i've been spending a lot of time
close to home
using tools in my garden, and my garden as a tool
this is part one.

Moro + Saru on film 
Thetis Lake, 2014.
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After many years, I’ve finally confirmed who this dog is and who his human is (thanks M!) and sent it to them outta the blue because I know I’d wanna see other people’s  of my dogs. Moro’s mom said it made her day, so yay! 
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So just to clarify, if anyone has  of my dogs, I wanna see them! 
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More from this outing HERE!

A few weeks ago I got to meet Pow Pow.
The opportunity came from an old friend, who wanted to gift his humans with something to celebrate him, as Pow Pow wasn't well.

For dogs like Pow Pow that have been through the shelter system, re-homed, given away, discarded - I want to make sure they get to take up space in this world. I want to share their stories, their names and some photographs that give a glimpse into a moment of their life. If they were forgotten about at one time, I want to do my part to make sure they won't be again. And part of that storytelling is providing the photos in a digital monograph format so families can scroll through images in a way that helps tell the story of their pet, as I saw them.

For Pow Pow, this was him on April 15, 2021. Whatever health issues he was fighting, he had this evening to show me a part of him. He shared with me his silly, fun, inquisitive side. How he loves rolling on his back in the grass - sometimes with his frisbee in his mouth. Sniffing the ocean air. Chasing sticks into the water - and not bringing them back. Barking for treats. And moments of quiet and rest in the shade from the sun of the warm spring day.

Here are some of those moments... of how I saw Pow Pow and his family. 

Thanks to his friends (M+L) for providing me with the chance to meet this special guy, and to his family (L + P) for taking such amazing care, catering to all his whims and fancies and showing him true love, during this difficult time. 

Meet Massa, the bulldog with two perfect bottom teeth.
Apparently they're the only thing that won’t need vet intervention at this time. Actually, her teeth and her weight. Massa has a great body shape and is a comfortable 69lbs.

Sweet Massa had been living tied up outside until recently and if you know my advocacy work for sled dogs, you’ll know how I feel about this. (if you don’t, I invite you to visit www.iwasasleddog.com)
Massa is now in the care of the Victoria Bulldog Society (VBS) and being treated for ear and skin infections. She's also getting much-needed cartrophen injections and will be getting some big work soon - entropion surgery for both eyes as well as two surgeries for two torn knees. 
This gal has a bit of a road ahead over her.

When I met her today, I can tell you is that she is an absolute doll! She came right up to get a sniff, taking no issue with meeting me as a stranger. She also gave me some some bum wiggles because she was loving the bum scratches I was giving her. Our visit was short, but sweet and she had no fear of my camera (good thing because she's very photogenic!) and she showed off her adorable little ears by perking them up when I said her name - which is new to her - she's learning fast!
 
Thank you VBS for taking her in and helping her on her road to recovery. Once her medical issues are under control she’ll be available for adoption and no doubt, will find her spot on the couch of her new home... and never leave it.

VBS is currently fundraising to help with her medical care so if you have a moment, check out more about this girl as well updates on the great work of VBS at: www.facebook.com/VictoriaBulldogSociety

For the group photo below, the dogs sorted themselves out smallest to largest - Gerty, Tonic, Massa - or for you coffee drinkers “tall, grande, venti” .
Tonic is also featured in posts from December 12, 2020,  and both Tonic and Gerty in  January 2021 as well as the video "goobers, never-ending goobers" that I posted in February 2021.


And if you’re thinking ‘one of these dogs is not like the others’, that’s Harley. He and Gerty are permanent family members.
xo

Please click on each photo to see its full size.

It was my birthday yesterday which means even more reminiscing than usual.

So as I was going through some folders on my computer I came across this photograph.

I learned photography on a film camera back in high school. it was a Minolta that I'd bought from my next door neighbour when I was 17 and it cost me $75. Interestingly it re-sells for more than that these days.
I used it a lot - even taking it to New York when I was in grade 12 - but these days it does a lot of sitting around. The work I've been doing requires an element of immediacy - or at least longer than it would take for me to get film developed, choose prints, get prints developed. There's an expectation when you're photographing on a job vs. shooting for yourself. 
I've been missing those 'happy accidents' that would turn up sometimes on film.

This is one of them - a double exposure of my grape vine and dog Suzy in my backyard on June 19, 2013. It's one of 2 double exposures that were on this roll of film and I just love them.

Back in December I met and photographed a lovely English Bulldog named Tonic. She was in the care of the Victoria Bulldog Society (VBS) and awaiting dental surgery. She needed it badly. So many of her teeth were just rotten and the inside of her mouth looked incredibly painful with inflammation.

Last week, the old sweetie got her dental surgery and while under anesthetic she got her ears cleaned and some lumps and bumps removed. She's doing amazing - her stitches come out this week and although her ears are still giving her problems (currently under investigation), she's living it up by trundling around her neighbourhood, meeting new friends,  looking as cute as ever... and napping.

I met up with her again and finally got to meet her foster brother Tanker and Gertie, the permanent fixture with VBS.

When I arrived, all three dogs came up to me to investigate and the first photo below is the result. Catching dogs in that moment of investigation and interest in a new person can work to my advantage. And although I caught a couple more of the three of them together - a little more posed with a bit more help from Mel - this was completely unposed and it gave the dogs the chance to show their true, interested selves.

A couple visitors came to the park while we were there - Rio and Casper - so Tonic and Gertie greeted in their bulldog-y way. All snorts and snuffles and awkward play. 

We finished off with a group photo, showing Mel, the founder of VBS who does it all. 
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These photo sessions are part of a larger project coming up (which I'm so excited about), so can only share a few photos  at the moment. I hope you enjoy!​

Today I met Tonic, an English Bulldog in the care of Victoria Bulldog Society. 

This girl has thankfully landed in the lap of someone who can help her and ensure she gets the medical care she needs... and yes, that includes a dental.

I fell in love the moment I saw her waddle down the grassy hill. She's almost 11 and pretty deaf so getting her to actually look at the camera was a bit of a challenge, but it was fun making sounds and confusing everyone at the park. 
She was a bit drooly (see photo below) and a lot sweet.

I'm hoping she'll be part of a larger project in the new year (fingers crossed), so for now, I share these two images.

If you're interested in learning more about her, or donating to her care, you can visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBulldogSociety