Pleased to meet ya, Boomer {Spearfish, USA – Pet Photographer}
Posted on August 13, 2010
This handsome pooch is about 15-17 years old. He picked his dad in 1994 or 1995 – I guess he just showed up and acted like he belonged with him. Isn’t that cool? We met on a cloudy and rainy day – nice and cool for furry dogs. Sister Mary Roberta introduced us – and has been working hard to get the portraits done for a while. Thanks Sister! Boomer was pretty spunky for an old dude. Maybe it was the cool, rainy afternoon or the Subway sandwich he was gonna get when we were done. Thanks Sister Mary Roberta, Boomer, and Boomer’s Dad!
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You Are My Sunshine {Family Photographer, Spearfish, USA}
Posted on July 13, 2010
What a wonderful afternoon tromping around in the tall grass of Western South Dakota. We picked a great afternoon to capture the happiness of Vanessa and Brandon’s family. A little jumping in the tall grass, playing in the dirt, and putting your feet in Spearfish Creek. Can you think of a better way to spend some time? I didn’t think so.
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In Memory of the Pets We Have Loved {Smokey Red}
Posted on May 31, 2010
Saturday Finn and I were sniffing around Strawberry Hill, he paused and stuck his nose deep in the green grass – I knew he found something interesting. I walked up to him to see what he found – usually it is a pile of poo. From a distance I could see he was sniffing a skeleton of an animal. Kneeling down I looked closer and saw a rainbow colored nylon collar around some vertebra and a perfectly bleached cat skull. Attached to the collar was a small black name tag inscribed:
“Smokey Red”
653 Yukon Way
641-1212
Hmmm. You all know how much we love our kitties; I was touched ever so slightly with sadness that this kitty had died here away from her home. I wondered if anyone missed her. I know we all live and die, but was someone wondering what happened to their feline buddy?
Finn and I walked around the area a bit; my heart kept tugging at me. Did this kitty have a home? We circled around, returned to the skeleton and I wiped the dirt off the name tag and put the information in my BlackBerry address book and put the skull and collar in a plastic bag.
There was no cell service on Strawberry Hill so I called the phone number from Pactola Lake. After several rings, a gentleman answered. He didn’t know anything about a missing cat and thought I may have had the wrong number. At least I tried; I decided to bury the bones somewhere.
Later Finn and I were visiting with a friend at Pet Smart and I let a call go to voice mail. Back at the car I listened to the message. “Hey John this is Bob Miller and I believe you called and found a cat of ours,” the voice mail message started. “Ah, it’s been a little over a year ago when she ran away from home, we kinda lost track of her. You can call me back; we are on vacation in Florida right now. I can answer any questions or see what you have in mind.”
I called Bob back right away. I told him Finn had found the skeleton with the collar in the tall grass on Strawberry Hill. “Oh,” he said. He told me the story of how they had moved from Deer Mountain to Whitewood and she had disappeared. They kept her in the house for 2 and one-half months, but she took off looking for home after they let her out. His daughter had named her, “Smokey Red.”
I offered to return the remains and collar, he declined and said, “No, I will just tell everyone someone found her and she has a nice home.”
After a pause, I replied, “Maybe you should just tell them what happened. I know I love my cats and dog and would want to know. Maybe it would give them some closure.”
After a long pause, Bob asked if I still had the collar. I said, I did and I would be glad to deliver it to him. He went on to tell me how much they loved her and how she must have been trying to get back home. He had hoped one of the neighbors had been feeding her and she was doing well. “Would you take the collar to the NAPA Auto Parts Store in Central City?” I said I would be glad to.
Just a quiet pause for all of us animal lovers, we know they are much more than just animals to us – they are beloved companions.
Bob
Vinnie
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You need to put a pict. of Smokey on here.
Awwwww!!
Got a little teary-eyed reading this! Makes me think of all my faithful four-legged pals that are in pet heaven.
I think we’re all pretty lucky to have such talent and compassion in our “memory maker” (photographer) with John. Thank YOU, John, for caring so much about those “beasts and children” – they have no choice and have no voice but they have an advocate in you!