A little never-ending rain didn’t stop the Suds on Sunday event today at the Royal Poochie Salon in Mesa.  There was a steady stream of people and their furry family coming out to support Mayday Pit Bull Rescue.  Mayday Pit Bull Rescue & Advocacy is devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and securing placement for pit bull and pit bull mixes into responsible, permanent and loving homes.

It was a wet and wild day!

It looks like this little cutie enjoyed the experience and came out looking squeaky clean!  The Mayday volunteers did an awesome job cleaning these pups up!

There was also a handful of beautiful and sweet dogs looking for loving homes. I fell in love with every single one of them.  This is Hurley and he is a total sweetheart and cuddle-bug and he is looking for love. If you are interested in Hurley, please contact Mayday.

These two babies are also looking for their forever home.  They were all so well behaved and enjoyed being out and seeing everyone and their furry friends come out to support them.

Some more cuties showing up for their baths!!

It was a fun day for a great cause at the Royal Poochie Salon in Mesa.  If you are looking for a new furry family member, please adopt, and please head on over to Mayday’s website to check out all the sweet dogs looking for love.  Thanks!

Bring them out to the Suds on Sunday event next Sunday 2/28/10 from 12-5pm at the Royal Poochie Salon! This is going to be one big fun event with food, music, vendors, raffle prizes, pro skateboard demonstrations and more! Don’t have a dirty dog yet? No problem! There will also be adoptable dogs looking for a bath and a loving home!

This event benefits the Mayday Pit Bull Rescue Group and all monies raised will go directly towards necessary surgeries for a couple of their rescued dogs.  Mayday Pit Bull Rescue & Advocacy and its volunteers were recently awarded the ‘Hero Central’ Award by 12 News Phoenix. The award recognized Mayday for its ongoing efforts to save, rehabilitate, and place pit bulls in loving homes.  This is a great group doing great things for Pit Bulls, the most misunderstood and abused breed.

I’ll be donating a $250 Photo Session for the raffle so come on out and bid! Not only will you get a fun photo session capturing memories of your furry family, the money will go towards saving furry friends in need!!

The Royal Poochie Salon
6740 E. University Drive, Suite 103
Mesa, AZ  85205
(480) 832-1954

• $10 dog wash
• $5 nail clip
• $20 for dog wash, nail clip, and toothbrushing

No Appointment Necessary!!!

No post is complete without a photo- so here is an old photo of one of my all-time favorite Pit Bulls – Roxie! She is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. She had a rough start in life but is now living with loving, responsible parents and she is just the sweetest happy-go-lucky girl.

It’s Bobby Bear!! Bobby Bear is a Chow mix with a stylish lion cut, but don’t let his looks fool you, he is far from fierce!  Bobby is a complete teddy bear and he was a blast to work with.

I hope everyone is sharing their love today, whether it’s with your spouse, lover, friend, family member, someone in need or even a furry friend. Happy Valentine’s Day!

When I was visiting my sister in Boston over Thanksgiving, I was a total tourist. I walked around the entire city (not hard to do, it’s actually pretty small) with my camera. One day I was in the Public Garden shooting away when I spotted a beautiful Weimaraner in wheels walking with his guardian. I was instantly intrigued and touched by their bond. They both wore red jackets and it was obvious they were the best of friends as they walked in sync under the beautiful trees. I scrambled to get my long lens on and snapped a couple photos. I had to catch up and find out about this couple. The Weimaraner’s name was Kepler. His guardian was very active and took Kepler with him on his adventures and this and old age is what led to Kepler’s injuries. Kepler had just received these wheels and was excited to be able to get out and about again. I snapped a few photos and we went off on our separate ways.  I went on to take more touristy photos of the garden.  As I started shooting I realized in all my excitement to hurry and change my lens to snap photos of Kepler, I inadvertently changed my ISO to 1600. Great! I was bummed.  Anyway, this morning I happened upon a fellow Pet Photographer, Fat Orange Cat Studio’s Blog. OMG! There was a photo of Kepler! Li (who by the way is an amazing Pet Photographer and located in Boston) had encountered Kepler the same way and place I did. Reading her blog entry, my heart sank as I read that Kepler had passed in December. Not even knowing Kepler, it is obvious he led a full life and was loved very much.  I imagine his guardian is missing his best friend.

At the close of another year, we gratefully paws to wish you a warm and happy holiday season.  Whatever is beautiful. Whatever is meaningful. Whatever brings you happiness. May it be yours this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

OK, Ok…I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the best blogger! It’s been over a month since my last post and so much has happened! With the blink of an eye, November came and went!

It all started with stones….

Unfortunately, not the shiny kind you wear on your fingers, neck or ears.  My November started with excruciating pain which led to a trip to the ER where I learned I had a 5mm kidney stone near my bladder.  The Dr. said it was on the verge of being too big to pass and so I left the ER with stone, hoping it would pass.  In the meantime, there were many mini holiday sessions to be shot.  Shooting, editing and card designing kept my mind off the pain of my stone (OK, as well as the very strong pain meds).  Flash forward a couple weeks ahead and all of my mini sessions were successfully wrapped, clients are happy and it was time for my holiday vacation, but first not without another trip to the ER.  Once again in excruciating pain, pain that even the strongest pain medication couldn’t subside, I made my way to the ER.  Like a pregnant woman in her 10th month, I cried for the doctors to remove this tiny sharp crystal stone out of me!  So into surgery I went! They blasted the stone into 5 pieces with a laser then scooped them out.  Oops, is this TMI (too much information)? Anyway, a couple days later I was released from the hospital, stone free and ready to board my plane to Newark!

You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl….

Pain free and still in a Morphine and Percocet haze, I boarded the plane to beautiful Newark, NJ.  OK, maybe it’s not that beautiful. From Newark I went to Bloomfield, the place where I grew up.

I met up with my best childhood friend, Gail, and we toured our old neighborhood.  It’s amazing how in 30 years, everything looks the same! I had a great day reminiscing with Gail and her parents and it was so amazing to see them after 30 years,  it was like I never left.  I wish I had more time to visit.  From Bloomfield, it was off to Jersey City where I stayed at one of the most comfortable hotels I have ever been in, the Westin Newport.

I have to say, being the type of person who is usually repulsed by hotel rooms (I usually sleep with my clothes on and brings my own Body Works room spray), the two nights I spent there were very comfortable (I even slept in my PJ’s under the covers! I know, I’m a freak). The location was excellent, right across the street from the Hudson River waterfront and just a short Path ride to NY and Hoboken. I had dinner in the Fire and Oak restaurant one night and the food was yummy!

Big balloons, NY bagels, Pizza and Cannolis….

As a quasi vegetarian (I don’t eat anything with a beak) and a picky eater, Turkey day has never been one of my most favorite holidays, however, my favorite part of Thanksgiving has always been the Macy’s Parade.

Everyone Loves a Parade!

Kermit

Cindy Lauper

Horton Hears a Who

Ho, Ho, Ho!

The Doughboy makes his debut!

Santa's New Sleigh (first year for this float)

It isn’t the Holiday Season yet until you see Santa floating in the Macy’s Parade!

Being at the parade in person was such an awesome experience.  At first, I was nervous, as I have never been a fan of big crowds and after hearing that 3 million people were attending the parade, I almost decided not to go.  I got up early, and it was going to be such a beautiful day, the weather was sunny and warm, no rain as expected the night before,  so I hopped on the Path and headed into NYC.  I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the 3 million people who attended and all of the police who kept the event under control. The parade even took a new route this year.  It was a blast! There was no pushing, shoving and everyone was in a festive mood.  The parade was over and there weren’t any mad rushes and people just wandered the streets, eating, sight seeing, and even shopping.  There were some amazing holiday window displays, my favorite was Lord and Taylor.

Of course I could not leave NYC without having a NY bagel, a slice of pizza and a cannoli.  The best Thanksgiving ever!

After the Parade...

The Characters You Meet When You’re Walking Down The Street….

Times Square, Chicago Cast Members

Street Performer

Vendor

Beantown….

The day after Thanksgiving I walked around Hoboken and visited the WTC before hopping on the Amtrak to Boston to visit my sister.  I had a great time in Boston roaming the city for five days and hanging with my sis and her boyfriend.

My Sister Robyn and I in Harvard Square Rockin our Double Chins

They took me to Ogunquit, Maine where I had the BEST lobster bisque I have ever tasted!

Jackie's Too

I missed taking photos of dogs so much, I was going through puppy withdrawal...until I saw this cute little BT named Boscoe in Maine, I got so excited, I think his owners thought I was nuts!

Home Sweet Home….

Feeling a little “hungover” from November, too many cannolis, bagels, pizza, and lobster rolls in my stomach, and over 1,000 photos to edit, it feels good to be home and I am anxious to get back to business!!  I feel refreshed and re-energized and have so many ideas for the new year.  Stay tuned for new packages, special collaborative events, giveaways and furry fun!! Oh, forgot to mention that Modern Pet Furtography was voted a favorite in the Tails Magazine, Readers Choice Awards! A BIG thanks to all those who voted!! It’s been almost one year in business and I owe a GREAT HUGE THANKS to all my clients, family and friends who have made this journey so fun and exciting!! Without you, Modern Pet Furtography wouldn’t exist!

Saturday December 5th I’ll be at The First Annual AGN Holiday Pet Parade and Festival in Cave Creek taking photos of you and your pets with Santa Paws! Walk with your pet in the parade and then stop by and see me for your photo! Hope to see you there!

Paws and Love!

Andrea

Two fun filled events going on this weekend, check them out!

Adoption event and Pet Blessing ~ FranciscanOct2009

Pit Bull Awareness Day Celebration ~ http://www.maydaypitbullrescue.org/documents/Mayday_PBAD_flyer.pdf

Back in March I had the pleasure of shooting the cutest little 3 month old Pug mix named Spencer.   I was soooo excited when I had the opportunity to shoot Spencer on Saturday…all grown up at 1o months old.  It was unseasonably warm Saturday morning at 102 degrees and Spencer was a little trooper!  This was Spencer in March, so tiny his momma could hold him in the palm of her hand!

Spencer 3/09

Spencer cooling off in the grass

Spencer wondering where that strange 'clucking' sound is coming from....

Saturday, I met one of the most beautiful, sweet Great Danes and her name was Daisy.  She had the most amazing eyes, one blue, one amber,  and a beautiful white coat.  Unfortunately, the combination of her beautiful white coat and amazing light eyes,  most likely, was the reason for her deafness. She was such a happy, sweet girl, you would never know she was deaf.  She was very friendly and very curious.  Even though it was a hot 102 degrees out, it was such a fun session.  Daisy was a supermodel and her momma wasn’t bad either. They were both great sports, even when the sprinklers came on and got them soaked! Thanks Marcie and Daisy! I hope you enjoy the photos!

Daisy and her momma Marcie

Marcie and Daisy were great sports when the sprinklers came on during our shoot!