Cats, Dogs... Pigs? Truly Something for Everyone at the Humane Society of Knox County

To close out my week featuring the Humane Society of Knox County in Rescue ME, I spent the afternoon chilling with some of my very favorite people and pets. HSKC is home to nearly two hundred cats at the moment, between those housed at the shelter and those kept in foster homes, as well as between fifteen and twenty dogs at any given time. They also house rabbits, parakeets, guinea pigs, and just about anything else that will fit inside the small shelter and is in need of a home. This week, that means they are also home to a pink and white pig named Poppy, who I found entirely by accident snoring contentedly in the corner of a dog kennel. Poppy was the final survivor in an animal cruelty case in Etna, Maine, where a number of horses and other farm animals were found in need of rescue. Because the lighting wasn't great, she was difficult to photograph, but here's my shot of Poppy the Pig:



In addition to Poppy the Pig, there were of course a ton of cats of all shapes and sizes to choose from. HSKC has a great community feel, with cats roaming freely around the lobby and in and out of the cat community room. Here are a few shots of the wonderful facility the folks at the Society have put together:





And some of the very contented residents...





Since this is the Dogged Writer, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the fine canines at HSKC. I got to meet Fred, the most awesome beagle EVER, who was scared of the cats and played with both kids and other dogs with complete abandon. Young, handsome, and utterly lovable, Fred is definitely a dog who deserves a great home. I watched an adorable Corgi go home with a sweet elderly gentleman, fell in love with a gorgeous, six-year-old male German shepherd named King, and made doe eyes at a couple of soulful hounds by the names of Devon and Abby:

A man among men: King

Irresistible: Devon

Princess Hound: Abby

And then there was this fellow, a twelve-year-old terrier with a severe flea allergy whose owners are trying to make the difficult decision whether or not they can afford to care for the little guy as he enters his twilight years:



Times are tough around the country, and I can't imagine having to make the decision to part with such a sweet old guy as little Ozzie. If his folks do indeed decide that they can't keep him any longer, however, I'm sure it won't be long before people will be lining up to give him a new forever home.

So, that was my day at HSKC. Stay tuned tomorrow as I do a final round-up and talk about three innovative, educational programs the Humane Society of Knox County is spearheading, and how you can help them continue their good work. Hope you're having a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Practice Shots: Photographing Dogs

I've been in a very doing mood lately - want to build and cook and climb and jump out of airplanes. This, according to my astrologer aunt, is due to a Uranus transit that makes even introverts like yours truly want to get up in a crowded room and dance the jig. Whatever the cause, I'm feeling the urge to stretch myself in new and creative ways. One manifestation is in my photography. I've always gravitated toward taking photos of landscapes and plant life, primarily because by doing so I wouldn't be rocking anyone else's personal space boat. I know how much I hate having a camera pointed my way, so I tend to avoid doing the same to others. Sadly, I've missed out on many great photo moments because of that philosophy. Now, I'm trying to get past my innate desire to leave folks alone - beginning with dogs. I found this great post the other day at Bad Rap Blog on taking quality shots of pets. Here are a few of the results from my own efforts over the last two mornings. The dogs, of course, are my very own Killian and Adia (Killy's the black-and-white, Adia is the black-and-tan).



The above are based on Lori Fusaro's recommendation to "Zoom in on those things you love." In other words - don't be afraid of the extreme close-up, which is something I invariably fail to do. I love these shots, because they get in nice and tight on the fuzzy faces I love so very much.


My attempt at an action shot - not easy with my digital camera, but I do love the fact that the hounds are caught in mid-flight.


I love taking still lifes, as I mentioned - and particularly those with a natural frame. The white flower framed by the branches above caught my eye, and I love the detail I was able to capture. The beads of water on the leaves below are nice, but I do wish I'd been able to get a crisper image of the berries.


And finally, the obligatory landscape - I love this spot in the woods, as do the hounds. Unfortunately, the light was bad for dog pics; every shot I took of them, they had demon eyes. One of the drawbacks of shady spots and overcast days, I guess.