It's not every day you get to meet an angel walking among us. But I can confidently say that's the best way to describe the amazing dog-mom I met a couple weeks ago, Melissa. For most of us pet parents, it's the senior years of our pets life that we dread the most. The time when muzzles turn grey, and hips don't work as well as they used to. These are the years when we are tested to return all the love we've been given in the early days and be there for our pets through the toughest part of life. But for reasons I can't fathom, many senior dogs find themselves without a home. With their years coming short and medical considerations getting longer the odds of getting adopted are bleak.
But some dogs get lucky enough to meet someone like Melissa. For most of us, our pets aging is something we hope to put off as long as possible. But Melissa puts her heart on the line and adopts hospice dogs. She believes they deserve a warm bed and loving home through their golden years and is there to provide it. While I can't comprehend how anyone could give away their senior dog after so many years of love, I am deeply grateful and humbled that there are people like Melissa willing to give dogs like Bella & Beatrice a loving retirement.
This sweet pair of old gals were treated to a beautiful clear morning on Lookout Mountain. A celebration of their wisdom & beauty and all the love that still radiates from their beautiful greyed faces. As I rolled (and slid a little) into the ice covered parking area. I was elated to find a recent snow storm had dumped lovely fresh powder for us to enjoy.
As soon as 15 year old Bella got out of the car it was evident her age and years as a Rez-dog had caught up to this sweet girl. And I knew that we'd be limited to photographing at the trailhead. Fortunately, what would have been a muddy mess was covered by several inches of glittery fresh snow that sparkled in the bright sunshine. Blending in perfectly with the sherpa lined blanket I brought to keep these girls snuggly warm despite the chill in the air.
When I talk about dog photography, I often have people tell me they think puppies would be the hardest to photograph. It makes sense, they're high energy, always on the move and generally haven't learned their "sit" or "stay". The truth though, is that puppies find everything in the world interesting and exciting. So it's easy to convince them to look this way or that with just a fun sound or toss of a stick. Figuring out how to be interesting to a dog who's seen and done it all in their 15 years of life is a whole other challenge. While Bella was super cooperative in her willingness to just relax on the snuggly blanket in the warm sunshine, getting her to look interested required bringing out the big guns- the squeaky ball! This also tested me in a "pat your head & rub your stomach" kinda way as I tried to squeak, toss, and catch the ball over my own head with my left hand while operating my camera with my right. Needless to say, I'm not really that coordinated. But to capture the perk in Bella's ears was worth bonking myself a hundred times over. Never one to just tease a dog with a tennis ball, every few snaps I would offer Bella the ball as a reward. But I'd find myself perplexed by her unwillingness to accept it. That's when Melissa told me, "she doesn't want you to give it to her, you have to throw it". And my heart broke a little. Bella could barely walk but her heart wanted to chase the ball. So I tossed the ball to her, being sure it landed within her reach.
One of the things I love most about Lookout Mountain is the view, of course! But the way the trail and the trees align, it's almost impossible to photograph a dog with the stunning view behind them! So when we arrived at the Buffalo Bill Museum parking lot, and I could see that the top of the snow berm lined up perfectly with the epic view, I couldn't help but take advantage of it. After climbing up myself to ensure it was safe for Beatrice.
At just 10 years old, spry Beatrice is the young'un of the household. She found herself without a family last year when her person passed away. Perhaps a reminder to all of us to make arrangements for our pets to be cared for after we've gone. Lucky for Beatrice, Melissa was there to provide a soft place to land & spend her golden years.
Beatrice was equally ready to snuggle on the blanket as she was to explore the deep snow.
While the golden years of a dog's life can be the most trying, we owe it to them to make those years the very best we can! Every session with every dog I photograph is close to my heart. But it's the Legacy sessions which feel the most sacred. These are the images which carry on beyond the Rainbow Bridge.
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