then we jumped in and did a round robin of sorts for each of the sets of photos. Giving the ladies also a chance to catch up.

I really love Deanna's statement above about what she would have missed out on if she let other people's prejudices get in her way of adopting Cricket. Hopefully more and more of these stories will help others realize that each dog deserves the chance to be treated as an individual not as a generality.

Katie - 7/30/17 (Sibling Edition - Part 1)

Name: Katie - 4.5 y/o

How long has Katie been in the family? Since February 2013

Family Members: Mom: Daisy, Human Brothers: William (13), Peter (10) & canine sister Tessa (1.5)

Profession: Epidemiologist

Location: Decatur, GA.

Nicknames: Katie Bey (pronounced like “bay”), Bingle Bear

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Katie?

Licking Machine
Devoted to Children
Cuddle Monster
Gentle
Loyal

What makes Katie unique? When Katie was three years old I brought home another rescue pitbull-mix puppy, Tessa. Katie’s first response was to act like a teenager – sulking, slammed doors; I could hear her saying “you’ve ruined my life, Mom!” But, one day we went to the dog park and another dog was being unkind to Tessa. Katie is NOT an assertive dog, but she immediately stepped in and barked sharply in the other dog’s face, protecting Tessa. Now they cuddle together on a big dog bed, or on my bed.

Rescue Story: I went to a dog rescue event specifically to look at another dog. I was sure that I would rescue an adult dog. While I was there, someone said, “I need to take a dog to the parking lot. Can anyone hold the puppy?” I said, “I’ll hold the puppy!” I sat on the ground that cold January Sunday and held that little puppy. She was shaking a little listening to the other dogs bark and fuss but every once in a while would give a tiny “wharffff.” I kept holding her and fell rapidly in love and eventually worked my hand into my pocket to get my phone and call my sons’ father to say “get the boys over here now. I’ve found our dog.” Of course they came right away and of course they fell in love just as quickly as I had. I asked about the adoption process and when I got home I IMMEDIATELY filled out the application. I even drove to the office to fax it to be sure that no one else was ahead of us in line… Two weeks later I picked her up and took her home and she immediately fell asleep in my son’s lap. We named her Katie, and we’ve all been over the moon ever since. That was February 2013. Later that year I got an email from Susie, at the rescue agency, telling me that Katie had two sisters adopted nearby. She asked if I would like to meet them and I said YES! We love seeing Cricket and Chia and watching the three sisters run around together.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love piling in bed on Sunday morning: mother, 2 boys, 2 dogs – a big mammal pile! All of us LOVE to cuddle.

What is life like since you rescued Katie? Katie is the dog of my dreams, for all of us, especially my boys. I remember my dad talking about the dog he had as a boy, who would watch over him and his two brothers. Katie is that dog. She takes care of us, and we take care of her. That’s the way it should be.

Photographers Note (Part 1) - I belong to a Facebook social media group called Atlanta Pit Bull Parents. Honestly this is where I get a lot of my volunteers as most are close by and all support what we are trying to do here at Shine A Light. So in the hopes of jamming my July full to be able to take August off (too hot for the pups and the people), I made another plea for volunteers on that page. Sure enough, one of the Mom's - Deanna of these 3 siblings sent me an email and copied the second Mom - Sara, who then brought in the 3rd Mom - Daisy. Before you know it, we were coordinating 3 schedules for a sibling photo shoot, complete with Mimosa's on a Sunday morning in a beautiful park in East Lake! Of course this was one story, I had to feature, how often do dog siblings find each other AFTER they were adopted to separate families. Be sure to check out our Facebook page where these 3 ladies humored me and did a video telling more about their stories... to be continued......