KC PAWS Chosen as my Adopt a Family - Kansas City Dog Photography

It is very easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas during this busy time of year. Holiday parties, baking, decorating, wishing for snow, scrambling to buy presents, etc. I am just as guilty of all of these things as well. I want to remind myself and others that the true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love.

Every year I usually adopt a family though the 98.1 KUDL program. It makes my heart happy to give back to a family who truly deserves it. Last year I asked my photography clients to share a story of someone who was extremely deserving this time of year, for the chance to be selected to receive a free photo shoot, along with some Christmas gifts on their wish list. The person I chose was the mother of four who had welcomed her parents, two sisters, her brother, and grandmother into her home because they lost their home to a fire. This year, I chose KC PAWS as my "family" to adopt because they are such a wonderful rescue organization who truly runs their business with their hearts and deserves special attention and really could use many more donations then they currently receive.

I encourage you, and not only during the holiday season, to open your heart to help others in need and always be thankful for your blessings in life. You really never know when life could change in just an instant.

About KC PAWS
KC P.A.W.S. was formed in 2007 with the determination of working with animals in need. They specialize in working with animals who are the victims of abuse. They work in connection with local City and State agency’s to help investigate and report cases of cruelty and neglect as well as providing education and resources to the community on how to properly care for their animals.

To see current adoptables at KC P.A.W.S., visit their website http://www.kcpaws.org/ and click on "View our Adoptables."Please spread the word to others and promote adoption! For more information, call Sandi or Tiffani at 816-377-7007 or email kc.paws@Hotmail.com.

Some recent doggies I have met and photographed who have now found forever homes!

Adopted - Marley!


Adopted - Dutchess!

Adopted - Archie!

Mini Photo Sessions for your Pet - Kansas City Dog Photography

Mini Photo Sessions for your Pet!
All weekends in December (except Christmas weekend)

30 minute photo sessions of your pet
$100* (includes session fee, editing and 25 digital images on CD)
*Please add $25 per additional pet if there will be more than one pet during the same session.

E-mail fixyourimages@Hotmail.com to reserve your spot!

Breed of the Week - Afghan Hound- Kansas City Dog Photography

*Below information from dogbreedinfo.com*

About

The Afghan Hound is considered an aristocratic sighthound. Tall and slender with a long, narrow, refined head, silky topknot and powerful jaws. The back part of the head and skull is quite prominent. The muzzle is slightly convex. The nose is black. The Afgan has little or no stop, which is the transition area from backskull to muzzle. The teeth should meet in a level or scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond shaped. The ears lie flat to the head. The neck is long and strong. The height at the withers should be almost level and the abdomen well tucked up. The hipbones are quite prominent. The front legs are strong and straight and the feet are large and covered with long hair. The tail has a curl or ring at the tip, but is not carried over the back. The long, rich, silky coat is most often the color of sand with a darker face and ear fringes, though all colors are permitted.

Temperament
Courageous, dignified, spirited, very sweet, loyal, affectionate and sensitive, with a low dominance level. Can be somewhat aloof, socialize well. They must be trained kindly yet in a calm and firm manner. The Afghan has been described as "a king of dogs", noble, majestic and elegant. They tend to be suspicious of those they do not know, but not hostile. Although tough, they will pine if they are deprived of proper gentle leadership. They will do best with older, considerate children who understand how to be a gentle pack leader. Amenable to training and discipline, they can be disobedient if an owner does not give the dog clear guidelines as to what is expected of them and are consistent with it. This breed can be difficult to housebreak. Can be timid and high strung if they do not receive enough mental and physical exercise.

Weight Height

Dogs 27 to 29 inches (68.58-73.66cm) slightly less for bitches.

Weight: 58-64lb (26-34kg.)

Health Problems

Generally healthy.

Exercise

The Afghan Hound needs to be taken on a long daily walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Dogs who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. Teach them to enter and exit door and gateways after the humans. They will also enjoy running free in an open fenced, safe area.

Life Expectancy

About 14 years

Grooming

The long, thick coat demands a great deal of attention. Bathe the dog when necessary. Do not brush in-between baths in order to keep coat long and shiny. Brushing a dry coat will damage the coat and even make it more easily matted. Weekly baths are not as important if your Afghan is a pet and will not be shown, but doing so will make the coat less matted and will save you time in the end. Many wear snoods indoors to protect their ears from food bowls. Some owners like to use a special air-cushioned brush called a pinbrush. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin
This is a very elegant, ancient dog, native to Sinai, and mentioned several times in Egyptian papyruses as well as pictured in the caves of northern Afghanistan more than 4000 years ago. The breed was kept pure for centuries, and its exportation was always prohibited. It therefore only reached Europe as contraband early in this century. An extremely fast and agile runner, the Afghan is a sighthound, which means it hunts by sight. It was used as a shepherd and as a hunter of many types of game including deer, wild goats, snow leopards and wolves.

Photos courtesy of one of my Facebook followers, Gretchen. Here is her precious Afghan Hound, Roman!

Adopt Caleb or Truman Please - Up for Adoption Courtesy of T.A.R.A. - Kansas City Dog Photography

I am always honored when the rescue community asks me to photograph their adoptable pets, in hopes that my photos will help capture their true spirits and lead someone to adopt. My friend Lori of T.A.R.A. recently had me photograph two puppies she is fostering. She is so very kind and generous to be a foster mom. Personally, I know I could not do it, so I admire her and everyone in the rescue world who dedicate their lives to saving and/or fostering these dogs to help transition them to forever families.

Her kind words mean so much to me: "You may be tiny but you are one powerful lady! You have a gift and are a blessing and I hope you know how much you are loved and respected...especially by myself and T.A.R.A. Your dedication is to be commended and I just want you to know how much I appreciate all that you do for the homeless furkids out there!"

About T.A.R.A.
The Animal Rescue Alliance (T.A.R.A.) is an all volunteer group dedicated to helping homeless pets in the Greater Kansas City area. Their organization is the result of an alliance between several rescuers in the Kansas City region who share the same goal of ending animal suffering and homelessness.It is the mission of The Animal Rescue Alliance to establish and maintain the ideals of Tara Nagel with regards to the treatment of homeless and unwanted animals. Tara was an angel on earth who lost her life in a terrible car accident on November 2005. Before leaving us, Tara had found her vocation in working with companion animals and was an angel to the pets that were lucky enough to be under her care.

The Animal Rescue Alliance
PO Box 520798
Independence, MO 64052
http://www.tarasdream.org/

Meet Caleb! He is 4-5 months old and a Springer/Brittney mix. Please e-mail Lori Haas at lori.haas@ymail.com if you are interested in more information.

And meet his brother Truman! Also 4-5 months old and a Springer/Brittney mix. They are both very sweet and can be adopted seperately.

Riley, Hailey & Springer - Kansas City Dog Photography

This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the adorable Leslie and her amazing three doggies, Hailey, Springer and Riley! Leslie was a bit nervous about a photo session since two of her Doxies are older and one is blind, and Riley is still a young, energetic pup. I assured her that I had seen it all, especially having experience with dogs at rescues and shelters with every personality and background you can imagine. The photo session ended up going very smoothly! It definitely doesn't hurt that I come armed with yummy treats! Thank you for choosing me to document your precious furry babies, Leslie. It was a joy!


Meet Hailey, the long haired Doxie! She is 12 years old and completely blind... but I would have never known the difference, as well as she got around and used her other senses!

Meet Riley! How can you not love that face???

Meet Springer, another long haired Doxie. She is also 12 years old and such a sweetheart!

As it turns out, modeling works up quite the thirst!

Gotta love that drool!

Hailey: Are you wondering the same thing I am?

Springer: Yeah, I want some more treats or I think I am just about done here!

Treats pleeeeease!

Networking Day - Pet Friendly Businesses Share - Kansas City Dog Photography

I am a firm believer in networking for the greater good of animals. Networking is a very powerful tool, especially through social sites such as Facebook. My business and reputation would not be where it is today without the support from all my Facebook followers. As a thank you, here are a list of the pet friendly businesses that responded to my request for promoting their name! You can always e-mail me at fixyourimages@Hotmail.com and I will be happy to add your business and website to the list! Thank you, as always, to everyone for your continued support.

Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OR123.html
A non-profit, no-kill shelter for doxies in Oregon, Washington, and surrounding states.

Good Pup: http://goodpupkc.com/
Dog training and boarding. Just developed the "Perfect Puppy Program" for pups under 5 months old. Dog training of all kinds and family style boarding.

Dignified Doggies: http://www.dignifieddoggies.com/
Dignified Doggies is your local Lawrence, KS resource for pet services. They specialize in Training & Rehabilitation, while also offering Pet Sitting and Dog Walking.

Bubbles Mobile Dog Wash: http://www.bubbles2kcmobiledogwash.com/
Perfect for dog parks, apartment complexes, RV parks, dog-fest events, and other community events, The Bubbles solar assisted, self contained mobile dog wash system was designed and built as a convenient, environmentally friendly, no mess, no stress mobile solution for the on-going chore of dog washing and a welcomed alternative to at-home washing. Expanding to the KC area and 20% of the proceeds from the dog wash will go to fundraising for animal welfare groups.

MetroPAWS KC: http://www.metropawskc.com/
MetroPAWS KC provides dog walking and in home pet sitting services specifically based on the needs of animals living in urban areas. Coverage area includes Downtown, Midtown, and the Plaza. (816) 200-PETZ or email us at sophia@metropawskc.com for more information or to schedule an appointment with a professional pet sitter.

The Animal Rescue Alliance (T.A.R.A.): http://www.tarasdream.org/
An all volunteer, non profit, all breed animal rescue! TARA focus on saving pets from high kill shelters before their time runs out and placing them into loving, forever homes! Adopt a great dog or cat today!

K9 Stitch: http://www.k9stitch.com/
Custom embroidered dog collars. Their collars help dogs re-unite with their families and they also help dogs by donating $1.00 of every sale to no-kill shelters.

Center for Heeling: Susan Gleeson http://www.centerforheeling.com/
Specializes in the training of humans and their canine companions to achieve harmonious balance. As a dog owner, it is helpful to be able to communicate with your dog by speaking their language.

And because I cant have a blog post without a photo... here is my furry & handsome baby!

Breed of the Week - Brussels Griffon - Kansas City Dog Photography

*Below information from dogbreedinfo.com*

About
The Griffon is a sturdy toy dog who is often thought to look like a Star Wars Ewok. The large head is round with a domed forehead and a deep stop. The muzzle is very short appearing to be pushed back. The black nose is very short. The dog has an overbite with a hanging tongue. The black eyes are wide set and prominent with long, black eyelashes. Natural ears are carried semi-erect, when cropped the ears stand up coming to a point. There are two types of coats, rough and smooth. The rough coat is dense and wiry. On the smooth coat, also called the Petit Brabancon variety, where the fur is short, tight, glossy and straight. The short coats are easier to groom. Coat colors include red (reddish brown with a little black at the whiskers and chin), belge (a mixture of red-brown and black usually with black mask and whiskers), black and tan (black with reddish brown markings under the chin, legs, above each eye, the edges of the ears and around the vent), and solid black.

Temperament
The Griffon is an intelligent cheerful dog with a terrier-like disposition. With lots of personality, they make a fine companion dog and are good with other dogs and cats. Affectionate, charming, lively and curious, they love everyone. The Griffon cannot live outside in a kennel. If you feed them table scraps, they may become greedy or picky eaters. May be difficult to housebreak. They make good watchdogs and can be taught to perform tricks. Because of this dogs almost human looking facial expression, they have not only been nicknamed "monkey face", but are prone to being treated as if they are not dogs, but little humans.

Height, Weight
Height: 7-8 inches (18-20cm)
Weight: 6-12 pounds (2.5-5.5kg)

Health Problems
Prone to slipped stifle, eyes and respiratory problems. Sensitive to the heat. Not the easiest whelpers, dams often require a cesarean section.

Exercise
These little dogs are very active indoors, however, like all dogs, they still need to be taken for a daily walk to fulfill a dog's primal instinct to walk.

Life Expectancy
About 12-15 years

Grooming
The coat of the Rough requires a lot of attention, however the coat of the pet dogs may be clipped. The Griffon sheds little to no hair.

Origin
There are three varieties of Griffon. The Brussels Griffon, Belgian Griffon and Petit Griffon. The Belgian Griffon has a long, wiry coat with fringe around the face. The Brussels Griffon has a wiry coat that is longer than the Belgian Griffon. The Petit Brabancon has a short, smooth coat. The Brussels Griffon was first shown at the Brussels Exhibition of 1880. An early example of the breed is depicted in a Van Eyck, the Flemish painter. Once kept by cab drivers of 17th century Brussels to rid their stables of vermin, the Brussels Griffon became a companion breed by virtue of its appealing character.

Some adorable Brussels Griffons and Brussels Griffon Mixes I have met recently at KC PAWS! All still up for adoption!

Honey


Sassy


Marley

Happy Tails: Belle the Boxer's Rescue Story - Kansas City Dog Photography

I love happy endings and the story of Belle the Boxer is a very special "happy tail". I met and photographed Belle's sweet face at KC PAWS a couple weeks ago. She did not even seem to realize she had a tumor the size of a grapefruit hanging from her shoulder. Generous donations came in to help with the surgery costs to remove this mass. Then I learned that one of my Facebook followers (secretly an angel in disguise) found Belle online and here is the story from her eyes:

Friday, November 5th I was home sick with a cold. I was in bed surfing the animal sites, cuddling my 15 month old boxer when I saw the cutest face with the words URGENT next to her. BELLE was her name. She was found with a cancerous tumor and they needed donations for surgery. We both decided that we wanted to donate to her surgery in memory of Sadie. We met Belle on Monday and took her a little care package and had lots of fun at PAWS. We had no plans on getting another dog as we have the fresh wounds of our two senior boxers passing away recently. We actually thought we could go donate, meet her, and leave. We gave the dogs treats and spent time getting to know Belle. We were hook, line, and sinker right then. She reminded us of our first boxer that recently passed away, Sadie, who was extremely special to us.

Sadie was the dog who made us fur parents. We had her for 12 years and she got us to fall in love with the boxer breed. After Sadie, we adopted Axe from a kill shelter, then Sarge was dumped as a 12 week old puppy. We have had lots of boxer experience from the young to the silver boxers. We love their funny personalities, their ability to become your fur kids, and the heavy duty paperweights they are that hold down your beds and couches. Belle was found by a lovely, awesome animal lover, Romy, that we met at PAWS the following Wednesday to introduce Sarge and Belle. They got along well considering Sarge has the adorable laid back personality of Eeyore. We kept in touch with Romy and later adopted Belle. Romy met us at the vet Friday the 12th after Belle's successful surgery.

She is adapting very well. She loves the beds, the couch, bones, treats, and dog food! She has some food aggression that we are working on, probably from having to find her own food when she was on her own. She doesn't always seem to think Sarge should eat. Sarge can't wait to play with her after her wound fully heals. She is gaining self esteem and confidence with crate training periods and reinforcement of love and trust. She is so wonderful. My husband Tim and I share our queen bed with two very gassy boxers! WOW! She went for shots today and got her stitches reinforced. She is wearing a t-shirt to keep her from licking her wound. She did not care for "the cone of shame!" The pathology from her mass will stage her cancer this week. Hopefully it will be a stage one or two. Prognosis of stage three is about a year. She has two little cysts we are watching now and will re evaluate in one month. She will get spayed in about one month when she is fully recovered. We are devoted to the best care and home she can have no matter how long she is with us. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed for good news. She has brought lots of joy and love to us already.

Before...


Cancerous mass removed!


The ride home...


Looking out the window the second day home after surgery....brighter days ahead.


Her care package...


Finding comfortable spots around her new home...

Adopt Me Please - Current Adoptables at KC P.A.W.S.

Now announcing more doggies up for adoption at KC P.A.W.S.! Most of these dogs featured below were recently rescued from puppy mills, in light of the Prop B - Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act that was passed on November 2. The measure will limit the number of breeding dogs to 50 per facility, but does not apply to breeders with 10 or fewer intact female dogs. The 50 breeding dog limit will help ensure the operations do not become overcrowded or spiral out of control, but will still allow individual breeders to sell hundreds of puppies each year. The law will enable Missouri to join several other states that have enacted similar laws through their state legislatures.

KC P.A.W.S. was formed in 2007 with the determination of working with animals in need. They specialize in working with animals who are the victims of abuse. They work in connection with local City and State agency’s to help investigate and report cases of cruelty and neglect as well as providing education and resources to the community on how to properly care for their animals. All dogs adopted from KC P.A.W.S. come with 6 months of free day care at A Dog's Fun Playce (a $2,700.00 value). All dogs adopted will be current on their vaccinations and spayed or neutered prior to their release.

To see current adoptables at KC P.A.W.S., visit their website http://www.kcpaws.org/ and click on "View our Adoptables."Please spread the word to others and promote adoption! For more information, call Sandi or Tiffani at 816-361-7829 or email kc.paws@Hotmail.com.

Meet Brian the Chihuahua!


Meet Miley the Yorkie!

Meet Rocky the Papillion!

Meet Barkley the Schnoodle!

Meet Dutchess the Maltese!

Meet Archie the Long-Haired Red Doxie!

Archie was named as part of the KC PAWS memorial naming program, choosing names for their rescue dogs, in memory of dogs that have recently passed away. The original Archie was a very close friend of KC PAWS, a Brittany Spaniel, and his owner asked if the new Archie could wear the old Archie's bandana with his name on it. She thought this would help her feel like things had gone full circle and a new beginning was coming from the loss of her best friend.

Meet Marley the Brussles Griffon!

Meet Roxy the Shepard mix!