Visiting Mally

MALLY NEEDED HER favorite sitters for three days. So guess where she wanted to stay? Uncle Chris and Aunt DeeDee's home, of course!

Mally loves to chase her ball, so we headed to our local park. I'd launch her ball several times with the "Chuck-It" then give her a chance to lay and rest for a few moments, out comes my camera, I shoot for two minutes and we do it all over again until an hour passes. It does help that she's so photogenic and could care less that I'm taking advantage of her care-free attitude.

Once again, Mally steals our hearts away, while her parents
are on holiday.


The look I received just before Mally willed me to get off my computer and get outside for some Play-Time!






































This was during Mally's cool down period, just before it was time to get into my Pathfinder and go home. It's a good thing I always carry two towels in my rig at all times!

Spencer and Soldier

Words by the owner

Spencer and Soldier are both bi-color Persians adopted through the same mostly-Persian shelter. There’s a 10-year difference in their ages.

Spencer (11 year-old) was put up for adoption as a kitten and spent time in a couple of foster homes. He had never been an only pet, always part of a big family of cats and dogs. His old health records show that he’s had many names, including the very appropriate “Zorro” considering his black mask and cape-like markings. Spencer was his most recent name.



When I met him, I was in the worse pet rebound: I had lost three of my closest cat friends to age-related diseases (16-, 17- and 19-year olds) within a four-month stretch. My home was void of pets for the first time in many years.

Spencer impressed me in the shelter, and they felt he might get to more fully develop his personality as the only pet in a household for a change. He settled in with me just fine, both of us being fond of routines. He didn’t seem to mind jazz very much (not that he had a choice). He’s always pretty serious, and likes to watch more than participate. He’s a lap cat only on his own terms, and even then will depart abruptly after short periods. He’s not a big eater and that bothers me. I’m always looking for a new food that he’ll show special interest in.

After having Spencer alone for 15 months, the same shelter introduced me to Soldier, a 14-month old. He had been turned into the Humane Society in Portland as a stray, and his coat was badly matted from lack of grooming. The mostly-Persian shelter brought him to Issaquah, waiting until the cuts from a severe haircut cleared up before offering him for adoption.



In the shelter, he was the popular prankster, playing with all the other cats when the cage doors were open for cleaning. They wanted to find a good home for him and figured, since he clearly got along with other cats, he’d be a good fit for Spencer and me.



Of course, neither Spencer nor I had spent any time around a toddler cat in a long time. Soldier has this indefatigable energy—he wants to play from sun up to midnight. He demands play from me, extreme laser pointer attack in particular.



He worships Spencer and so wants to be his constant companion. Spencer doesn’t hiss at Soldier, but he does growl when he feels his personal space is being invaded. And if Spencer runs from the scene, Soldier is on his flank in chase.



Spencer was declawed as a kitten, and I’ve witnessed him deliver to Soldier these rapid paw slaps that have no bite. It seems to have conditioned Soldier to deliver the same type of clawless swats when he plays or tries to get my attention. I honestly believe Spencer has trained him to not use the claws.



Soldier has big appetites beyond play. He eats everything, and demands attention more than Spencer. He also needs grooming more than Spencer, with severe eye stain calling for daily face cleaning.



Soldier has the energy level and rowdy demeanor of the actor Jack Black. Spencer is so much more serious, graceful and often withdrawn, much as the actor Anthony Hopkins. Think of those personalities as housemates!



I think we’re growing into a good unit, and I am so grateful for the time I can share with these guys.

Sweet Annie

ANNIE WAS A RESCUE from the Seattle Humane Society. She brought loyalty, mischief, laughter, companionship and unconditional love to the Johnson family. Her breed is half treeing dog, half coonhound and maybe a little something else. She was such a sweetheart that always had a soul-searching gaze in her eyes. I was given an amazing opportunity to capture her spirit, character and personality at her home on a drizzly, cloudy day in the northwest.

I will never forget the two hours I spent with Annie during the photo session. She seemed pretty chipper and energetic enough to climb on the sofa, even though she knew there was something different about “legally” lounging on the sofa! Or being told to take treats and shredded cheese from the counter-top without getting in trouble. She loved the attention because she was being fed an endless amount of treats while paying no attention to the camera guy, sitting, laying and standing over her. Annie naturally and peacefully passed away five days later, just after her family arrived home to gather around her.

Annie had an incurable autoimmune blood disease that took her life at the young age of seven. She will be dearly missed.

May God bless her soul.

Taz and Houie

THESE TWO CANINE buddies I describe as, a one track mind of "ball" (Houie on left) and a bull in a china shop (Taz on right). They were such a fun pair to photograph at their home. They've been inseparable since Taz was brought home as a pup over four years ago when Houie was six years old. They are both slobbering sweethearts and love lounging on the front deck of their home, watching for any and all things in the neighborhood.