Temecula Pet Photographer, Wandering Woof Photography has even more reasons to celebrate!
This year at WWP has been truly a wonderful one. I've been helping fundraiser for local animal rescues, partnered with a few pet stores, photographed over 40 dogs and grew social media followers. Now, I have one more thing to be grateful for...
Meet Max!
In July of this year, my husband, James and I decided it was time to get a dog. As a pet photographer, it felt strange not having a dog of my own to photograph along with the many others I have the privilege of photographing in my business. We have been pet parents to many family dogs throughout the years, but this was the first time as retired, empty nesters!
Our Journey with Max
It all started last year in Vermont. We were hiking during our fall foliage trip there and we came upon a girl and her dog. James held her dog and it became smitten with him! He never had a dog of his own and it was sweet to see this interaction. When we arrived at the parking lot after our hike, we came upon two gorgeous Aussies. He said, "Now those are the kind of dogs I would want to get if I ever got a dog!". I didn't take him seriously, but once he retired in June, he kept bringing up the idea. I knew I wanted to adopt and we started to search Aussie rescues.
A lucky break!
One morning in July, I decided to give Adopt-a-Pet a try as we were striking out with the rescues. Low and behold, Max's photo popped up. It turned out that his owner still had him, but needed to rehome him as he was relocating. We drove to his home that evening. It was a match made in heaven. My husband bonded immediately with Max! We drove him home and introduced him to my husband's other love: our pool!
Let the adventures begin!
Perhaps the most poignant part of this story is that James made the decision to get healthy this year. He knew an active dog, one that would need a lot of exercise and adventure would keep him motivated to keep at it. It's working! Max and James walk 3 miles, sometimes twice, a day! Max occasionally swims with him as well. And once the weather cools off, we plan to start hiking again at our local nature preserve with Max. Another love we have is wine and our first trip with Max to a Temecula Winery was a success! He was a perfectly behaved sweetie, meeting lots of winery staff and patrons.
Model Max
The other great thing for me having a new dog is having a new model! Many pet photographers use their own dogs to work on their skills. James and I took Max out for his first session and he nailed it! It was a pro! I can't wait to do more sessions once the weather cools off!
Three local dog rescues
As the saying goes, "Adopt, Don't Shop" and "Who Rescued Who?" goes, adopting is a noble thing to do. Here are three local Temecula Valley animal rescues to consider:
Sale Ranch
From their website:
Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary, located off-grid in Temecula, California, is dedicated to rescuing and providing refuge to animals discarded by the food industry, offering hospice care for senior horses, and elevating care standards through high-level medical attention. What sets us apart is our unique combination of advanced animal care and commitment to sustainability. As a 100% off-grid sanctuary, we lead in regenerative gardening practices, reinvesting in the land for a sustainable future. By promoting a plant-based lifestyle and empowering our community through advocacy, we are doing our part to inspire change from the existing food system and create a compassionate world for all species.
Email: info@saleranch.org
Domino Effect Animal Rescue
From their website:
Domino Effect Animal Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no kill animal rescue located in Temecula Valley, CA. We are dedicated to lowering the number of adoptable animals being euthanized due to space restrictions in local shelters. For every animal we rescue, we not only save that life, but we help reduce some of the overcrowding that leads to nearly a million pets being euthanized annually in county shelters. We provide care and compassion for each animal in our rescue until they find a loving, forever home!
Email: info@dominoanimalrescue.org
A Passion for Paws
From their website:
A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of
Akitas and other dogs in need. We rescue and support dogs including veterinary costs, food and
temporary housing until the dogs can be adopted into their forever homes. We are a NO KILL
rescue organization that survives entirely on donations. We are these shelter dogs' last hope!
Email: apassionforpaws@gmail.com
