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Zach & Pebbles - 7/13/19

Name/Age: Zach - 8 y/o & Pebbles - 4 y/o

Family Members: Maria

How long has Zach & Pebbles been in the family? Zach was adopted December 18, 2011 when he was 5 months old. Pebbles was adopted April 24, 2015 when she was 4 months old.

Profession: Consultant

Location: Roswell, GA.

Nicknames:

Zach: Zachie, Love Muffin, Fancy Prancer, Sir Barks-A-lot, Most Adorable Little Fruit bat

Pebbles: Pebs, Little Miss Sunshine, Princess, Chunky Monkey, Linebacker

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Zach & Pebbles?

Zach:

Sweet
Affectionate and loves to snuggle under the blankets right next to me every night in bed
Smart – aced his CGC on the first try 😊
Happy
Playful

Pebbles:

Loving
Funny
Master Snuggler
Fiercely independent
Happy

What makes Zach & Pebbles unique? Zach loves to bring a gift to anyone who enters our house. He is a bit shy but secretly loves attention. Also, the way he dances and spins when I come home from work every day. Hard to have a bad day when you come home to so much joy and love.

Pebbles is the most welcoming and affectionate dog to anyone that enters our home. She loves nothing more than to snuggle and give kisses to everyone. Then there is that curly tail !

Pebbles and her curling tongue….matching set to her tail!

Rescue Stories: Back in 2011 I had 2 dogs and around Thanksgiving of that year, I lost one to cancer. My other pup, an 8 year-old Olde English Bulldog went into a terrible depression because his whole life had been spent with Harley. I knew at some point I would get another dog, but he kind of expedited it because nothing I was doing for Winston was making any improvements for his sadness. I decided that I would check a few rescues to see if they had any dogs that would be a match for Winston. I was looking for a dog around 2 or 3 years of age since Winston was 8, plus I wasn’t really up for puppy duty. Over the course of a few weeks we had several meet and greets with older pups and there weren’t any connections made, so I decided one day to bring Winston to an adoption event. There must have been about 30 dogs there and we just went from dog to dog to see if there was any interest and right as I was beginning to give up hope, Winston found his friend. It was this adorable 5 month old black pit bull puppy. I said, yeah…the puppy is cute, BUT we don’t want a puppy and I surely wasn’t ready for any pit bull puppy, let alone a black pit bull puppy. This poor puppy had 3 strikes against it in my book. Well, Winston wasn’t taking my NO lightly and the next thing I know, my 108 lb Olde English Bulldog is snuggled in the dog bed with the little black pit bull puppy and is grooming him. Uh, what do you say to that other than I’ll take the puppy! They sent me home with him that same day and it took about 2 weeks before the rescue came to do the home check and make everything official. I was so worried that they were going to take him away from me because I didn’t have a fenced yard at the time and there was no way that was happening. I was so happy and relieved to learn that his foster mom loved me and Winston and thought we were the best thing to happen to Zach. She told me the story of how she came to foster his whole litter. She got a call about a litter of pit bull puppies born in a trailer park in Gainesville, and it was tragic because the small child on the premises had drowned one or two of the puppies in the toilet. The plan originally was to gather the litter and bring them to be humanely euthanized, but once she had them home there was no way she was able to do that and decided to foster all of them until a perfect home could be found for each and every one. I’m so grateful to her and am still in contact with her. She was an angel to these pups and continues to be an angel for others in need.

Rescue Story conti….My friend was fostering Pebbles and her brother for Friends to the Forlorn Pit bull Rescue so I decided to stop by one evening to squish puppies. While playing with the puppies, Pebbles came over and looked up at me with the most adorable puppy face, so I picked her up and she decided she would curl up in a little ball in my lap and go to sleep. She had me…hook, line and sinker! A few days later I brought Zach over to meet her to make sure he would like to have a new baby sister. All went well, so the next step was for Pebbles to come spend some time at my house to make sure Zach was still accepting of her in his house, also Winston was still with me so it was very important that he also wouldn’t mind. All went well, Zach had a new playmate and Winston really didn’t care…. As long as she stayed away from his food and bed. LOL After the visit, I sent my official adoption application and within a couple weeks she came in and took over.

Pebbles using that puppy face to win over her forever Mommy! (photo credit: Carey Thomason and Find My Way Home Photography)

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Zack loves long walks in the park and lunch at one of his favorite dog friendly restaurants.

Pebbles love playing fetch and tug. She loves her toys and will even try putting them in your mouth when she wants to play tug.

What is life like since you rescued Zach & Pebbles? Zach is my heart and has opened my world! I have met so many amazing people and have become an advocate for the breed that I was once afraid of.

There is never a dull moment with Pebbles, she has 2 speeds… sleeping and full throttle. She is definitely a pup that likes to please herself, I like to refer to her as the pup that would rather beg forgiveness than ask permission. She also doesn’t have a gentle bone in her body, hence the nickname linebacker. I often say I should have named her Grace as that is the only way should would have any. Her superlative would be class clown, she loves being the center of attention and will do anything for a laugh. I can’t imagine life without this little girl.

Photographers Note: Originally when Maria volunteered she had just signed up Zach and when I arrived and saw Pebbles, I asked why not Pebbles too. She wasn’t sure if she would cooperate but she did great. Upon my arrival, Zach did in fact bring me a gift, one of his toys, as Pebbles ran all around in excitement that there was a visitor in the house! These two were such a crack up. Zach the senior statesman of the house did a few rounds with his favorite piggy toy and then was just happy to relax in the back yard. Pebbles wanted to show off her bug hunting skills, which were pretty extraordinary. As I was going through the photos from the day, I think Maria can add Pebble’s curled tongue to what makes her unique as well. Pretty much every shot, where her tongue was out it was curled (evidence above). It’s the craziest thing!

Zach’s rescue story is another great example of it just taking one sweet dog to change someone’s perception about the “breed”. I think we all know there are an abundance of examples out there that will do the trick!

Brody Bee - 6/28/19

Name/Age: Brody Bee - 4 y/o

Family Members: Caralee & Kyle

How long has Brody Bee been in the family? 3.5 years

Professions: Caralee- artist/art consultant

Kyle - manager of culture at Warner Media

Location: Atlanta, GA

Nicknames: Bee, Beanie, BeanieButt, Beanieleanie, Brodene, BeanieBaby, Puddingpop, QueenBee

5 words/phrases that best describe Brody Bee?

Radiant
Happy
Silly
Sassy
Energetic

What makes Brody Bee unique? Bee is the happiest, most sunshine filled dog - she wants nothing more than everyone to enjoy life as much as she does.

Rescue Story: Bee was found curled up in a tight little ball of herself in a ditch off of United Ave. The couple that found her thought she was trash at first, until she popped her head up. She was super malnourished but so full of personality, they named her Duchess and got her checked out by a local vet. They already had a furbaby who wasn’t up for sharing the spotlight, so they posted Bee’s photo on Facebook and it was shared by one of my good friends. When my husband and I saw her picture we just knew she was supposed to be in our family.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Bee’s absolute favorite thing to do is go for a car ride. She loves getting to cruise around with the windows down and check everything out. Every Saturday morning we get up early and go for a quick ride to a drive thru for breakfast. Without fail, Saturday morning at 8am, she’s bouncing on the bed to wake us up with all the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. Her anticipation and expressions of that 15min car ride is the highlight of our week.

What is life like since you rescued Brody Bee? Our lives are so much more complete with Bee in it! She is definitely the Queen Bee of our house and we wouldn’t have it any other way. She is beyond spoiled and knows it! Bee helps us remember how happy and full of light the world is; all that we have to do is slow down a little and enjoy it. That yes, bad things happen, but you can’t let that hold you back. Seeing her explore new things and live a life of luxury brings us so much joy. Her wiggly butt and giant smile helps everyone else she meets feel the same way too.

Photographers Note: I met up with Brody Bee, Caralee & Kyle on a warm Friday evening in Oakland Cemetery, which is such a fun place to do a photo shoot. Upon meeting Bee, you immediately smile. She just exudes the attitude that “THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER”. She had us cracking up during the whole shoot. Even though the humans were hot, she just took everything in stride until……. At one point, I suggested getting a shot by this cute little fountain , well Bee thought that was a great idea too because she immediately wanted to go over the side and into the water!!! So maybe she was a little warm after all! :) At the end of the shoot, as we walked back to our cars, I got to witness that happiest of “going for a car ride” smiles as she and I said our goodbyes!

Elliot - 6/30/19

Name/Age: Elliot - 1 y/o

Family Members: Daphne & Wes, Dog Siblings: Rogue (10) Waffles (6) Chicken Wing (4)

How long has Elliott been in the family? Exactly 1 year

Professions: Daphne - Social Media Coordinator at Fulton County Animal Services

Wes - illustrator/graphic designer

Location: Atlanta, GA

Nicknames: : Els, Big Smells, Ellerson, Smelliot, “off the couch”

5 words/phrases that best describe Elliot?

Resilient
Stubborn
Outgoing
Feisty
Playful

Rescue Story: Elliot entered DeKalb County Animal Services as a stray. He was only three pounds, extremely emaciated and had a terribly infected eye. He was so small and in such rough shape I immediately knew I had to take him home the day he arrived at the shelter. When I first brought him home he was just a foster dog. The plan was for him to get healthy enough and gain enough weight for surgery to have his eye removed. As Elliot began to improve medically and come out of his shell, we knew that he was meant to be right here with us. Elliot had a few obstacles to overcome in the process but he’s now a happy, healthy, active part of the family. See his full story as published through The Dodo below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbmEIXOaHY

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Elliot LOVES meeting new people and we like to take the dogs hiking.

What is life like since you rescued Elliot? Life has definitely changed since Elliot has entered our family. We’re back to keeping up with an active puppy. Elliot has also been enjoying a little stardom as he’s even been recognized out in public a few times from his video on The Dodo.

Photographers Notes: Daphne & Wes first volunteered for Shine a Light back in December of 2017. They also hold the very rare distinction of having their family photo taken in the snow in Atlanta. (one of my favorites- see below) We of course needed to try and re-create that shot with Elliot added. Well, when you add a puppy, things sure do get interesting! So happy we got at least one good one!

I had been following Elliot’s story since the beginning and watching him get strong and grow has been amazing. I literally squealed when I got the email from Daphne that they were ready for round two with SALA! This sweet little munchkin is the definition of resilience and has come so far! When all the other dogs were inside enjoying the AC, little Elliot got a good ball playing sesh in and even explored and romped more then he had before. He continues to learn new things and get more and more brave, with the help of his pibble siblings of course.

Honey - 6/29/19

Name/Age: Honey - 6 y/o

Family Members: Scrappy – 12 year old Weenie dog, Mango – 15 year old calico cat, Nash – 1 year old human baby brother & Danielle / William – human mom and dad

How long has Honey been in the family? Since she was 4 mths old.

Professions: Danielle – Commercial Marketing for Auto Plus

William – Business owner of RC Autoworks

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames: Honey Buns, Sister Honey, My Best Girl, Nanny

5 words/phrases that best describe Honey?

Cuddly
Firecracker (hence her July 4th birthday)
Fun Loving/Hilarious
Loyal
Sensitive

What makes Honey unique? There is something very special about Honey Buns. She is a smiley girl that with her fun-loving personality attracts any stranger to her and has encouraged others around us to adopt/rescue a Pit Bull. She is most content when she has all her ‘people’ together in the house (humans and fur siblings).

Rescue Story: We decided we wanted to rescue a Pit Bull from Bama Bully Rescue, as we lived in Alabama at the time. We were constantly looking on their site to learn more about the Pit Bulls they were fostering. We needed our new pup to be cat friendly, small dog friendly and kid friendly as we knew we wanted to have a kid in the future. One day, a picture of a little bobblehead puppy was put on the site saying they had just taken her in as she was found on the side of the road with her brother (who did not make it unfortunately). They were going to mend her back to health and she would be up for adoption in a few months. We followed her journey and fell more and more in love. Her foster family had a weenie dog and a little boy. It was perfection! We were very fortunate, that out of all the families that applied for her, we were chosen! She’s the perfect addition to our family!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Taking Honey to the beach is our favorite thing to do! She loves to play fetch out into the water (but not too far off land or she quickly surrenders), and to run around on the sand. The smile on her face says it all!

What is life like since you rescued Honey? I truly can’t imagine our life without Honey Buns. She makes every single day so fun! She is spoiled rotten – lots of love, sleeps in the bed with us nightly, spa days, daily treats – living the life! In return she loves us whole heartedly!

Photographers Note: This beautiful girl was so much fun to photograph. I discovered going through all the photos that she has so many different looks, which if you don’t know her you might think it was a different dog in each shot. Her best look of course is that huge pibble smile! It took a little coaxing to get her to run around her huge backyard, when she finally got going there was no stopping her; except for when I lost sight of her in my lens and she ran right into my knee! :) I am really surprised that does not happen more often to me when photographing these block heads, who’s let’s face it, power steering can be a little off!

Seeing her interact with her little human brother was truly special. She is so gentle with him and wants to know where he is at all times. Even when Nash was doling out the treats, she could have taken advantage of the low dispenser, who could easily be knocked over; instead she waited patiently and then took each treat from his hand so sweetly. Getting to witness that special bond is something I always enjoy!

Luna - 6/23/19

Name/Age: Luna - 3 y/o

Family Members: Bekka (dog, 12), Luke & Michelle (adults), Marly (10), Graham (4)

How long has Luna been in the family? 3 years

Professions: Luke - commercial product photographer, Michelle - entomologist

Location: Scottdale, GA

Nicknames: Luna Boo, Luna Bear, Lunatic

5 words/phrases that best describe Luna?

Goofy
Sweet
Tolerant
Friendly
Resilient

What makes Luna unique? Luna is incredibly friendly and loving to everyone (& every dog) she meets, but she is also absolutely beautiful. She has the shiniest coat I have ever seen on a dog, a trait that she gets compliments on all the time from strangers.

Rescue Story: We rescued Luna when she was about 8 weeks old. She lived next door to a friend of ours as a puppy, but her previous owners did not take good care of her. She was kept in a tiny cat carrier on the front porch without access to food or water. She would constantly find ways to break out of the carrier, and our friend would catch her and return her to the owners. Finally, after she escaped one day our kind hearted friend kept her instead of returning her to the tiny cramped carrier and asked the owners if she could just keep her. We had just recently lost our 10 year old pit bull rescue Lilly, so I wasn’t sure we were ready for another pup, but when our friend asked us to foster Luna we all fell madly in love with her.

In addition to the trauma of being neglected as a young pup, poor Luna was also mauled by a relative’s dogs when she was about 10 months old. Fortunately, after surgery and weeks of recovery, she bounced back as if nothing had ever happened. She is still the loving, friendly, goofball of a pup that she was before the attack, a testament to both her resilience and the steadfast nature of dogs in general.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Luna LOVES to play in our large backyard. She lives for being chased around the yard with her butt tucked under while the kids laugh and try to smack her butt as she runs by. In fact, she lives for anything she can do with the kids; she sleeps in our daughter’s room and graciously tolerates the ear pulls and pokes from our 4 year old son. As soon as school is over, our daughter takes her outside to run around the yard; she will wake up from a dead sleep to Marly asking “Luna Boo outside??” When it is time to weed the garden, she helpfully eats grass and rolls around on her back while our daughter works by the vegetables. I have truly never met a more tolerant, trusting dog.

What is life like since you rescued Luna? I was reluctant to get a dog, and especially to get a puppy, but since she came home to us she has become a true member of the family. She takes her job of loving us seriously and looks out for all of us - especially the kids. When my dad took the kids on a canoe ride at their lake house recently, Luna would not leave her post on the deck until they came back home. She stayed alert with concern that she couldn’t see the children anymore and only relaxed when she knew they were home safely. She comforts my daughter after tough days and tolerates the handfuls of dirt and god knows what that my son decorates her with outside. She has never had a moment of aggression in her life, and I can’t imagine our family without her.

Photographers: After a couple rain outs, we were finally able to get our photo shoot in on a humid Sunday evening. Luna was welcoming and sweet to her guest! However, she was a little more reserved in her backyard until the treats came out and Luke started to run with her….then she was ready to play! To support everything Michelle stated about Luna’s love for her kids; Michelle asked the kids to go inside so that she wouldn’t be distracted during the photo shoot. As they watched from the window, Luna’s focus was still on them. It was really the sweetest thing. As a kid there is really nothing better then being able to grow up with a dog who is your best friend and when it’s one like Luna, Marley & Graham will remember her their entire lives.

Piper - 6/23/19

Name/Age: Piper - age unknown, probably 4 or 5.

Family Members: Kelsey, Austin, and Lily (four legged child & past volunteer)

How long has Piper been in the family? We adopted her in November of 2018

Professions: Kelsey- Customer Service Rep at Tyler Hood State Farm

Austin- Parts Sales at Mountain Motorsports in Marietta

Location: Kennesaw, GA.

Nicknames: Gremlin (don’t get her wet)

5 words/phrases that best describe Piper?

Cuddly
Loving
Silly
Loves giving Kisses
is very playful

What makes Piper unique? When I first saw Piper (formerly Rainbow) at the Fulton County Animal Shelter, I immediately fell in love with her. She had the cutest little smile, and she was just so calm. When I asked one of the volunteers to take her out of the crate so I could meet her, they informed me that she had some leg issues which causes her to walk funny. After taking her to our vet, it was determined that she does have some neurological issues which cause her back legs to be weak and also messes with her senses. I felt so bad for her at first, especially after seeing her walk for the first time because she kind of waddles when she walks, but her issue has not stopped her from doing anything. She has gotten a lot stronger since we got her and she’s doing great. She still has a funny little walk, but I love it and I think that makes her unique.

Rescue Story: I guess I kind of answered that in the previous question, my bad. But long story short, I went to Fulton County Animal Shelter on Black Friday to find another furry friend for our home. Austin and I had talked about getting another dog but I went on that Friday while he was at work and completely forgot to tell him that I adopted another dog until after I signed the adoption papers… whoops. I took Lily with us to meet Piper that day and they seemed to really like each other, plus I had fallen in love with her. So I adopted her and brought her home that following Monday. She and Lily are now best friends and love playing together. Piper has been an absolute blessing in our home, as well as Lily of course. Seeing their sweet smiles when I come home from work every day just makes my days so much better.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Piper loves to go on walks around our neighborhood or at our local park, and she loves sitting on our front porch with us when the weather is nice out.

What is life like since you rescued Piper? Piper has brought our little family so much joy, especially to Lily. I honestly never thought we would be able to bring another dog into our house because Lily can be reactive with other dogs sometimes, but she and Piper have gotten along so well. They play together all day, every day, and love cuddling together too.

Photographers Note: Kelsey, Austin & Lily volunteered back in March of 2018 for Shine a Light, so when Kelsey reached out again to see about volunteering with their new addition I said OF COURSE! I love how often we get repeat requests when families have added another pibble to their family. You can probably use the old potato chip saying, “You just can’t have one” and replace it with pit bull type dogs!

Kelsey was right, whatever neurological issues Piper may have doesn’t slow her down. She and Lily, showed off their playing skills while I was there and they play hard….little Piper keeping up and holding her own the whole time. She really is the happiest dog, I mean those ears and those sweet eyes….come on! So happy that she landed in such a loving family that will accept her just as she is.

Nala - 6/22/19

Name/Age: Nala - 2 ½ years old

Family Members: Victoria - Mom, Judd & Lynn- Grandparents, & Smokey -7 year old cat sister

How long has Nala been in the family? 2 yrs, 2 months

Professions: Victoria-Manager/Bartender Lynn-CPA, Judd- General contractor

Location: Toco HIlls, GA

Nicknames: Nala Bear, Pooter Butt, Wiggle Girl

5 words/phrases that best describe Nala:

Cuddle Bug
Snuggly
Loving
Strong
Attention Seeker

What makes Nala unique? She is very talkative if people are not paying her attention.

Tug, Tug, Tug….oh wait is that a camera?

Rescue Story: I found her through a rescue group in Woodstock, GA. At first they didn’t think it would be a good fit because they wanted her to go to a family with a big yard and kids. After meeting with the foster mom she said she knew I was the one. Not much is known of her past but she was rescued out of North Georgia from a rough environment.

Heading to her forever home. (those ears!!!)

What is your favorite pastime as a family? When I first got her I took her to Savannah; she and I went on a dolphin tour. She loved being on the boat and her ears would perk up anytime a dolphin jumped out of the water. We had such a great time.

What is life like since you rescued Nala? Life now is full of laughs, cuddles, and never a dull moment. She keeps me busy and out of my own head. She keeps me active and is such a goofball. I look forward to coming home from work to see her. She makes my life so much enjoyable and full of constant love.

Photographers Note: This girl is such a beautiful dog, starting with her coloring and those beautiful eyes, then you add on those adorable ears…..now let’s not limit her to just her looks because her sweet and loving personality complete the full package. I do love getting loved on by all of my volunteers but there are those who very quickly bond with me and she was one of them. I sat on the couch after we were done taking photos, she jumped up getting as close to me as possible & immediately laid her head on my lap. As if to say, OK that was fun now let’s snuggle! Such a sweet girl!

Moomoo - 6/16/19

Name/Age: Moomoo - approx. 1-2 y/o

Family Members: Kris & Ross

How long has Moomoo been in the family? About four months (since early January 2019)

Professions: We are both professors at Georgia State University; Kris is a professor of organizational behavior; Ross, public policy.

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Noodle, Moo, Shitty Kitty

5 words/phrases that best describe Moomoo?

Shy
Cuddly
Spazzy
Stubborn
Sweet

What makes Moomoo unique? She LOVES other dogs – including being so tolerant of annoying ones. When she’s nervous, we know that we just need another dog to show her the way. The other day she was too nervous to walk down a busy street but she saw a tiny little puppy and his owner agreed to walk ahead of us so the two of them could guide her down the street. It was sad, but also pretty funny.

Rescue Story: Since March of last year, we have brought home 11 dogs and 5 kittens from the shelter to foster. We take pride in how quickly we can get them adopted.

Moo was a different story. We knew when we brought her home that we were in it for the long haul. She was diagnosed with two completely torn CCLs (knee ligaments) and we had committed to fostering her through her surgeries and rehab. We later found out that she also had two luxating patellas (dislocated kneecaps) so the single surgery stretched out to two separate surgeries 7 weeks apart.

We met her because of her name. The shelter (DeKalb Animal Services) assigns names to stray animals without microchips when they arrive there. They named her Moomoo, which had been the same name as our beloved cat who had passed away a few months earlier at 19 years old. One of our friends and fellow volunteer, Stephanie, told us, “You have to meet this dog!” We did and she became a contender for our next foster to bring home. Her injuries sealed the deal; we knew we had to help her get well outside of the shelter.

For the past four months, we have carried her up and down the stairs in our house, taken her to swim therapy, and helped her rehabilitate her legs. She came to us so shy that she lived with us for THREE MONTHS before she would even leave our street. At four months, we realized she was never going to leave us. We just couldn’t see her going to another home – both because she was so shy and because we were so smitten. (Now she’s walking all over the neighborhood and we even went to a brewery the other day. She still gets spooked by the silliest things, though.)

Settling in with her “foster” parents (soon to be forever parents)

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Our favorite thing to do is snuggle. She LOVES snuggle time and will always try to get us to go to bed early by waiting by our bed.

What is life like since you rescued Moomoo? She’s our first actual for-real permanent dog (all of our others have been fosters). Before that, we had cats only. If we believed in reincarnation, we would say she’s our cats (Moomoo and his brother, Marino) in another form. She reminds us so much of them: she’s lazy and quiet. She is a little nervous around strangers but, once she warms up to them, she wants all their attention. She sleeps with us like a tick – pressed up against us. She doesn’t like to be cold. She shakes like a leaf when we put her in the car and she buries her head in our arms at the vet. She likes pouncing on her toys. She’s a real cat-dog.

She also makes us laugh all the time. No one would describe her as graceful. She doesn’t seem to know how big her head is because she bumps it into stuff (including us) all the time. She gets short bursts of spazzy energy where she hops around and usually ends up knocking herself over. She looks kind of like an animatronic dog, but with the wiring a little off.

We love her so much and we think she loves being the center of our little world.

Photographers Note: My first introduction to Kris was when she had reached out and asked if I take photos of just foster dogs to help them get adopted. My policy is that I will do that if the foster is living with one of our volunteers, however something in me said Yes. They live close by and I had been wanting to do more with fosters, so this was a great opportunity. After some emailing back and forth, Kris decided to wait until Moomoo had come out of her shell more, she was still pretty shy. Fast forward to a couple months later and I get an email from Kris again, saying “WELL.. we JUST foster-failed. We'd love to work with you on changing perceptions.” For the record, I LOVE these kinds of emails. What makes this story even more special is the fact that Kris & Ross had fostered so many before her and they knew pretty early on this special girl was meant to be theirs forever!

The day of the shoot, Kris had said that Moo was still pretty shy but she responds well to treats. As soon as I walked in the door, Kris handed me some turkey and the relationship began. Moo was quite happy to take some turkey from a stranger and warmed up pretty quickly. She is seriously the cutest little thing and those ears…COME ON! I could have photographed her for days!

Casey Jones - 6/15/19

Name/Age: Casey Jones - approx. 5 y/o

Family Members: ): Bill & Jill , Michaela (22) who visits home from college and is his favorite human in the world. Fur siblings are Cookie Louise (Chihuahua – 9 years old) and Ralphie (Cat – stray approximately 5 years old)

How long has Casey been in the family? 2 years as of July 7, 2019

Profession: Bill - Salesperson Jill- Paralegal

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames: Case Case, Doofus, Casey Boy, A-Aron, Buddy

5 words/phrases that best describe Casey Jones?

Sweet
Goody
Fun
Bouncy
Happy

What makes Casey unique? Casey is very bouncy but loves to cuddle. Every night when it’s time for bed we say “it’s time for night night” and he runs back to his crate and snuggles with his giant stuffed rabbit Mr. Bunny.

Cooling off on a warm day! (name sake hint on his leash)

Rescue Story: We attended the Lifeline event at DeKalb County Animal Services when they were closing to move to their new facility. We had no plans to adopt a dog but were there to support Lifeline. Walking through I came around the corner and saw this beat up, scared dog in a kennel with 4 other dogs jumping all around him. He was just leaning against the wall with his face against the fencing. Not moving, totally shut down with no hope or light in his eyes. He had a huge neck scar and scars all over his face and head with bite scars up and down his body. I told my husband I wanted to take him out to the meet and greet area and he asked “are you sure you want this one?” I can’t explain it but when I looked in his eyes I knew he was meant to be mine. When we got him outside, he low crawled over to us, but his tail was giving little wags and he laid his head on our laps. We were told he had been chained up his entire life and had obviously been in some fights, but his disposition was so sweet even when he met our less than sweet Chihuahua who snarled and snapped. He just licked her and continued to wag his tail. He had a horrible kennel cough and ear infections with goop coming out of his eyes. We got antibiotics, took him to our vet when we got him home and within a few months his infections had cleared up. He still has BB pellets in his back right hip and a scar that hasn’t been covered once his hair grew in, but he has grown into a beautiful boy (although he still gets nervous around other dogs, especially when they bark, and he doesn’t like his legs pulled on or his paws touched).

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to walk with Casey in our neighborhood and hiking around various Georgia parks. He loves going to Tuscaloosa to see our daughter at the University of Alabama and makes friends wherever he goes.

What is life like since you rescued Casey Jones? Casey has shown us what it means to truly forgive and love unconditionally. He does not have any bad days despite his really bad start. It took him a while to learn to be a dog as he didn’t know anything – how to ride in a car, how to go up and down stairs, how to get up and lie on a sofa, how to play with a toy, how to eat a treat or know that he wasn’t going to be hit any time we moved. He is a fun loving sweetheart and he’s taught us to really enjoy each and every day. Casey has also changed perceptions in our family about pit bull type breeds. My dad was concerned when we first got him as he had heard such bad things about them and now he loves Casey, has him over to his house to hang out and says Casey really changed his mind about pit bull type dogs. Casey has also made me more of an advocate for not only pit bull type dogs but for all the dogs who are in shelters, rescues and other circumstances in which they need homes and I am now actively involved in transporting adoptable dogs and participating in adoption events. He is our heart.

Photographers Note: I met up with Bill, Jill & Casey at Mabry Park. Casey was very excited to be on this adventure whatever it might be. He was all wiggles and smiles; his coat just gleaming in the sunshine. (a big difference from the day he was brought home). I saw no hint of the scared pup he was at the shelter. He clearly has many reasons to be but this boy has hit the jack pot! His family has worked with him to help him gain his confidence,understand that most humans are good people and to really enjoy life (although I would bet some of the latter was always there). With all that work and his amazing personality, he is changing perceptions all on his own. It’s amazing how much just one loved pup can do. I even heard promises of hamburgers at a restaurant after the shoot because he was such a good boy. Pretty sure his life on a chain has been left in the rear view, as he sits in his air conditioned van, with a big smile on his face heading to that reward!

Bali - 5/27/19

Name/Age: Bali - She is supposedly 5, but you know how it is with rescues 😊

Family Members: Andrea & Jimmy plus Bali. We are a small family, but happy.

How long has Bali been in the family? ?: 2 years, as of February 25th of this year.

Profession: Andrea works in maternal and child health at the CDC. Jimmy is a chef at Alon’s Bakery.

Location: Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, GA

Nicknames: Baby Hippo, Princess, Princesa, Pollita, La Nina, Puerca (she has a lot of Spanish nicknames because we speak to her in Spanish a lot too)

5 words/phrases that best describe Bali?

Loyal
Goofy
Lazy
Snuggle Bug
Sweet

What makes Bali unique? Often when Bali comes back inside the house, one of us will hide. She will run around looking for us until she finds us. It is our own little version of hide and seek.

Rescue Story: In early 2017, Jimmy and I started talking about getting a dog. I knew I wanted a bigger breed, having grown up with a larger dog. Jimmy grew up with lots of dogs, including pit bulls and really wanted another pit. I started perusing shelters in Atlanta because I knew we wanted a rescue. I found ‘Flare’ on the page for adoptions at PAWS (a no-kill shelter in Decatur.) I thought she was so cute and we decided to go, just to ‘meet her.’ Little did we know that our lives were about to change forever. We showed up and said we wanted to meet Flare and the second she came out, all dirty and skinny, we knew that it was meant to be. She had been picked up by animal control a few months back and was recently post-partum, but the details of her story remain a mystery to this day. We didn’t even have dog food at our house but when they asked if we wanted to take her home that day, we enthusiastically said yes. As we drove home, Flare stuck her head out the window and smiled a big pit grin. We discussed changing her name, as she didn’t respond to Flare and it just didn’t seem to fit. We had recently been to Indonesia on vacation so when Jimmy suggested the name ‘Bali’, it sounded perfect. Once we got home, Bali sniffed around a bit and quickly jumped up on the couch, laid down and let out a deep sigh. She was home.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Bali’s favorite past time is napping right next to one of us. Whether snuggled next to us on the couch or lounging in her dog bed below my desk, she is happiest when she is close to her parents. She also loves belly rubs and playing fetch with a tennis ball. On the weekends, the three of us love to go hiking and our favorite: family camping trips.

What is life like since you rescued Bali? Our lives are astronomically better since adopting Bali. We work different schedules so she provides the best company when one of us is home alone. All she wants is to love and be loved. There is nothing better than seeing her jump off the couch and wiggle her butt as she walks towards you to say hello when arriving home. Yes, we are “that couple” that is obsessed with their dog, but we fully embrace it. I am confident that Bali’s life is also significantly better since we rescued her. She has put on several pounds (probably all the table scraps she gets from Jimmy’s restaurant!) and lives a lazy life with two parents that would do anything for her.

Photographers Note: Andrea, Jimmy & Bali came to volunteer because a friend of mine happened to be pacing a running race on her bike and Bali was a spectator. She noticed Bali (cause I mean who wouldn’t), stopped and spoke to Andrea about my little project. Andrea emailed shortly after. (I have the most supportive friends). Turns out Andrea & Jimmy are all about changing perceptions as they co-own a small coffee company that offers organic, fair-trade coffee grown by women farmers in Honduras. From her email “ also trying to change the narrative about a beautiful country that has a terrible reputation, just like our beloved pits.” (https://www.cafecelaque.com/)

We met up on a very warm evening but Bali was a trooper (so were her parents)! She was having blast watching the ducks and all the people in the park. I mean when you get to photograph a smile like hers, the heat really doesn’t seem to bother you much!

Tiny Rocket - 5/18/19

Name/Age: Tiny Rocket - 2 y/o

Family Members: Isis (Mom) & a Beta Fish

How long has Rocket been in the family? Since Dec. 1st, 2018

Profession: Cardiac Cath Lab Tech & Dog Trainer

Location: Smyrna, GA.

Nicknames: Raw-Raw, Rock-a-doo

5 words/phrases that best describe Rocket?

Joyous
Dashing
Morning Dog - no coffee needed.
Animated
Dynamic

What makes Rocket unique? When humans come over, she is so excited to see them, that she grabs the first thing she can find- socks, toys, shoes , anything! Then she prances around showing off what she brought them. Rocket also likes to dance to Salsa music with me.

Corners like she is on rails! (Pretty Woman Reference)

Rescue Story: Tiny was presented to me as a foster dog, that needed a special home. She was a dog bought off the street with a checkered past. She had amazing foster parents Jackie and Steve, who were very patient with her physical injuries and emotional scars. Her foster parents volunteer with Road Trip Home Animal Rescue and were able to spay, microchip and vaccinate Tiny. As they got to know her better, she needed extensive treatment of an eye injury plus 4 broken teeth extractions. I officially adopted her 12/1/2018 after they waited 2 months for me to move into my new house with a huge backyard. Tiny then became TINY ROCKET in her new home where she has flourished. She has had multiple eye surgeries due to a broken eye orbital. Dr. Carey at Apex Animal Hospital found she has a broken tail, skin scars along the right side of the body and small metal bullets in her lower body. Tiny Rocket has been going to training to help establish a positive relationship with people and other dogs. We are very proud of her achievements in socialization and look forward to helping her healing process.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love bath time. I take her to our local pet store "Pet Supplies Plus in Smyrna" and she enjoys the shampoo massage and towel drying. She likes to give morning snuggles and kisses.

What is life like since you rescued Tiny Rocket? Much more excitement and joy in the house, toys everywhere. She helped me thru a sad time after I lost my mom last year.

Photographers Note: All I can say is this girls name fits her, she is a speedy little bundle of energy and loves to run around her huge backyard. Rocket is another example of where humans clearly let her down and yet, to see her play and greet me (a stranger), there is no sign of that let down. One of the words that her Mom used to describe her above; joyous is spot on. She is joyous! After speaking with Isis, she has done a ton of work with her to help gain her confidence and work through some issues she has & that work continues. Even with whatever she experienced in her past, this dog is happy! I am so glad her foster parents waited for Isis because these two were meant to be together.

Emailing with Isis after the shoot, I asked if Rocket was tired out afterwards. Evidence below:

It’s tiring work being “the talent” for a photo shoot!

Luna - 5/4/19

Name/Age: Luna - 2.5-ish y/o

Family Members: Ashley & Joe

How long has Luna been in the family? Around 1.5 years

Professions: Ashley & Joe are both CPA’s

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Lun-o (my 3-year old niece started calling her that), Luna The Destroyer, Luna Tuna

5 words/phrases that best describe Luna?

Sweet
Smart
Clown
Ball Thief
Kangaroo

What makes Luna unique? I don’t think she has ever met a stranger. She loves almost everyone she has ever met, and walks right up and leans on them or sits on their feet if they give her attention. She is a clown, and there has not been a day since we have had her that she does not make me laugh. She is so smart – we have taught her several tricks, like jumping into a box on command, sitting on a small stool like a circus lion, and shaking both left and right hands. Give her some snacks and work with her for a few minutes, and she can learn anything. She also seems to have springs in her back legs and can jump super high, leaping over other dogs at the dog park, flying through the door to jump on the bed, or just jumping straight in the air to get her tug rope from your hand. I love watching people who do not know her watch her jump for the first time.

Gliding through the air with the greatest of ease!

Rescue Story: I had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to my 15 year old Dachshund, Denver, in February 2017. He was my first dog ever, and was lucky to spend 11 of his 15 years together. It was so hard watching him grow old and say goodbye that I swore that I would never have another dog.

Fast forward to August 2017, I organized a service project for my office at Lifeline Animal Project, and was paired with a beautiful gray bully for a walk around the block. By the time we got back, I realized that there was a dog shaped hole in my heart. Pretty soon after, we started the process of looking for a dog. We searched Petfinder for about a month looking for “our” dog. We wanted a young, medium sized dog that could potentially be a running partner for Joe, no specific breed or gender in mind. Knowing so many wonderfully bullies from some of my gym friends, I was open to a bully or bully mix. We kept going back to Luna’s profile – something about this “hound mix” just spoke to us and I had a feeling that she was meant to be our dog. We contacted Homeless Pet Foundation to arrange a meeting. She walked up to us at a Saturday adoption event at a PetSmart and sat right in my lap. I was immediately in love, and we took her home that day.

We were told that she was an owner surrender, and that her previous family was ill and could no longer care for her. She had been in the shelter for about 3 weeks, and had recently been spayed.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to take Luna on adventures. She can frequently be found on the patio at Rev Coffee on weekend mornings, followed by a few rounds of fetch at a nearby dog park. We take her to breweries and restaurants to sit on the patio so she can chew a water buffalo horn and get scratches from strangers. She is also an amazing cuddler and always down for a Netflix binge.

What is life like since you rescued Luna? I was not exactly prepared for her energy level – a one-year old dog is fully grown, right? I never had dogs growing up, and my only previous dog was older when I adopted him, and generally low-key. She was very calm and gentle her first few days, but she very quickly got comfortable and let her personality shine, and destroyed all of the toys that she had previously been so gentle with. She gnawed her harness off in her crate. She somehow managed to get the crate liner pan out of her crate and bending the frame without getting herself out. She was super mouthy, but only with me, and only on my hands – I had a lot of bruises the first few weeks. I also had fights with her every morning while I was getting ready for work – she would steal each item of clothing and I had to chase her around the house to get my sweater back. Joe is more of the disciplinarian – even dogs we meet out in public, whose owners claim their dog does not know how to sit will sit for him. She seemed to know not to try these shenanigans with him. I was the pushover who was just so happy to have some floppy ears to pet that I let her get away with anything.

We quickly enrolled her in basic obedience classes through K-9 Coach and started sending her to playcare a few days a week to help her work on socialization and manners, and work off some of her crazy puppy energy. She passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen exam (barely – she never quite got the hang of leash walking on a collar). That process really helped us all to bond and helped channel her energy into something more productive than stealing clothes and pulverizing DVD player remotes. And now she is a lot older, and her energy level is still high, but has calmed down quite a bit.

Through the last almost year and a half, we have really had to adjust our schedules to make sure that we are giving her enough attention and exercise. We are both CPAs, so several months of the year, we work very long hours. We have a schedule set of who is working from home on the evenings (which has actually been really helpful for us as well), when she is going to playcare, who is responsible for feeding. We don’t plan on having any human children, but basically treat Luna like she is one. She fits into our lives so well that as long as a place is dog-friendly, we bring her with us. It’s taken some work and patience to get this far, but I am so happy that we have her in our lives. She has definitely been worth the work and adjustment, and I cannot imagine our lives without her.

Photographers Note: I met up with Luna, Ashley & Joe at the Atlanta Polo Fields in Vinings. My second time at this location for a photo shoot. It was a warm day but the space was perfect for Luna to show off her ball skills and drain a little of that energy that was mentioned above. I will say I did get to witness all the hardwork that has been put into her training as well as her leaping skills (see below). She was such a good girl, even with horses and other distractions around. One of the many things about Luna that I love, is when you look at her you for sure see hound in there but then from the back, her little body is all bully! An adorable combo for sure! Another amazing family that determined what was best for their family member and adjusted accordingly to ensure everyone is living happily forever after!

Luna - 4/27/19

Name/Age: Luna - 4 y/o

Family Members: Jay – Dad , Sheila – Mom & Dino – 4 year old Pit bull/Bulldog brother and partner in crime

How long has Luna been in the family? We adopted Luna in May of 2017.

Professions: Jay – Graphic Designer for WebMD

Sheila – Paralegal for Georgia Public Defender’s Counsel Appellate Division

Location: Smyrna, GA.

Nicknames: Lunatone, Lunacorn, Lunatic, Snuggles, Itchymama, Dart, and Dina/Luno (when we try to get her attention but mix her and her brother’s names up)

5 words/phrases that best describe Luna?

Snuggle Bug
Itchy
Spunky
Needy
Loving

What makes Luna unique? Her insecurities and anxiousness makes the way she does normal dog things like playing, eating, etc. very unique and cute.

Rescue Story: Jay and I, along with our dog Dino, first moved to Atlanta in May of 2016. Dino was always used to being surrounded by dogs but when we moved to Atlanta, he was very lonely. The first time we saw Luna was outside of Petco, as hairless as a naked mole rat on November 2016. The rescue group that took her in was Laskey’s Lucky Ones. Christina, one of the volunteers for the rescue group, had indicated that Luna (her name then was Petunia) was not available to be adopted for a few more months due to having to take steroid shots to help her with her skin condition. Per the rescue, Luna was found tied to a pole in the middle of a playground earlier that year. She did not have any hair and was covered in rashes and open sores due to the heat. She also had pneumonia and was barely alive. The moment they let us pet her and play with her was the moment we knew that Luna had to come home with us. For the next few months, our dog Dino had to go through several surgeries, including being neutered and TPLO surgery. As soon as Dino recuperated from his TPLO surgery, we immediately looked for Luna on the adoption website and were thrilled to see that she was still up for adoption. We submitted our application and in less than a month, we had finalized the adoption. Dino loved her since the very first day but became very dominant and jealous towards her. We kept them separated for the first few months but began 2018 with them sharing the same bed and even drinking from the same water bowl!!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? One of our favorite past times is going to our basement and wrestling with the dogs! Both Luna and Dino have learned the queue words when it’s time to go downstairs and roll around. For the most part, Luna will get the zoomies while Dino tries to catch her, but there are times when they rather jump on us and nibble on our toes and arms. We also love to take them on hikes and long walks. Luna is very anxious outdoors but she really loves going for walks/rides as a family because she knows she’s safe with us.

What is life like since you rescued Luna? Mending the heart of a broken human is hard. Mending the heart of a broken dog is even harder.

Adopting a previously abused dog is about making her feel loved when all she knows is hatred. It's about letting her lick our faces for 10 minutes straight because she's terrified of what might come after. It's about spending endless hours at the vet's office trying to figure out a solution to the physical damage that was left from the previous owners. It's about seeing the pain in her eyes and knowing that there's nothing we can do about it.

Adopting a broken dog is about spending endless nights in different rooms than my husband in order to make both dogs feel safe and important. It's about showing our previous dog about sharing his toys and being sweet when all he wants to do is growl.

Adopting a broken dog is about screaming with joy when she has mental/emotional breakthroughs. It's about feeling that extra joy when she can finally hug us without cowering in fear. It's about loving her and showing her what second chances look like.

Luna has turned from a shy, shaky, and instant-aggressive dog to the sweetest, most energetic dog ever! Dino loves her and accepted her into the pack! They play for hours and fall asleep on the same edge of the bed. They share their toys - even that overly-loved toy that Dino would never let out of his sight. Luna still has severe skin issues that we are trying to fix but that doesn't stop her from wanting to wrestle with her brother every chance she gets.

Luna (as well as Dino) have thought us the true meaning of compassion. They have thought us about unconditional love and loyalty. But most of all, they have thought us the real meaning of a family.

Photographers Note: First of all, how can you read those words above and not get a tear (or a few) in your eyes. So many people have experienced these exact same things when they bring in a dog that needs a little something extra and every one of them would do again if you asked. After arriving at Sheila and Jay’s home, I can say I saw no evidence of this shut down pup. She was happy and silly, very welcoming to two strangers (my sister was in town and joined me for this shoot). To hear about all the wonderful things they did for this pup and are still doing to get her skin issues under control and to continually show her what forever safety and love looks like; you know this is where this beautiful girl belongs.

I quickly realized that Luna was one of many dogs that I, shall we say “coveted” the moment I saw her pop up on my social media feed. (which honestly happens a lot since about 90% of that feed is dogs, rescues and dog organizations. If only I loved on a 100 acre ranch to save all the dogs I want to rescue). Christina, who Sheila mentioned above is a past volunteer of SALA, so I got see her progression a bit before she was adopted and where I fell in love with that beautiful pibble smile for the first time. To be able to close the loop and see the happy ending of those dogs that I fall in love with on a daily basis, is truly special and it has happened more then once over the last 4 years of this project. So happy for Luna and her family that they found each other! As her caption reads above - Nothing but LOVE!

Maggie - 4/21/19

Name: Maggie but her full name is Magnolia Mayflower (named for the state flowers of MS where she was adopted and MA where I used to live)

Family Members: Just Maggie and me (Michelle)

How long has Maggie been in the family? Since August 2014. Five years this year!

Profession: Neuropsychologist. I work with people recovering from brain injury

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Maggzarella, Mags, Mag, Pie, Pea

5 words/phrases that best describe Maggie?

Independent
Athletic
Human-like
Too smart for MY own good
Ridiculous

What makes Maggie unique? Maggie has some funny little quirks--for example, she's afraid of the oven being on! Her funniest quirk is that she really enjoys sitting and staring. I'll turn around and there she is, sitting in some random spot and staring at me! It's creepy and funny. I started her own Instagram @starring_staring_maggie to capture some of these weirdo moments.

Rescue Story: My ex and I decided to adopt a dog when we lived in Jackson, MS. We went to a local no-kill rescue--Community Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA www.carams.org)--and spotted Maggie in a kennel with her sister. She and her sister had been dropped off in a box at the doorstep along with their two siblings. Maggie was at the rescue for about four months before we met and fell in love with her. Her sister got adopted as well but, last I knew, her two siblings were still at the shelter. Maggie initially was very quiet but we got her out of her shell with lots of tennis balls, filled Kongs, and time at the CARA dog park. We have also stayed in touch with her CARA family all these years! Maggie and I moved to Atlanta in July 2016 and love the Atlanta lifestyle!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Two summers ago I took Maggie to dock jumping lessons and she was in a couple competitions! Her furthest jump was 18'9"!!! I was so proud of her, especially as all the other dogs in the competition were purebred and I am betting the majority were non-rescues. We will probably do more jumping again this summer. She even has a special shark collar to wear when she's jumping.

What is life like since you rescued Maggie? Oh gosh! My entire life revolves around Maggie. Since it's just me, I make sure to plan my day to ensure I can still give Maggie a good walk at the end of the day. I also plan my weekends to make sure we get good quality time together--long walks (2+ miles) and dog parks (we are annual members at Fetch!). Maggie and I have had a lot of training (most recently, Intermediate at Atlanta Humane Society) so she walks really well on leash which has been a game changer! We love walking in our neighborhood together.

It's such an interesting way of being; to be entirely responsible for the life, happiness, and well-being of another living being for its entire life! Maggie will never "grow-up" and she will always need me to take care of her and love her. That is not lost on me! I want to make sure Maggie is happy every day, especially considering that she was once a quiet, scared pup in a rescue.

Photographers Note: I met up with Maggie & Michelle at Fetch, a members dog park in the city of Atlanta. It was so much fun to see Maggie in her element, which meant being all about the tennis ball. Even got to speak to other pittie parents and do some recruiting. How great is it to have our signature bow tie shot with wings? It was so much fun shooting there. After Maggie was tired out a bit, we went for a walk down the street to capture some images in front of all the great graffiti art that is in that area. Maggie was such a good girl and game for anything. Her training definitely showed through but aside from that, she is just a sweetie. The bond she and Michelle has is just about a woman and her dog, it’s not about what breed someone thinks she is or how she looks. Just like any other dog she is a loved family member, albeit with a serious vertical jump! :)

Maggie - 4/7/19

Name/Age: Maggie - 11 y/o?

Family Members: Just Mom & Dad (also known as Lisa & Roderick)

How long has Maggie been in the family? 10.5 years

Professions: Lisa is a Contract Negotiator & Roderick is a Police Officer

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames: Baby Doll, Dew, Sweet Pea, DB

5 words/phrases that best describe Maggie?

Intelligent
Grateful
Loving
Gentle
Pretty

What makes Maggie unique? She has a broad vocabulary. I have enjoyed such a sense of connection with her, unlike any other dog I’ve had. She also has very unique markings!

Rescue Story: Maggie came from the street. We do not know her history –we don’t know if she ran with Momma Dog or was ever owned.

Her story …

After being in our house about a year, we decided it was time for a dog. I’ve always had Labs so I found one to adopt from a Lab Rescue group and submitted an application. Meanwhile …

My husband was a police officer stationed in southwest Atlanta working the night shift. Maggie appeared at the precinct as an emaciated, scabbed, dirty puppy. We think she was intelligent enough to figure out humans were present there 24/7. Mostly she hid in the bushes and slept on the pavement that was warmed from the day.

Some Officers took pity and shared their scraps. The night my husband discovered her, he shared his meatloaf dinner. He was impressed with her gentle nature and the fact she did not have any food aggression despite her condition.

My husband then called and said we need to consider taking her home. Of course, she was the LAST thing I wanted! First, she was a Pit Bull; 2) may have been exposed to fighting; and 3) a puppy! None of this was what I wanted to sign up for. I was not able to make it to the precinct that night but agreed to go the next if she was still hanging around.

Of course she was still there the next night. When I looked her in the eyes, she had an inquisitive gaze, not one of aggression –perhaps quiet confidence. We knew then, she was going to be ours and would never want for food or warmth again. To this day, she ALWAYS gets meatloaf and potatoes when we have it.

P.S. While it broke my heart to withdraw my application for that Lab, he did find a forever home too!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? WALKS! While Maggie loves morning walks with Mom best, she’ll go for a walk any time with anyone.

What is life like since you rescued Maggie? For us, our life has been more fulfilled and enlightened. Maggie has opened our eyes to this wonderful breed and broke the stereotype. Our little family will always welcome Pit Bulls. For Maggie, we have prevented a life of either constant breeding (because she’s so pretty) or fighting. She seems to remind us every day that she is grateful for this life.

Photographers Note: When I arrived, I was greeted by Lisa and Maggie at the door. I was immediately struck by her gorgeous markings; so unusual and so beautiful. Then on top of her good looks she is just the sweetest girl, being the most welcoming host.

She got to show off her ball skills and a few tricks for the camera while i was there. I had been warned by her Dad that she can get a little camera shy when she sees one pointed at her. Not this day, she was definitely enjoying being in the spot light. When she flopped down and start to roll on her back in front of my lens, her Dad’s comment was “ are you kidding me?”. (photo evidence above) After we finished up, she even escorted me to the front door. Pretty sure as soon as a I left, she probably passed out. It was a warm day and it takes a lot out of a gal being “on” for that long! :)

Gemma, Bella & Lyla - 3/30/19

Names/Ages: Gemma Lynn , Isabella “Bella” & Lyla “Bug” ( all 3 are turning 5 this year)

Family Members: Lindsay, Jake, Skylar (human sister - 17 y/o) & feline siblings Lexie (9), Murphy (8) & Jones (almost 1 year)

How long has Gemma, Bella & Lyla been in the family? Gemma for 4 years, Bella for 3 1/2 years & Lyla for 2 1/2 years.

Professions: Lindsay - Booking & customer service for an inspection company.

Jake - Pest control & musician

Location: Bethlehem, GA.

Nicknames:

Gemma: Gremlin, Punkin, Princess, Punkin Head

Bella: Bella Boo, Boo, Belly, Isabelly, Big Stuff, Chunky

Lyla: Bug, Buggy, Little One, Street Dog

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Gemma, Bella & Lyla?

Gemma: 1. SMART 2. High Strung 3. In Charge 4. Spoiled 5. Alpha

Bella: 1. Sweet 2. Snuggly 3. Loveable 4. Not very bright 5. Cuddle Buddy

Lyla: 1. Goofy 2. Doesn’t “dog” well 3. Sweet 4. Cuddly 5. Talkative

What makes these pups unique? Gemma is very smart & focused. Bella smiles & her best friend is a 10 pound kitten (besides her sisters). Lyla has a long hairless streak down her back from her life before us. She also “talks” and “smiles”.

Rescue Stories: Gemma’s story, we had a 12 year old dog and wanted a pup. Found an ad on Craigslist stating “blue pit bull puppies need gone - $100. Pick up by Friday or we have to get rid of them”. We plucked a little 3.5 pound dirty, flea ridden puppy up from the back of a car in a grocery store parking lot the next day.

Bella started as a foster. We had some acquaintances who knew we had a pittie and reached out to us when they were put into a position of not being able to keep their pit pup who was about 6 months old at the time (they had her from a puppy). Within a week we knew we had to keep her as she and our Gemma had become best of friends.

I had been wanting another dog for awhile (we had an older chow/shepherd at the time as well as our other two pities and 3 cats). We had tried fostering a couple times but ran into issues with dogs being aggressive towards our cats. I saw Lyla’s Petfinder profile on Facebook and reached out to her foster mom to get more info. The profile said that she was currently living with cats in harmony. We arranged to meet Lyla and I fell in love. She came the next weekend to meet our girls and it was a hit. She was permanently ours the weekend after that 😊

Her history is that she was found on the street outside an auto-body shop. Very underweight, bite marks on her face and body, loss of hair and a big stripe down her back that appeared to be burned or something. Foster mom spent days getting her trust until she could catch her and start caring for her.

Lyla’s life was about to change for the much better!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? With Gemma, it’s play time – she loves to play “tag” and keep away. Bella’s is snuggling & throwing sticks (if you can get them from her). Finally Lyla’s favorite pastime is SNUGGLING!

What is life like since you rescued all 3 pups? Gemma opened our hearts to the breed and showed us something we wanted to advocate for. Also we bought a house so we could keep her and now have been able to rescue two more because of this. Bella has added so much love to our household. She is the biggest snuggle dog ever and loves to chew on sticks. Lyla’s been such a blessing to us and is always excited to see us. It’s been a joy watching her come out of her shell and start to enjoy things she used to be scared of. We are still making new discoveries with her and watching her continue to grow.

Photographers Note: I arrived at Lindsay & Jake’s home on probably one of the first warmer days this Spring. Walking into a home with 3 dogs and 3 cats, you get quite a welcome. (yes, the cat’s welcomed me too). As mentioned in the story, Lyla is a bit shy so I gave her space but Gemma & Bella were very excited to say Hello. Lyla watched from the background, seeing what her sisters response would be. These three just had me laughing, showing off each of their personalities. Of course after a little running around the tongues were out and the preferred location was the shade. I just sat on my blanket in the middle of the yard, and photographed their antics; some “stick” play (it was more like a log), rolling around or just relaxing in the shade. Several times I was visited by Lyla on my blanket, which resulted in a smile from me that was almost has bright as these three pibbles!

Zooey - 3/24/19

Name/Age: Zooey - 7 y/o

Family Members: Diana & her sister Missy (12 y/o - Min Pin Mix)

How long has Zooey been in the family? I adopted her in January of 2014

Professions: Social Worker in a hospital

Location: Acworth, GA

Nicknames: Big-Girl & Zo-Zo

5 words/phrases that best describe Zooey?

Happy
Attentive
Loves to snuggle
Sunbather
Affectionate

What makes Zooey unique? Definitely loves bringing a smile to your face, she can always sense if you are feeling down and out. I also bring her to the hospital as a therapy dog she loves spreading smiles to patients and staff.

Rescue Story: I came home from work one day, logged onto Facebook and my vets office posted a picture of Zooey (her name was “Dreamer” at the time). I just had to go meet her. Zooey and Missy met and have been inseparable ever since. The previous owner was an elderly lady who couldn’t care for her anymore. I adopted her that day and have no regrets!

January 2014 was when we had the snow storm, I couldn't get out of work due to the storm so my mom had driven to my home to let Missy and Zooey out. This was the first time that my mom would be meeting Zooey and she was nervous to say the least due to her being a pit bull. Since Zooey was still getting acclimated to my home and Missy, I left Zooey in my bedroom with the door closed. My mom said she took a bag of treats upstairs and opened the door to let her out. My mom said at first she and Zooey were hesitant but my mom was sitting on the stairs holding a treat. After Zooey ate her treat it was "love at first sight" Zooey wouldn't stop sharing kisses of excitement.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? When the weather is nice we love to go on walks, or go hiking. Zooey loves to sun bathe so on nice days we love being outside gardening. When I have time to volunteer with her at the hospital, just seeing the way peoples faces light up when they see her is amazing. Zooey has a natural smile you can see in her face the pride she has!
What is life like since you rescued Zooey? My heart is full. I have always had dogs ever since I was little, I don’t know what life would be like without the love they share. Zooey and Missy are my best friends.

Photographers Notes: Not all stories need to have a tragic beginning, this sweet girl has been one of the lucky ones and has been loved by two families. However, that doesn’t change the fact that because of how she looks people will still make assumptions about her. People like to use a dogs “back story” as a justification for their judgement but in reality it’s because they look a certain way that they are judged.

Zooey is just the happiest, sweetest dog. She greeted me enthusiastically and came over often to visit and provide complimentary face washing during the shoot. She reluctantly ran around a bit for me but just as her Mom said, she much rather plop down on her bed and enjoy the sunshine! Diana had shared with me some photos of her from the day before when she was volunteering at the hospital (we shared those photos the day of her photo shoot on our social media pages). You can see in her beautiful eyes and smiling wrinkly face (definitely some Shar-pei in this girl), that she loves her job!

Jake - 3/23/19

Name/Age: Jake - approx. 10.5 y/o

Family Members: David, Christy, Charlie (age 16), Katie (age 15) and Tugg (pibble brother from another mother, age 9)

How long has Jake been in the family? About 9.5 years

Professions: David – residential builder, Christy – estimator

Location: Douglasville, GA.

Nicknames: Jake-Jake, Jakey, Moose, Jeeky, Jeepers, we make up new ones all the time!

5 words/phrases that best describe Jake?

Snuggly & Sweet
Curious
SQUIRREL!!
Mommy’s Boy
Hungry (All.The.Time)

What makes Jake unique? I love Jake’s curiosity that is always making him do the head tilt. I also love how Jake is totally unaware of how HUGE he is. He wants to snuggle no matter where we are sitting or laying and will try to fit his 100-lb self in no matter what. On the couch, he sits in my lap, when I lay down at night, he wants to lay right beside me, even if there’s very little room. And those sharp doggy elbows!!! :)

Rescue Story: I was previously a teacher, and one of my co-workers, Liz, needed an estimate on some home repairs. So my husband went to her house. He met Jake. Liz had found Jake in the area after his owner skipped town. She took him in temporarily but could not keep him. She begged us to take him. I was skeptical but my husband had other plans. When he returned home, he brought Jake with him. We dug into his past, locating the man who abandoned him, finding out that the man had Jake in the back of a moving truck and Jake was thrown out. We also learned that before that man, there were two other owners. One of the other owners lived in Texas and sent me the vet records she had, which were incomplete. The story never really all lined up for me, how he got from Texas to Georgia, why he was abandoned over and over. Regardless Jake was now safe. We took him to the vet, who guessed by looking at his teeth that Jake was around a year old. All that in ONE YEAR!!! Jake took quite a bit of training and tough love to get him past his fear and mistrust. He was pretty aggressive toward my husband at times, scared of a lot of things, still untrusting for a while. He’s terrified at even the sight of a gun. Makes you wonder… Through persistence (through training mainly on my husband’s part) and LOVE, Jake is now a big teddy bear. He follows us everywhere we go! Tugg and Jake are best friends and brothers. Jake has helped change people’s minds about the breed, people who would not let their kids around our dogs.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Hiking and playing Frisbee. When Jake was younger, he was AWESOME at catching the frisbee in the air!

What is life like since you rescued Jake? Our dogs are our kids. We love them just as we do Charlie and Katie. We look forward to seeing them everyday after work and they feel the same way. They have made our lives so much more fun! Rescuing Jake was one of the best decisions my husband ever made for us! :)

Photographers Note: I love that all of our volunteers stories seem to have a lesson or a tidbit of knowledge that people can learn from when it comes to these misunderstood dogs. Jake’s could be, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. After such a rough start to his life this senior gentleman is just a sweet and goofy boy; all he needed was love, persistence and structure to get there. His family never gave up on him, like so many before them had. For that they are rewarded with the unconditional love of a dog named Jake. & Jake gets the family he and all the dogs like him deserve from the day they are born.

Redwood - 3/17/19

Name/Age: Redwood (Red) - 10 mths old

Family Members: Alicia & Greg

How long has Red been in the family? 7 months

Profession: Alicia - Risk Analyst, Greg- Engineer

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: PupPup, Little Boy, Woofer, Poopy Puppy, Stinky Boy, Reddifer

5 words/phrases that best describe Red?

Sweet
Affectionate
Wanty
Snuggly
Licker

What makes Red unique? Red warms up to people very fast, and will always find a lap to snuggle up in. His love of people and desire to please makes him very easy to train - and it also makes him great off leash! Red also LOVES to dress up in sweaters, coats, scarfs – it’s adorably and he melts everyone’s hearts!

Rescue Story: We went to LifeLine Animal Shelter to visit another dog that we had seen online. Sadly, that dog was already adopted. A little defeated, we decided to walk around the facility to try and cheer ourselves up. On our way out, we heard a tail thumping loudly against a metal crate on the floor. The tag on the crate said he had just been brought in after being dumped at an apartment complex earlier in the day. He was so tiny and scared but he thumped SO loudly for us (we should have named him Thumper). I think the LifeLine employee knew it was a perfect match because she encouraged us to just take him for a walk, even though we weren’t looking for a 3 month old puppy. As soon as we opened the crate, he peed in Greg’s shoe and we fell in love. The rest is history!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We are an active outdoor family, so we love taking Red on hikes and van trips. He absolutely loves his off leash time (he set his own boundaries very quickly and checks in frequently – he never runs out of sight!). In the van, he is the king. He snuggles on laps or snoozes on the bed, or rides shotgun with his head out the window on the backroads. When he sees us packing up for a weekend, his eyes light up!

What is life like since you rescued Red? Our life has become so much happier with Red! As full time employees and grad students, our lives had become pretty routine and very unhappy. We were struggling to find happiness in the work/eat/homework routine. Greg works from home frequently, and Red is the best coworker you could ask for. He brings constant love, endless snuggles, and helps us prioritize play time and getting outside to run! Red’s life has dramatically improved as well – he gets unlimited love and snuggles, the freedom to hike and run with other pups, and a big (human) bed to snooze in every night.

Photographers Note: So as you would imagine, my first question was how he got the name Red. (besides his collar nothing red about him) Alicia explained that when they were looking, she wanted a big dog, like a Redwood tree. So that is where he got the name. This was such a fun shoot, I mean first of all you have this beautiful dog who has just about the shiniest coat I have ever seen and then on top of that he was such a good boy. For such a young dog, he minds so well and was really up for anything. When Greg and Alicia had the idea of taking photos in the van as it’s a place they spend a lot of time together, I was just so thrilled. I love creative ideas on the family shoots and have to say, this one turned out adorable. Then when you read the rescue story and find out Red really chose them the only way a dog can….well it’s a perfect trio no matter how you look at it!

Zoey - 3/16/19

Name/Age: Zoey - 4 y/o

Family Members: Mom - Jasmine My best friends/roommates Sophie & Regan also help me raise her.

How long has Zoey been in the family? Almost 3 years!

Profession: Photographer & Social Media Coordinator at DeKalb County Animal Services

Location: Marietta, GA

Nicknames: Zo Zo, Bean, Zoey Deliliah, Mama, Sweet Baby, Baby Girl, Frijoles Negro, Zoe Bear

5 words/phrases that best describe Zoey?

Hungry
Silly
Sleepy
Lazy
Dramatic

What makes Zoey unique? No matter what you are doing, Zoey finds her way to be a part of it. She genuinely loves the people around her so much that she wants to be as close to them as possible. Also I think Zoey can be misunderstood and I feel for her.

Rescue Story: When I was a sophomore in college, I lived in off campus housing with several other roommates. During spring break an adoption promotion was going on at the local animal shelter. Two of my roommates brought home a small stocky black pittie as the result. She was shy for the first few days, but she quickly warmed up. My roommates traveled quite frequently and couldn’t always take Zoey with them. I started watching her when they were out of town. When they were in town they would allow Zoey to sleep in the bed. She would cry and whine loudly, so she would sleep with me every night. Almost a full month went by, and my friends were struggling as new dog owners. Zoey destroyed some property, and COULD NOT grasp the concept of potty training. After she busted through a laundry room door, my roommates decided they would leave her at the local Wal-Mart because “Animal Control would pick her up.” I convinced them to let me keep her and Zoey has been mine ever since.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Our whole little family loves to just curl up on the couch and watch movies with Zoey. She loves to snuggle more than anything in the whole world. The closer she is to her favorite humans, the happier she is. We also love to toss Zoey’s toys around with her.

What is life like since you rescued Zoey? After a few years of officially adopting Zoey, I graduated college. I went on to work for LifeLine Animal Project. Zoey came from one of our shelters, Fulton County Animal Services. I had no idea how much I loved animals before Zoey came along. Adopting my dog gave me an entirely different perspective on Atlanta’s homeless animals, because my child was one of them. She has opened up parts of my heart that now allow me to love and fight for thousands of lives daily. Zoey was my purpose.

Photographers Notes: We met up at Sope Creek Trail for the photo shoot. Zoey jumped out of the car and was so excited to be there, pulling Jasmine along behind her. Once she realized I was there to see her, she came right over and gave me some love. Then off we went….so many new sniffs for the pups at this park with all kinds of trails. With the left over fall and winter leaves on the ground, it really made for a scenic spot for photos even in early March!. When I would get down on my stomach to take some photos, Zoey would dole out a kiss or two and then get back to posing beautifully. I mean look at those amazing amber eyes!

This story is so special because Jasmine’s love of this dog, has led her to fight for the hundreds of homeless dogs here in Atlanta. In fact, after we were done, she was rushing to work for a weekend adoption promotion in which their goal was to adopt out 75 animals. They surpassed their goal by the way! She is dedicated to this work as is all of the amazing shelter staff and volunteers for these shelters. Who knows your Zoey could be waiting for you at one of those shelters; a dog that will change everything. I know that is where I found mine! #adoptdontshop