“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
~Anatole France
This time of year makes me think of one of my favorite fall memories: bringing our English Springer Spaniel puppy, Chester, home from his farm in Frederick, MD. It was 1993 and I wasn’t crazy about dogs…at all. But Chester quickly changed that. It has been nearly six years since he passed on. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be the dog person that I am today.
Below is a collection of some of my favorite dog and cat shots from the past couple years. I love photographing animals, who are just as expressive as people.
This post is dedicated to Chester. Here he is in his final year, sitting on a bed he made of newspapers and ads from the Saturday paper–a weekend tradition for him.
A friendly German Shepard at the Mutts & Martinis fundraiser in Bethesda, MD.
Leo and Addie, two buddies, enjoying a relaxing afternoon in Burtonsville, MD. Although always very energetic and strides ahead of Leo, Addie appeared to watch over him in his declining years, helping him along when his arthritis slowed him down, and sleeping against him to show that she was there for support. I could tell that she cared about him a great deal.
This picture shows what cats are all about in Croatia: relaxing and enjoying the scenery. While hiking up the steep steps of Dubrovnik, I passed this cat, who looked me up and down and seemed to be thinking, “Oh great, another tourist who I’ll have to give CPR to.”
A sweet pug, Chloe, in New York City. In the picture, Chloe is without her other half, Bruno, who is a few years her senior and so many things to her: her protector, her constant companion, her confidant, her ear-cleaner.
This cat, Number One, née Puddin’, is the friendliest and most eager-to-please cat I’ve ever met. I dare say, so much like a dog. I should say that I know him as “Number One,” but he is now “Rocket,” because he flies up the steps like a rocket launching. So yes, he’s on his third name. Originally from Moorseville, NC, he now resides in a beautiful log cabin in Culpeper, VA.
People weren’t the only ones mingling and networking at Mutts & Martinis. This is the equivalent of an exchange of business cards.
Azitis, the elderly and sometimes cantankerous Chihuahua, on his beloved golf cart. Azitis was from Elka Park, New York (in the Catskill Mountains), and lived on the grounds of my childhood Latvian camp. He seldom left the golf cart. In a way, he was the unofficial caretaker of the camp. In my opinion, the place isn’t quite the same without him.
This was Azitis’s nemesis, Roze, who was about half his age. They lived in the same space. Although sworn enemies, when Azitis passed away, Roze stopped eating, and passed away a short time later. Perhaps they really had a deep connection all along, and the malice was all for show. I hope that wherever they are now, they are sitting on a golf cart and laughing at how much they fooled people in their former life.
This is Allie, the beagle mix, who appeared in a blog post this past spring.
This cat, of Buenos Aires, is known as “Mitchy.” He’s a stray that has won the heart of his new owner/host. Given Mitchy’s scars, I’d say that he has seen some tough things in his life, has possibly associated with a bad feline crowd, but in the end, turned out to be very friendly and well-adjusted. He always found his way into my room, and although seeing a stray cat sitting on my pillow isn’t usually the most welcomed sight in the world, Mitchy was so sweet that I almost didn’t mind.
This slightly out-of-focus picture, taken in Valeria del Mar, Argentina, happens to be another favorite given the story. I was walking along a side street with my dad and sister, trying to find our way to the ocean, when we turned left and saw these two dogs sitting right there, as if waiting for us. One was a stray and one wasn’t, but that didn’t come between them, and they seemed inseparable. They followed us back to the beach, then split off to play in the ocean. We were walking for another mile or so and looked back to see them still playing in the waves together.
A beautiful Samoyed at the Bethesda Dog Parade. One of the gentlest, sweetest breeds I’ve gotten to know.
Wearing his new bandana to celebrate the occasion, this terrier eagerly awaits a frosted, martini glass-shaped biscuit.
A Latvian cat hanging out in the Art Nouveau district of Riga.
A profile shot of Allie, the energetic beagle mix.
I had to lift up a palm frond to find this cat, happily snoring away near our hotel in Iguazú, Argentina. Rough life!
This is the day I met Chance, the picture-perfect Miniature Schnauzer. The faraway look in his eyes might have something to do with his doggy girlfriend from the dog park.
This is Logan, one of the resident Golden Retrievers at Homestead Farm in Poolesville, MD. When he was awake, he kept an eye on the property and general store, making sure everything ran smoothly…all the while, doing so in high temperatures and allowing kids with sticky ice cream fingers to pet him. The last time I saw him, he was passed out under the tomato stand. That dog deserved a break!
Wolfgang (“Wolfi”), of Buenos Aires. A dog that gets to eat–on a regular basis–the best asado I’ve ever had. Great life!
This is Nubet, Wolfi’s friend/life partner, a stunningly beautiful cat (who seemed to favor the chorizo). Que linda!
One of my favorite, and luckiest, shots of the year. I was supposed to be lining up to walk in the Norfolk NATO Festival parade when I spotted this mug. I had my point-and-shoot camera and two seconds to take a decent picture before this hyper dog turned away. Success!
Don’t forget to hug your pet today!
