Happy Tales

[snowbunny]

I've recently started a little personal project, taking photographs for the local shelter here. I am absolutely loving it, it gives me so much peace and joy to get out with these dogs and showing them off as best I can.

This is a really challenging thing to do, as these dogs aren't used to being out in these environments, aren't used to strange people, aren't used to the camera. They have no training at all and the people handling them need directing, too. So, it's certainly not easy, but it is SO MUCH fun!

This is a photo I took last night. It was an area I've not shot in before, so I was running ahead to try to find good angles, and I came across this graffito, which says "Look at me" in Catalan. If that's not absolutely perfect for a photo of a shelter dog, I don't know what is!!



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[Jacqui-S]

Wow!
I just saw this on FB and thought it was a composite photo.
Now all I can say is....Amazing!

 

[Beanwood]

Just. Incredible.

 

[Stacia]

You have real talent and get the best out of the dogs.

 

[Cath]

Wonderful

 

[Lab_adore]

@snowbunny, I have no words except to say how incredible these pictures are. I've been following them on FB and love every single one

 

[snowbunny]

and thought it was a composite photo.

LOL my compositing skills aren't quite that good just yet

But that's a lovely compliment, thank you.

This is the other dog I was working with at the same time, Bill. He's only a puppy, obviously part Great Dane, and it's a travesty he's in a shelter tonight.

 

[Selina27]

Simply breathtaking Fiona .

 

[Granca]

Wonderful photos, Fiona.

 

[Stacia]

What are the chances of these beautiful dogs getting a new home?

 

[Natalie]

I've seen them on facebook Fiona, they are wonderful!

 

[snowbunny]

What are the chances of these beautiful dogs getting a new home?

Rita (the first dog) is a tough one. She has a lovely character, is totally wonderful with people and all other dogs, but when she arrived at the shelter, she had a very badly damaged rear leg. She had multiple surgeries to fix it, but it's still a bit squiffy which means she may need more surgery in the future, and of course whoever takes her on will be aware that she will likely develop arthritis because of her altered gait. Having said that, she has been adopted twice already - testament to her loving nature - but both times she was returned within a week, because she's an escape artist and a very fast runner! It's such a shame, she just needed some time to settle in, so we just hope that someone comes along who will be able to give her that time and management in the early days. She's been in the shelter for many months now, maybe even over a year.

Bill is relatively new. I don't think he's even a year old yet. He's also super friendly when he's in his kennel, running straight over to say hi and take treats. He's a bit timid out and about, and cringes away if he's crowded, but I think he would settle very quickly in a good home. Because he's young, I think that his chances of finding a home are pretty high.

 

[Stacia]

Thanks @snowbunny, I wonder why Rita has the desire to be an escape artist? Is it the breed or just her?

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

@Jelinga Can't speak for Señorita Rita, but in general Galgos are escape artists and she looks like she could have some of noble breed in her.

Absolutely beautiful photos @snowbunny.

 

[snowbunny]

I think she’s more wire-haired podenco, but the same applies, they’re notorious Houdinis

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I think she’s more wire-haired podenco, but the same applies, they’re notorious Houdinis

I didn't know about wire-haired podencos! You have some different-looking podencos up north: the ones in the south mostly look like tiny wine barrels with legs!

Whatever her mix/breed, she is a gorgeous girl.

 

[snowbunny]

I didn't know about wire-haired podencos! You have some different-looking podencos up north: the ones in the south mostly look like tiny wine barrels with legs!

Haha, too funny! You mean like the podenco maneto? I've never seen one of those in the flesh. We don't have many of the shorter ones at all, in fact - all of the (seemingly) pure-bred pods up here tend to be medium to large size. We also don't see an awful lot of galgos up here, which is why my brain always goes straight to podenco.
Rita has that characteristic little white spot on the head that so many pods seem to have - that or the inverse of brown spot on a white background. So sweet

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

You mean like the podenco maneto? I've never seen one of those in the flesh. We don't have many of the shorter ones at all, in fact - all of the (seemingly) pure-bred pods up here tend to be medium to large size. We also don't see an awful lot of galgos up here, which is why my brain always goes straight to podenco.

I didn't even know the name for them, but yes! You see some of the other pods too, but the little ones are the most common in Cadiz. I was perhaps a little harsh in describing them as barrels with legs, but, they are stocky and tough little guys (and gals). And galgos are everywhere, so the way you go to pods, I go to galgos as they are so common. Her ears reminded me of galgos because I think of these as pod ears.

 

[snowbunny]

LOL, yeah, that's apparently the "maneco" and is NOTHING like our pods. Ours are more the typical long-legged Ibizan hound, with a very classic sight hound look. They have similar ears to this little dude when they're full bred, but when they're mixed, the ears can be pretty much anything - as long as they're big. Even the full pods with the massive upright triangle ears hold their ears like Rita's quite a lot. They're incredibly mobile appendages

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I'm such a dog geek - I find these regional differences so interesting. So I'm guessing most of the hunters in your area use Pods, just like in the south they use Galgos? Which is why you've got so many more Pods in rescue up there. I only met one Podenco Ibicenco in Cadiz and just loved him. He was one of my shelter walkies dogs and ended up in a new home in the Netherlands.