[Inga]

OK Dakota, Where do they put all the ugly dogs that people tell me the Humane Societies are filled with? Everyone of these dogs are too cute for words. Yeah, I'll admit one or two could use some TLC in the grooming area, but look at all of those smoochie faces. Please tell me you are doing something with these photos. When I was volunteering I would work with individual dogs and write up little information sheets about them. Characteristics I observed about them while working with them. I don't know if you guys do those there, but slap a cute photo of the dog in question on it and you would be surprised how all of a sudden people want to check out a dog that has been previously overlooked. If it looks like a bargain it must be a bargain. Start with giving them designer names. LOL Then they must be wonderful. We already know they are no matter what though don't we?

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by Inga

OK Dakota, Where do they put all the ugly dogs that people tell me the Humane Societies are filled with? Everyone of these dogs are too cute for words. Yeah, I'll admit one or two could use some TLC in the grooming area, but look at all of those smoochie faces. Please tell me you are doing something with these photos. When I was volunteering I would work with individual dogs and write up little information sheets about them. Characteristics I observed about them while working with them. I don't know if you guys do those there, but slap a cute photo of the dog in question on it and you would be surprised how all of a sudden people want to check out a dog that has been previously overlooked. If it looks like a bargain it must be a bargain. Start with giving them designer names. LOL Then they must be wonderful. We already know they are no matter what though don't we?

Ok OK, I admit it. We're a mean mean shelter that keeps all the scruffy ugly dogs in the back. Then when someone 'important' comes along we break them out in order to perpetuate the rumors .

Heh, once after a big adoption event our kennels were pretty cleaned out (Yay!) and this older woman came and was pretty disappointed. She started spreading rumors on how we had just put down the entire shelter's worth of dogs . Not just outside the building either, she'd start telling other perspective adopters that were there!

Oh that’s a good idea! We do occasionally do write ups that get posted on the kennel doors but we are so short staffed that I don't think many of them get done. I could definatly get into that though, especially since I end up working with a lot of the dogs that I photograph. I'm also still waiting for contact from the web master in order to start using some of my pictures for the dog's online spotlights.

Lol, of course, of course. I don't have any problem leading inquiring adopters over to our 'poos' because hey...at least they're adopting .

[Dakota Spirit]

Just bumping it up agian

[anji]

i like the composition of the middle 3 of the first post and all of all second and third posts! i like the colors, shapes and use of space... and i like the dogs of course! i like the cuddly pics! good job!

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by anji

i like the composition of the middle 3 of the first post and all of all second and third posts! i like the colors, shapes and use of space... and i like the dogs of course! i like the cuddly pics! good job!

Thanks .

[LoveLost]

HI! Small world! I think I may know you, I sent an PM explaining! I'm pretty convinced we both volunteer at the same place though!

Your pics are MUCH better then mine are though

Originally Posted by Dakota Spirit

Heh, once after a big adoption event our kennels were pretty cleaned out (Yay!) and this older woman came and was pretty disappointed. She started spreading rumors on how we had just put down the entire shelter's worth of dogs . Not just outside the building either, she'd start telling other perspective adopters that were there!

I was actually there for that.......the lady was telling me all about how all our animals where just put to sleep and she saw it on the news. She started talking to a nice couple and I butted in and tried to explain that we had an adoption event and all the dogs where adopted. She was a bit ....... strange. lol

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by LoveLost

HI! Small world! I think I may know you, I sent an PM explaining! I'm pretty convinced we both volunteer at the same place though!

Your pics are MUCH better then mine are though

I was actually there for that.......the lady was telling me all about how all our animals where just put to sleep and she saw it on the news. She started talking to a nice couple and I butted in and tried to explain that we had an adoption event and all the dogs where adopted. She was a bit ....... strange. lol

Lol, Small world indeed

I know, it was an all around odd situation. I don't know what possible motive the women could have either.

[Dakota Spirit]

Lol, I delved into my archives some for older shots I thought you guy's might like to see. Keep in mind old picture = a decrease in quality, just because I've improved some over time.

[Inga]

Dakota, Have you put together any doggy profiles including your pictures of the dogs? People can be weird. I have seen people stand in front of a kennel looking and falling in love with the picture of the dog before even interviewing the dog in the kennel. LOL Hey, whatever it takes IMO I could see that last black and white photo on an ASPCA add. Include sad story and you have a money maker. God knows there are a lot of sad stories at shelters. Keep the photos coming. I love them. I just toured a few more shelters over the weekend. It is always interesting to see what other places are doing for fund raisers etc... Have you looked into a book, or greeting cards? You sure seem to get a lot of cuties in your shelter. Ours is pretty much Pitbulls and Beagles and the occasional Shepherd mix. They are all cute too, but seems to be the same few faces in there most of the time. Breaks my heart to think of the poor dogs worthless X owners off somewhere enjoying their lives while the dog sits terrified and with an uncertain end. Most of the dogs are quite young too.

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by Inga

Dakota, Have you put together any doggy profiles including your pictures of the dogs?

Yep, I'm working on that now. Given that I still haven't gotten any return messages from the person who controls our website (I don't know if she is busy or what) I've decided to take your advice and go with this option right now. I printed out a few of my better pictures to take in tommarow as examples and I'm gonna try and sell me case . It shouldn't be too hard since I spend a fair amount of one on one time with many of the dogs.

Originally Posted by Inga

People can be weird. I have seen people stand in front of a kennel looking and falling in love with the picture of the dog before even interviewing the dog in the kennel. LOL Hey, whatever it takes IMO I could see that last black and white photo on an ASPCA add. Include sad story and you have a money maker. God knows there are a lot of sad stories at shelters. Keep the photos coming. I love them. I just toured a few more shelters over the weekend. It is always interesting to see what other places are doing for fund raisers etc... Have you looked into a book, or greeting cards?

Hehe, I loved that old man He was a sweety, though most of the older dogs I have met tend to be. Greeting cards - yep, definitly. Got the supplies and everything. I'm also still looking into a possible CafePress store. I would LOVE to look into book options but I'm not really sure how to start down that road. A google search may be in order.

Originally Posted by Inga

You sure seem to get a lot of cuties in your shelter. Ours is pretty much Pitbulls and Beagles and the occasional Shepherd mix. They are all cute too, but seems to be the same few faces in there most of the time. Breaks my heart to think of the poor dogs worthless X owners off somewhere enjoying their lives while the dog sits terrified and with an uncertain end. Most of the dogs are quite young too.

-nods- I know what you mean. We get a fair amount of Pitties as well. Unfortinatly a lot of them are convinscates and I tend to be a little more leary of taking pictures because they are usually on hold with the courts or something. We do get a lot of unique mixs though.

I know, its so sad :/. What breaks my heart most is when someone brings in their 16 year old dog (that they have had its entire life) because they had a baby, got a puppy, are moving, or something along those lines. I can't imagin what it must be like to have your life turned so upside down like that.

Thanks agian for all your comments

[digits mama]

One day..I may see your post....and see my Digit. Keep posting these Dakota. I look forward to seeing em..

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by digits mama

One day..I may see your this post....and see my Digit. Keep posting these Dakota. I look forward to seeing em..

Oh, I still hold out hope for your little guy. You two will see each other again someday.

Thank you for the support .

[LoveLost]

Sam your pics are so great!!! Sooo..............would you mind me using some of them in a picture slide show with music I'm making? It's gonna be posted on youtube only, but pics as good as yours would really help!!

Originally Posted by Inga

Ours is pretty much Pitbulls and Beagles and the occasional Shepherd mix. .

Ours is mainly labs X, ShepherdX's, and "Pitbulls". Only thing, they don't adopt out the "pitbulls" They did just start allowing "pit bull" mixes to be adopted! YAY! But we do get a lot of "pitbulls" you just don't get to see them there as long.

Not many hounds or hound mixes that I've seen. We do get occasional ones, like we get occassional Great Danes, but not a ton.

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by LoveLost

Sam your pics are so great!!! Sooo..............would you mind me using some of them in a picture slide show with music I'm making? It's gonna be posted on youtube only, but pics as good as yours would really help!!

Eee, thanks! Of course You'll have to post/send me the link so I can see the finished video.

If you want you can message me which ones you like and I'll send you the originals (which are bigger, so you can resize how you need), or I can also look through other pictures that haven't yet been posted if you want something else.

Originally Posted by LoveLost

Ours is mainly labs X, ShepherdX's, and "Pitbulls". Only thing, they don't adopt out the "pitbulls" They did just start allowing "pit bull" mixes to be adopted! YAY! But we do get a lot of "pitbulls" you just don't get to see them there as long.

Thankfully at least some of them get to go to separate rescues. I do wish there was a Bull specific rescue near us though, I'd love to help out there.

[LoveLost]

Originally Posted by Dakota Spirit

Eee, thanks! Of course You'll have to post/send me the link so I can see the finished video.

If you want you can message me which ones you like and I'll send you the originals (which are bigger, so you can resize how you need), or I can also look through other pictures that haven't yet been posted if you want something else.

That would be wonderful! I'll take a closer look at the ones you have that I can see, maybe make a practice video to see how some of the pics would fit, and then contact for originals! Thanks!

If you have any you like, or think are good, by all means I'd love to see them!

Thankfully at least some of them get to go to separate rescues. I do wish there was a Bull specific rescue near us though, I'd love to help out there.

Actually, there is a really good one in aroundhere somewhere. I'm not exactly what city it's in but it's called "Bullseye." They where at Woofstock. I talked to the lady there and they seem to be a really good rescue. I've also heard they have a good reputation!

No wait, theree are two and both are in Seattle. Ones Bullseye and the other is the Pit Bull Project. Here's a link:

Bullseye:
http://www.bullseyerescue.org/


Pit Bull Project:

http://www.pitbullproject.org/


Those are the only two I can remember, but I know there was another good one! But if you could help, I'm sure they'd be very greatful!!! I was very much thinking of asking if they needed assistance as well, but I can't foster and I have a lot on my plate right now so I don't know how much help I'd be.

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by LoveLost

Actually, there is a really good one in aroundhere somewhere. I'm not exactly what city it's in but it's called "Bullseye." They where at Woofstock. I talked to the lady there and they seem to be a really good rescue. I've also heard they have a good reputation!

No wait, theree are two and both are in Seattle. Ones Bullseye and the other is the Pit Bull Project. Here's a link:

Bullseye:
http://www.bullseyerescue.org/


Pit Bull Project:

http://www.pitbullproject.org/


Those are the only two I can remember, but I know there was another good one! But if you could help, I'm sure they'd be very greatful!!! I was very much thinking of asking if they needed assistance as well, but I can't foster and I have a lot on my plate right now so I don't know how much help I'd be.

I've never heard of Pit Bull Project so I will have to check them out, I do love Bullseye though. I remember when they came to Woofstock they had a really buffed up dog named Mikey for adoption.

Yeah, the workload has been my issue as well :/

___

Here are a few REALLY old ones:

[Inga]

Holy cow, the brindle Pit with the glass eyes has the most haunting look on it's face. It might be to dark for black and white, but it might be a remarkable card. Are you having any luck with the fund raisers? As always, nice photos.

[Dakota Spirit]

Originally Posted by Inga

Holy cow, the brindle Pit with the glass eyes has the most haunting look on it's face. It might be to dark for black and white, but it might be a remarkable card. Are you having any luck with the fund raisers? As always, nice photos.

I sharpened the picture a bit (These old pictures were before I knew of the 'sharpening tool', Lol. I'm not always the best at focusing given that my contacts tend to mess me up) and put a black and white filter on - just for kicks. What do you think? I kinda like it...the eyes are a really nice contrast.

Yep, still trying to get all the kinks worked out with that as well. I have my first Senior Project meeting coming up for school soon (we have to do some project to benefit the community) and I am hoping I can apply that to the fundraising as well.

[Inga]

Yes, absolutely! Do you have anyone that can help you pose the dogs? Is that dog still there? I like the eyes in Black and White. I would like to see the picture with out the line of the wall where it meets the floor. That dog sitting in front of a lighter colored background a bit more of a head shot with focus on the eyes. WOW! Soulful eyes. You are doing a wonderful thing using your talents for the animals. More people should do the same. It would be a different world for the animals wouldn't it? Keep on posting, we love it!

[MrPippin]

Originally Posted by digits mama

::::raising my hand::::: Im interested!

Me too!

Just to introduce myself. I live in Port Charlotte, FL work in the dog daycare industry training and re-habing dogs. We foster dogs for one of our local rescue groups until we can find them a sutible home.

I try to be a civil guy and give my opinions. I do get passionate when dealing with people who want to destroy dogs because of a behavior problem. I love happy endings for dogs with behavior problems. Like Max shown here.

His parents wanted to "put him down" because he had behavior problems. In truth as is ussually the case the problem was not with Max, but with his owners. I convinced them to release Max to our rescue group and he has been going home with me for about a month. He loves to lay in your lap while you watch TV and loves to have his belly rubbed. In the entire time Max has been going home with me, he had one incident where he got into the trash can and pulled out some egg shells. Hardly worth a death sentence.

I am also happy to report that I have found a couple in Venice, FL that wants to adopt Max and give him a good home. I just want us all to keep fighting for the Max's out there.