Yesterday we announced our upcoming calendar photography competition. Competition will begin December 7, 2010. We are aware that photographing animals can be difficult, so we thought today we would give you a few tips on taking great shots of your pet.

Action shots work really well with pups and kittens.

1. Start with Your Pet’s Personality

Before you start photographing your pet ask yourself ‘what sets it apart from other animals?’ Think about what type of personality it has and then attempt to capture some of that in your shots. For example if everyone knows your pet as a sleepy, lazy or placid little thing set up your photo shoot around it’s bed or where it goes after a meal to lie in the sun and you’ll have every chance of capturing a shot that sums your pet right up. Alternatively if your pet is hyperactive, inquisitive and always on the move it might be better to do your shoot at a local park where it’s racing around, jumping for balls or playing with other animals.

2. Get in Close

Pets come in all shapes and sizes but in most cases they are smaller than a human and as a result they tend to end up getting a little lost in photos unless you make an effort to get up close to them. Of course getting close is not always easy, especially if

you have a pet that likes to move around, but it’s worth making the effort as the detail that can be gained and the personality that can be captured by an up close and personal photo shoot with a pet can really lift a photo to a new level. If you can’t physically get close to your pet get your camera equipped with a zoom lens. The added benefit of a long focal length is that it will help with isolating your pet in terms of depth of field (ie give you a nice blurry background so that your pet is the center of attention with no distractions).

See eye to eye with your pet for the best shot possible.

3. Get On Their Level

Get down on your pets level where you can look upon them eye to eye. Images taken by a photographer standing up and looking down on their level not only leave you too far away from your subject but they also mean the shots end up having a very ‘human perspective’. Getting down on your pets level means you enter their world and get a glimpse of what life looks like from their angle – you’ll be impressed by the results as they are more personal and have a real element of intimacy.

4. Lighting

Light makes any photograph what it is and when it comes to pets it’s especially important. In general I wouldn’t recommend using a flash as they tend to distract pets and in some cases will even frighten them. The other issue with flashes is that they can create spooky red-eye problems with some animals (in the same way they do with humans). Natural light is a much better option than using a flash and so where possible outside photo shoots tend to work best (or at least in a well lit window inside). The only exception I would give for using a flash is when your pet has very dark (or black) fur as it tends to absorb light and a flash can add detail. With dark fury pets you might want to slightly over expose your images for this same reason. Alternatively with white pets you run the risk of over exposing shots so try to find a location out of direct sunlight and definitely avoid a flash.

You get the best shots when your pet is unaware you are taking them.

5. Catch them Unawares

Posed shots can be fun and effective but one thing I love to do (whether it be with animals or people) is to photograph them candidly paparazzi style. I have very fond memories of stalking a friend’s dog as he played in a back yard one day. I took shots while he dug up flowers, as he buried a bone, as he fell chased a bee around and ask he sat contentedly with his head sticking out of his dog house. The whole time I photographed him he was barely aware of my presence so the shots were very natural without me distracting the dog from his ‘business’.

What ever you do BE CREATIVE! I can’t wait to see all the wonderful photos of your lucky rescue animals. Remember contest opens December 7, 2010. So get snapping!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

Pebbles Let's Adopt Canada's official canine ambassador!

This past weekend was my birthday weekend, we won’t mention which birthday, after all a lady never tells her age, but it was my birthday none the less. To celebrate, my poodles (together with my husband of course, the poodles can’t drive!) took me to the first annual Winter Woofstock, Toronto’s celebration of dogs and their owners. Now we always attend Woofstock in the summer, we have been doing so for the past four years, it is my biggest networking venture of the year. This weekends festival was no exception. It somehow seemed fitting that on the one weekend of the year when I get to do ANYTHING I want, that I could be found talking to strangers about rescuing animals and spaying and neutering their pets.

I spoke to many animal lovers this weekend, and one thing was clear in every conversation. Canadians are not happy with the state of animal welfare in their country. The good news is more and more of them are becoming involved in trying to change things. There were more rescue groups in attendance than I have ever seen at Woofstock, and I was asked more questions about fostering and adoption than I have ever been asked before. I wondered at first why I was being approached by so many, but then I realized that my rescued poodle Pebbles was Let’s Adopt Canada’s biggest ambassador.

Pebbles was a very shy shut down little dog when she came to me a year ago. She had no desire to be approached by anyone and clung to me like I was going to disappear any second. Now a year later, Pebbles trots around head held high greeting every person she sees with a wagging tail. She seems to instinctively know that life is different now, and has regained trust in people. She is one of my biggest success stories. Everywhere she went this weekend people started talking about animal rescue. The conversation usually goes a little like this;

Stranger: What an adorable little dog! She’s so friendly!

Me: Yes she is a friendly little girl, but she hasn’t always been this way.

Stranger: Oh?

Me: Yes Pebbles is a rescue…(and I tell the rest of her story)

The conversation always ends with me handing them a business card, my cards say simply this:

Janette Hamilton – Let’s Adopt Canada

Join us on Facebook and help save a life!

Read our daily blog at:

canada.myletsadopt.com

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

I gave out many cards this weekend and had many conversations about change, many more than usual. Pebbles gets people’s attention, it is for this reason that I am announcing Pebbles official appointment as Let’s Adopt Canada’s canine ambassador. Pebbles will now travel with me when I go out on Let’s Adopt business.

I would also like to announce our first fund raising project. Starting December 7, 2010 and running until boxing day, we will be looking for the faces of next years Let’s Adopt Canada calendars. So get out your cameras and start snapping winning photos. Is your cat or dog a star? Do they have a great rescue story? Can they be the faces of LA Canada’s first calendar?

More information on where to submit your photos will be coming in the next few days. You will be asked to submit a photo of your cat or dog, and tell us their rescue story. Rules are the animal must be a rescue, other than that be creative, (and tasteful.) In the end 12 dogs and 12 cats will become the first to grace the pages of our rescue calendars. When finished you will be able to purchase the calendars and all proceeds will go into LA Canada’s Gabby fund for use in our rescue work.

I can’t wait to see the photos of your wonderful rescue animals!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

I arrived home tonight to find a polite but disappointing message from the family who had applied to adopt our rescue Diva. Seems they have found another dog and did not see fit to inform me of this fact until now. So little Diva will be passed over again. So I am afraid that I now must politely rant about the situation. People if you apply to adopt a dog, why are you still out there looking? Once you have decided on a rescue, chosen the rescue and contacted the organization to say “I want that dog” why on earth would you continue to look for a dog elsewhere? These animals are not disposable, you don’t say “I want that dog” unless you truly mean it!

Luckily these people were not the only people interested in Diva, unfortunately those that were and were waiting in the wings to see if she would still be available have probably moved on. Diva has waited two years for a family of her own, this is not something that should have been done to her. So now, I appeal to those people who may have expressed interest and been told an adoption was in the works. Contact me, this little girl is now available once again, let’s get her home for Christmas!

Contact: Janette Hamilton janettehamilton@bell.net

Diva loves to run and play with her rescue pack members.

For just over a year now we have been personally fostering a little dog named Diva. Diva has just finished her rehabilitative training, and is now ready to find a forever home of her own. When she first came to us, Diva was a very shy and nervous little dog.  She had spent the first four years of her life with a woman who was fast becoming an animal hoarder. In a brief flash of clear thinking the woman had decided to give Diva up because she “didn’t have time for her.” I would later learn that this woman had picked up three puppies mere hours after leaving Diva with me.

Diva was underweight and her beautiful grey and white coat was matted, dull and lifeless, it was clear that she had not been properly groomed in quite some time. The first order of business was to get her cleaned up. I took her to see Amanda at The Urban Paw in my hometown of Barrie. Amanda always grooms my rescue dogs free of charge the first time they are groomed. She is a wonderful woman with a special touch when it comes to grooming rescues. I dropped off a sad forlorn little dog that hung her head and would barely look up at you. Two hours later I was ready to accuse poor Amanda of pulling a dog switch, because when I picked Diva up she walked out of the salon with her head held high and a bounce in her step! She was a completely different dog! It was the first step in a rehabilitation that would take over a year.

Today, Diva is a happy well adjusted little dog just waiting for a family and a home to call her own. She would like to go home for the holidays and celebrate the season with her new family. Wouldn’t you LOVE to give this gorgeous little girl the best Christmas present ever? There is an adoption pending on Diva but details have yet to be finalized.

Chloe's favorite spot to lounge the day away is a windowsill.

When Chloe came to us she had behavioral problems. However, since Chloe was vetted and spayed, all her behavioral issues have disappeared. She no longer marks her territory by peeing in random spots around the house and she has begun to act like any other lovable feline companion. Chloe’s problem wasn’t behavioral, it was caused by a severe infection of the uterus which affected her bladder control. Since she has been given antibiotics and has had tender loving care from her new foster parents, Chloe is thriving. She will make a great addition to any cat loving home.

Chloe is still waiting for that special person who will take her home and love her unconditionally for the rest of her life. Perhaps Chloe is the right feline companion for your family.

This is Storm. Storm is approximately 3 years old. She was born in the street, and never knew a kind human touch until being rescued and taken into foster care. Storm is a very skittish kitty and will need patience and love to become all she can be. She is still learning to trust humans, and as such tends to be independent fending for herself until she requires your attention. She was found during a storm so that is what we named her. Storm enjoys the company of other cats but is not sure about dogs. She is healthy now although her life truly did not start out that way, somewhere along the line she lost her tail, we are not sure how this happened, but it gives her a little quirk of character that makes her all the more endearing. Storm has been in foster care for a very long time and patiently awaits the day that she can leave for her forever home. Will that home be yours? A foster or permanent home is needed for Storm.

These three wonderful animals need a forever home before the holidays. They do not have to be homed together, they just need their own family for Christmas, it is their only Christmas wish.  Can you make their wish come true?

The Usual Let’s Adopt conditions apply:

1. MUST have at least one other animal.
2. Diva, Storm, and Chloe will have a family life inside the home not in the yard.
3. Diva, Storm, and Chloe will be fed a raw diet (www.rawfed.com)

Contact Janette Hamilton;  janettehamilton@bell.net

Spending the holidays away from home this year? For some of you that means traveling with pets for others it means finding someone to care for your pets while you are away. Either way it pays to plan ahead.

There are a list of things to remember when traveling with your pet.  That list may differ slightly depending on your mode of transportation. When traveling by motor vehicle remember to have a good supply of clean fresh drinking water on hand, as well as a bowl for your pet to drink from. Be sure to have leashes, and harnesses at the ready to use at rest stops. Don’t forget the poop bags! It is also a good idea to spread an old blanket or sheet on the seat of your vehicle to keep it clean.

Small dogs and cats should be crated when traveling to keep them safe. Be sure to anchor the crate in the vehicle to keep it from being thrown about and injuring your pet. Medium and large breed dogs should wear seat belt restraints which prevent them from being tossed about the inside of a vehicle in an accident. Use of these restraints also prevent the animal from interfering with the driver’s ability to control the vehicle, yet still gives the animal comfortable range of movement.

You will need to make rest stops every two to three hours to allow your pet to stretch their legs and relieve themselves. Be sure to offer water and a bit of an exercise every time you stop.

If you are crossing the border or flying to your holiday destination remember to have all of your pets necessary paperwork ready. You wouldn’t want Fido or Fluffy to be left behind because their papers were missing.

If you will be needing hotel accommodations make sure to book ahead of time and make sure your accommodations are pet friendly. A great resource for finding pet friendly hotels is PetTravel.com you will also find information on traveling with pets.

Check with your airline to be sure that you understand their pet policy before booking your flight. Make sure that your travel crate meets the airline’s guidelines for your pets weight and size. On flight day, arrive at the airport with plenty of time to check Fido and Fluffy in. Make sure you have the correct paperwork at hand. Have a nice flight!

Not all pet hotels are this luxurious, but they will take very good care of your best friend.

Traveling this holiday season but can’t take the furry portion of the family? You have quite a few options when it comes to pet care. You can of course leave your pets with a willing friend or relative, you can hire a pet sitter, or you can take your pets to a “pet hotel.”  Should you choose to opt for the pet sitter or the pet hotel, please be sure to check references, and if possible speak to past clients before leaving your beloved pet in their care. Be sure to tour kennel facilities to ensure that they are clean and well heated, and that your dog or cat will be comfortable. Who is caring for your pet and what the quality of that care is should not be a mystery. If you are not comfortable in a facility chances are your pet won’t be either so trust your instincts. Talk to friends and ask your vet for recommendations of pet hotels and holidays kenneling facilities near you. Be sure to leave your pet in the best of hands when you have to be away. If you ask questions and do not get satisfactory answers move on. Remember you want a responsible care giver for your pet so be 100% sure that is what you are getting!

Have a great Holiday Season!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette

Christmas is just around the corner, and many of us are starting the nightmare marathon that is Christmas shopping. Some of you may have a request for a pet on that Christmas list, and if you have decided this is the year you will bring a pet into your home, there are a few things you should consider before heading out to find the perfect pet.

There are many options when choosing a pet, you have many animals to choose from, but if a cat or dog is what you are looking for, may I suggest a shelter pet? Sure you COULD go to a pet store and pick out a puppy or kitten, but do you really want to support puppy and kitten mills? Do you really want to purchase a pet whose health is questionable? Of course not! You could search out a breeder and buy a pup or kitten from them, OR you could save a life and rescue a shelter pet. I have always opted for the shelter pet. As a matter of fact I have never considered anything else when looking for a pet.

There are many options when looking for a rescue pet. You can search online for rescue groups in your area with adoptable pets. A great resource to use is the petfinder web site. To check it out go here; Petfinder. There are many rescue groups with Facebook pages, they showcase adoptable pets on a daily basis, most are eager to help you find that perfect furry companion. If you have checked online and found nothing that appeals to you perhaps it is time to load up the family vehicle and take a trip to the local shelter. Wonderful animals await families in shelters all over North America.

Whatever you choose to do please remember that if you buy from a pet store, you will be supporting the abuse of thousands of animals in puppy and kitten mills. However if you choose a rescue pet, you will get a loving companion, and save a life at the same time.

Giving the gift of a feline or canine companion to a loved one can be a wonderful gift, however there are a few things that you should consider before rushing out to buy.

1.) Have you discussed this gift with the giftee? By this I mean are you 100% sure that the person receiving your warm fuzzy gift is prepared to take on the responsibility for a pet? Far too often people purchase animals as gifts, only to have them end up in the shelter system because the giftee did not want to take on the responsibility for the daily care of a pet.

2.) Are you 100% sure that the pet you have chosen is the right size and species for your giftee? By this I mean make sure the breed sex and species of your gift are correct for the giftee. You wouldn’t give your 70 year old grandmother a great dane puppy when an adult toy poodle would be more suitable. Very often furry Christmas gifts end up in shelters because they grow too big or are not the right type of pet for the giftee.

3.) Have you taken into consideration the living space of your giftee? For example, when purchasing a pet for cousin Joe who lives in a trailer park, you are not going to purchase a Newfoundland retriever or a St. Bernard, but may instead opt for a Jack Russel or a domestic shorthaired cat.

4.) Is there room in your giftee’s life for a pet? For example, if cousin Flo works twelve hour days, and is seldom home, a dog would not be a good gift for her, but an independent cat would be more suitable. If Grandma is in a wheelchair, a cat would be a better choice for her than a dog that must be walked several times a day.

A pet is a wonderful gift that brings joy for years to come. Pets make great gifts, as long as the person receiving them is ready to take on the responsibility. Before giving the gift of a pet make certain that it is a gift that will be well received.

Have a great Holiday Season,

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

Janette