A year ago on Mother’s Day, I invited my mom along to help me take photos with the dogs at the shelter. She’s been a valuable assistant ever since! This past Sunday, the shelter is exactly what we chose to do together to mark the occasion.

Maybe you’re interested in having one of these cuties call you “mom” when the next Mothers’ Day rolls around? Stop in for a visit to the Animal Rescue League of Boston‘s Brewster location!

Unfortunately, I don’t have all the dogs’ names since I snuck in on a Sunday again. They were all pretty sweet, though, some even surprising us with their manners and commands. The lil’ girl in the bottom right was quite abuzz, but she calmed right down as soon as she could be close to me. Or the camera. I couldn’t really tell which she liked better.

My own bud, Brewer, came bouncing up to me with a card around his collar on Mother’s Day, and a new plant he found (I think with human help) at the local garden shop. He and I both are starting to feel our spirits lift back up after saying good bye to Bromley.

I hope all you dog and cat moms had a wonderful weekend!

I’ve been off photographing many things lately, but unfortunately not the amazing pups at the shelter. I should be saying thanks to the economy for rebounding and giving me back some benefits at the day-job, but one thing I lost was my forced furlough day each month, which I had been splitting into two and using for bi-weekly visits to the shelter. But thanks to the good friends I’ve made at the Animal Rescue League of Boston‘s Brewster Branch, I snuck myself in this past Sunday during closed hours to take a deep, soothing breath of the amazingness that is animal rescue. Amidst all the poker tournaments and editorial assignments (which will now start “airing” over at staceyhedman.com), I needed an afternoon like this to remind me what inspires me most to be in this business.

So without further adieu, let me introduce you to three sweethearts currently wagging their tails in Brewster.

Dakota… well, she’s a mover and a shaker. And she moved and shook herself over the fence during our shoot. I mean, there was a bird, after all… wouldn’t you chase it? This is where pet photographer acrobatics come in handy and I jumped the fence right after her since the shelter is on a busy road. Some begging – on my part – may have also occurred.

Bull is a gentle giant, knows all his commands and manners, and almost *accidentally* ended up in the car.

And last but not lease is Lilly. She has such a cozy face and personality, and will certainly relax the minute she enters her new loving home.

Give a call or stop by the Animal Rescue League if you’d like to visit any of these happy pups!

More photos from our hike of Chequessett Neck in Wellfleet, MA! This time I’d like to introduce you to Woody – a newly adopted addition to our friendship circle.

Woody is a ~one year old Catahoula mix from Louisiana. He’s the softest damned dog… both his fur and his sweet personality. So relaxed (except maybe that time he got bored with the interior of the car). And don’t you just love his different color eyes?

Tim and Alicia have fallen instantly in love, and have been great to take Woody to all their favorite ocean spots as he gets used to this new sandy life. I have a series of these shots that just make my heart melt… and Woody looks so at home.
Woody was adopted through the small volunteer group, Mutts4Rescue, based in the south and in Portsmouth, RI. He made the trek to New England with a group called Rescue Road Trips.

Congratulations once again to Tim, Alicia and Woody! We’re so happy to see your family and hearts grow! XO

I haven’t been around these parts in a while… partly due to the R&R I’m catching up on in the slower photography season, and partly due to major computer issues and transition. But MARCH is right around the corner and excitement is building! The camera has been back in my hands a lot more, and I’m ecstatic about my new powerhouse of a computer. It’s officially game time, and you’ll soon be hearing and seeing more about 2010 sessions, products, travel plans and goals!

Believe it or not, even the shelter slowed down for the last month or two, with less dogs for me to play and photograph with. That’s a good thing! Here are a few of the newest arrivals. I didn’t have their names and papers yet, since they’d just arrived, so you’ll have to check out the personality in their eyes! (and visit the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Brewster branch)

This fella was hysterical; kept tucking his chin back to his neck to show his best double-chin. What a little weirdo!

This guy, Luke, proved extremely difficult to capture because he just wouldn’t slow down! Part of why I love visiting the shelter is that I’m able to let each dog run around in a huge grassy yard for about a half-hour each. They have fun, get some energy out, and receive an endless supply of rubs and scratches.

This little sweetheart could not get enough love. He would just jump up on my chest with his paws relaxed and his chin resting, staring into my eyes for minutes on end – standing on his hind legs! If I so much as see this guy one more time, he’s coming home with me (thanks to my mom for the shot!).

Abner is a playful one-year old pit bull currently up for adoption at the Animal Rescue League in Brewster, MA.  When I say “playful”, I mean this dog can BOUNCE!!!! Maybe I’ll follow this post with some blooper shots, because these photos encompass literally the five times I captured Abner’s eyes in focus.

Abner was found as a stray and unfortunately seems to have gone without training in whatever home he did have. Fortunately, he’s still young and will be able to learn rules and manners from a loving new home, willing to give him some attention.

I also want to mention that Tally is still available as well – an adoooorable treeing walker coonhound! Stop on in or call the shelter to say hi!

On Saturday, the Animal Rescue League of Boston in Brewster held a fun Paws On Ice event at the local skating rink! What fun to participate and see how excited all the kids – and adults! – were. I hope you enjoy viewing the photos in this new format, but let me know if there are issues.

pawsonice-49 pawsonice-4 pawsonice-5 pawsonice-6 pawsonice-7 pawsonice-13 pawsonice-18 pawsonice-22 pawsonice-23 pawsonice-27 pawsonice-32 pawsonice-33 pawsonice-37 pawsonice-43 pawsonice-44 pawsonice-46 pawsonice-47

The local group has been so wonderful with planning activities and events for the community. You can check out their Facebook page HERE to keep current on all that’s going on!

As a side note, this past Sunday was my Mom’s birthday, and as a huge thanks for all her help at the shelter I gave her an official Animal Rescue League fleece vest! I love it!

Last Saturday morning I drove up to Boston to meet Gretta and Honey in Boston’s South End. This session was special to Kristine (also an ARL Boston volunteer!) because Gretta was her mother’s beloved companion and service dog until her recent passing.

We walked around the South End for a while, and then hopped in the car to nearby Jamaica Pond.

This is Gretta!

Honey and Gretta are both rescues themselves, and Kristine is also a frequent foster for other dogs coming through the shelter. Here is Honey!

It was wonderful to catch the last of the foliage season, and as you can see, the dogs had quite a fun time splashing in the leaves (unprompted!).

And we wanted a few shots of Gretta in the role she so was so loving and loyal to. Kristine, I hope you like this brief glimpse, but there are many more to come! Thank you for all that you do for our furry friends!

On my last visit to the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Brewster branch, I was greeted with a shelter full of new dogs! These guys are a-dor-able, and since I was able to spend time with them even before their formal evaluations, you might still have time to pay them a visit before they leave for their new forever homes!

Energetic Othello:

Soft and gentle Snider:

Tally, a Treeing Walker Coonhound, much taller than the beagle she looks like here:

Stately Jefferson:

Shasta, definitely looking like a true Rastafarian!:

and bashful Robert:

I’ve been just barely squeezing in time at the shelter these days – due to an unexpected craze of pet photography this fall season, no less! – and I’m going to put an end to that feeling before it goes too far. The shelter is where I get my bearings, where I reset my goals and why I’m doing what I’m doing. Rather than visit when I have a free hour, I’ve made sure to mark the days in my calendar (and at my day job) through the rest of the year.

I even have a shoot coming up in Boston next weekend with someone who adopted after seeing my photos! THAT rocks.

I had the pleasure of meeting Misha and Charlie during my most recent visit to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, in Brewster, MA. These little furballs didn’t care that it was raining – they just had a great time running around in the grass and tossing toys into the air!

Misha is a five-year old Siberian Husky who loves stuffed toys and plays well with other dogs and kids who won’t tug on her tail.

Charlie is a four-year old Beagle mix who knows quite a lot of commands. He has lived with children and other dog buds, and he loves to be cuddled and rubbed!

Stop in to the Animal Rescue League and give these guys a little scratch! The adooorable Tucker is still there waiting for you as well!

It was a beautiful sunny and crisp morning to meet up with four great rescue dogs in Onset, MA! From left to right, let me introduce you to the siblings of Jasper, Jelly, Lily and Tucker! If you recognize these dogs, please help keep our photo session a *SURPRISE* from their dad!!

These dogs are living a wonderful life with the help of their human, Ellen, who devotes so much of her heart and time to working with local rescue group, Friends of Plymouth Pound. You may recognize a couple of these beautiful dogs from the recent FPP event I attended in September, and I was very excited to hear from Ellen soon after to schedule a session.

Jasper is as playful as she looks with those two-tone eyes, prancing around the beach and hopping up on the dinghies without much prodding.

Tucker recently went blind, but his spirits are still going strong – including his love for eating tomatoes fresh off the vine! Yep, that’s right – he’s blind and he’s picking only the ripened tomatoes.

Jelly liked to dash around through the beautiful October (OCTOBER!) goldenrod flowers, acting quite the supermodel while she did.

And Lily loved to stick close, even on her rare moments of freedom from a leash (pet photographers bring scrumptious treats). Like another husky mix I know, she was such a lover, staring into my eyes.

Thank you for a wonderful morning walk, Ellen, and I can’t thank you enough for all that you do for these creatures! I know our paths will continue to cross for many years to come. Have a blast unveiling the big holiday surprise!