it’s common knowledge that i love animals. you may also know that i love to dance. but i have another major passion in my life…HOT YOGA! i’ve began practicing hot yoga in 2002, when i first discovered Bikram, while living in London, England. when i came home to Canada i discovered that i had a Bikram…
at least once a day on my Marcia Leeder Photography page on Facebook i post an image that makes me smile, laugh hysterically or go “awwwwwwwww”. it’s usually from a recent shoot or from the daily adventures of my gang. i thought it would be a fun idea to round-up all the images into one…
[...] if you enjoy my facebook posts and missed the first entry, here it is. [...]
You’re amazing.
i want to tell you all about a wonderful new rescue organization that homes labs and lab mixes all over the United States and Canada (and all about the adorable rescue puppy that i photographed for them). …or rather, i will have Pam Hrycyk, who is on the Board of Directors (and one of the…
Love the photos…
A man that I’ve taken care of off n on for years, has an elderly black lab that has tape worms and heart worms. He doesn’t have money to help dog…. ANY SUGGESTIONS for Sam’s relief?????
He’s a real sweetie pie face!! I can’t believe that anyone could abandon him either, but the God of puppies was looking out for him because he’s got a new family now. These photos are awesome and the ones with Tater and Archie are especially fun!
That little Tater Tot is adorable! How can people be so heartless and then others so giving? I don’t think I will ever understand. I am so pleased that he found a great home.
OMG – what a cutie-p-tutie (sp?!) And he loves the camera! Great story- thanks for sharing
Marce! You are THE best! As always I love the story, the commentary with each shot, the humour, the love…even catching him winking?!?! Come on! Love every shot. Love Tater too.
xoxoxo
Beautiful, gorgeous pictures!! Love them all! Yaaaaaaa for Tater!!
Awesome awesome pictures as always Marcia! I absolutely love the one of Pam looking at Tater Tot!
Marcia – You are such an amazing photographer! Tater’s pictures are awesome!!! Thank you so much for sharing our story and taking the time to meet Tater.
YAH for Tater, NOLA, Pam & Kim!!! Marcia, thank you for spotlighting them!! Too bad you didn’t get a chance to photograph Pam’s first foster, Courage, he was a ladies man!! I had the honor of helping transport him from NO to Canada!
Archie loves water. okay wait a minute…that’s an understatement…Archie is obsessed with water! he loves to drink it, play with it and allow it to soak him silly. he could sit for hours in the sink waiting for the next drip to blissfully christen him from the tap. anytime i enter the kitchen to do…
I swear, that I am falling in love with Archie (and I’ve never been a big cat person because I’m a big dog person) because he’s the sweetest, cutest, most amusing little ginger kitty I’ve ever seen! Keep those videos coming!
P.S. I’ve seen other cats who loved running water from the tap too but I’ve never owned my own cat because I’m allergic to them. 
My little orange guy loves water too. He does many of the same things as Archie and also loves when I put ice cubes in his water dish. We did it a few times during the heat wave and he turned the room into a slip and slide! He also has a habit of getting into his fountain water dish, though now that he’s too big to really get in he seems content to just rub up against it. So adorable!
Oy… we’ve got three water kitties at our house!
Ming (a 14 year old black DSH/Siamese mix, who is missing an eye- our pirate kitty!) LOVES all dripping water. He even turns the faucet on in the kitchen, which is why we now have to turn off underneath when we leave the house. *rolls eyes*
Then, because my husband refuses to listen to me & feels sorry for him, he gets catered to every morning when Sam “waters” the cats, and he taught this lovely habit to our two newest additions- Felix, a 2 year old orange & white tabby, and Sawyer a 4 month old tabby & white orphan.
Sawyer likes water enough that she will now climb in the shower with me! So apparently the newer generation will be continuing these habits!
My Sophie used to watch the faucet drip and talk to it. My current “litter” of four adult kittens were raised in my old bathroom with leaky faucets, and MUST drink every day from the bathroom sink: http://portraitsofanimals.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/on-st-patricks-day-drink-straight-from-the-tap/ and http://portraitsofanimals.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/droplets-flying/. They all spend time in the sink, tub and bathroom in general waiting for drops to happen: http://www.bernadette-k.com/photography/photo-bathroomkitties.html, but it’s Jelly Bean who makes a profession of it, coaxing me upstairs after breakfast and being as cute as possible so I can hardly resist (sometimes I make him wait so I can enjoy his cuteness for as long as possible): http://bernadettesmarketplace.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/two-favorite-photos-on-greeting-cards-and-more/ (scroll down)
my last cat titian, also an orange short-haired tabby also loved water; he would drink from and play with the slow stream / dripping faucet … endless enjoyment! during his last year or so, he started playing with the water in his water bowl, slapping at it, making a real mess, and licking the water off his paw instead of drinking straight from the bowl … i have some action shots of him doing that in his final month. : )
recently i found a lump on my beautiful girl Tichka and in that split second my stomach knotted up, my eyes teared up and my heart felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. not that i know at that point whether the lump is friend or foe, but the possibility of it being a…
i love my 3 boys and my only girl Sienna
i keep saying i have 4 sibes and an aussie because i did until a month ago
Unfortunately I had to lay my boy Storm to rest last month.
He would have been 14 next month.
He and his brother were born 366 days apart and we miss him alot.
He was so sweet and gentle and those memories of his wonderful life and love stay with me in my heart.
His younger brother Riley was born with a dead front rt leg
Despite problems with his spine starting in 2007 – he does not let this effect his spirit or effort.
I named him wanting to ensure “the life of Riley.”
The night he was born there were alot of complications – and during the time elapsed I found out that some of the dogs at the boarding kennel were strays and would be killed if not placed
I believe the problems with his birth was fate – he was the messenger – as I started the rescue then and there with those very dogs in need at that kennel – and that was 13 years ago Feb 13/98.
Several thousand pound animals have been saved since.
He is their Guardian Angel.
Sienna is their older sister. She hates the camera. She loved Storm so much she could not even go to the groomer with out him. She checks on her younger brother Riley like a momma 
Blaze is my rescued sibe – i took him in from people after he had been in pound repeatedly for running at large(he was under a year old and not fixed or trained)
They got him as payment for a tow truck ride.
I believe he was smart for running away – he certainly wasn’t properly cared for there.
Reese is my youngest boy – I took him and his brother and mother from a kill shelter in Ohio in August 2009.
Something had gone very wrong in their young lives because by the time we got them they would freeze in place like a statue and act invisible – sadly they were seperated in the pound and Reese killed one of his teeth and took the fur off parts of his leg trying to get back with his family.
After we got them and allowed them 4 more weeks together here in 1 foster home – when he was estimated to be 12 weeks old – I took him to my house to see if he would like to join my family.
Turns out he loved my boys and Sienna and they gave him some confidence.
He now comes on the couch to sit with me – big accomplishment!
I had my first dog Tiki from when I was 8-21 and only lasted 10 months without a dog. I had Jake and Calvary – my babies parents and I also had three wonderful cats that i took in between 1987-1992, that all lived to be at least 17.
They are irreplaceable.
I am grateful for the memories and happy I have photos as well.
The time is too short – but they live on in our hearts forever.
I hope you get positive news back from your vet about Tichka’s lump.
I’ve got a fanastic dude here at home with me named Cain, my German sheppard. His story is similar to that of a lot of pets who are taken my people who have high hopes and little knowledge what it takes to raise and train a large, energetic, (extremely) intelligent animal. most of his day was spent in the “room under the stairs” or in their postage-stamp backyard alone. Cain was rarely, if ever, walked. He looked like a stray with old ratty hair unbrushed, long nails, ribs poking out, old too-tight collar rubbing out the hair around his neck, and bursting with energy that made his owners nervous. “He’s unpredictable and hyper, and he may bite” was what I was told when I dog-sat him. It was an intimidating intro.
Ten minutes together told me another story altogether. He was dying for someone to pay attention to him and once I made the effort he was over the moon! I brushed out all the old dead hair, clipped his nails, walked him everywhere, played in the backyard till he nearly dropped, and began training simple voice commands. In a week they came home from vacation, and after sometime I was told Cain would go to the SPCA because he bit his owner “and she just can’t deal with him anymore”.
In no time I was calling and asking of the owners would wait long enough for me to find a place to live that accepted dogs, and surveying friends who might want to share a house with me and my new pooch! It also prompted me to move in with my boyfriend. Three and a half years later Cain is a favourite at our apartment, running daily, and Rob and I are getting married! Cain was our impetus, and keeps us grounded every day. He can do over 20 tricks and is the joy of everyone he encounters, and he has never bit another living soul. At 7 he’s in perfect health, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep him that way for as long as I can.
Firstly, I hope Tichka’s lump turns out to be nothing to worry about Secondly, beautiful photos
My rescue dogs are my sunshine. We lost one of our dogs last summer, to cancer, and it has broken my heart. I don’t know how I’d be getting through it without our other dogs (and my dear husband).
For a long while I have reminded myself that our dogs will not be with us for ever. It’s very sad to think about, but it makes me appreciate our time with them even more and stops me worrying about the “small stuff”.
Who cares if one is excited and pulls a bit on the way to the fields; who cares if they run muddy footprints through the sitting room; who cares if my near 12 year old is still agile and cheeky enough to nick a bit of food (actually it made me rather glad!). My near 12 year old also taught our youngest to stand on their back legs to reach the low-hanging apples from the tree in the garden this autumn. It was a very proud moment for me .
I make sure we spend lots of time together, having fun and snuggles. Along with my hubby, they are my best friends and they’re a lot more perfect than I am
Our dogs are all rescues and we’ve adopted from a young puppy through to 12-13 year “oldies”. All wonderful experiences. With the oldies you learn to very much appreciate every moment too.
I know I will never look back and think “I wish I hadn’t spent so much time with my dogs” and I don’t ever want to regret that I didn’t spend more.
As for those who say they’re “just a pet” it reminds me of Just A Dog which you may already have read, by Richard A. Biby. It makes me cry each time I read it and ends “So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”
Angela
UK
Love the photo of me and Denver. And while he is no doubt my little man and I can’t imagine life without him, I thought I’d talk about Cleo, my cat, since she’s often ends up as second fiddle.
I got Cleo from the Humane Society when she was approx. 8 months old (she’s now 7 years old). She literally called out to me and tapped me on the shoulder as I checked out all the cats in the cages. I took one look at her large, soulful yellow eyes and I was hooked.
Cleo was a bit skiddish around people at first, but she always stayed close to me. I called her my shadow – everywhere I went at home, there she was next to me. If I was on the couch, she was on the couch. And if I had a bowl of popcorn with me, she’d stealthily creep onto the back of the couch.. and then out of no where I’d see this paw reach across my shoulder and swipe a few pieces out of the bowl!
This changed once I brought Denver, my Lab, home. She would hide upstairs in fear of this new thing that was taking over her house and I always felt bad for it. But no matter what, every night she’d leap into bed and curl up next to me. Sometimes she sleeps on the pillow next to me, sometimes right next to me and sometimes on me.. but she’s always there. It’s the one dog-free zone in the house and I can’t imagine going to sleep without her. Any man who comes into my life has to know that Cleo has dibs on the bed!
I do not know what I would do without my two dogs. I have had my older dog Blue since I was five. He is now eleven years old and my best friend. When I was younger he put up with every little phase that I put him through. I once decided that he was i dire need of booties, and another when I thought that a backpack on a dog was the best thing ever. He grew up with me and he shelters me like he’s my older brother. No matter where I am in the house, if I get hurt, he is there to comfort me. He has done so much for me and really helped me as a person. I love Blue so much and I hope he stays around for a long time.
My favourite story about Blue happened about a month ago. My dad and I were playing with our one year old husky, Jasper, and Blue was point blank refusing to play, we don’t know why but he was being really moody. Then all of a sudden, he jumped up and put his from paws on the coffee table and stole the ball off of it. This amazed me because he is a black lab and quite up there, so his hips aren’t in the best of shape. He then proceeded to throw the ball for himself and go chase it. He would not let anybody touch the ball, especially not jasper. My dad and I laughed so hard, all he wanted was his little blue ball.
Blue is very neurotic, and he hates getting his feet wet. One day my family and I were swimming in the pool, and as always, we were throwing the ball for Blue and waiting fro him to finish his victory lap around the yard. When we got the ball back, we threw it again and it landed on the grass. The grass was a little bit wet from the dew but as always Blue went chasing after it like a two year old pup. But, as soon as he got to the grass, he stopped dead. He went to the other side of the yard to the stepping stones we have and walked down them to get as close to the ball as he could. Then he tentatively stepped onto the grass to get the ball and retraced his footsteps back to minimize wetness. When he finally brought the ball back, he was so proud.
These are all things that I would miss so much about Blue is I didnt have him, I honestly wouldnt know what to do is my best friend died…
I LOVE YOU BLUESY!!!
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mine is there for love and to give love all the time… Her smile helps me relax, and she is a wonderful part of our family- what would I do without my Toonie???
I got my my dog Mac in October 2005, the same year my younger brother tragically died. My brother had a huge capacity for love particularly his dogs over the years. In memory of my brother I got Mac whose middle name “Taylor” is in honor of my brother.
Mac is an english golden retriever and the love of my life. He has brought such joy to my life, I love to watch him play, sleep, especially the sweet dreams he has where I imagine he is playing with other dogs as he twitches, his tail thumps and the cutest little “woofs” come out. He has been there with an abundance of unconditional love to give, not just for me but for all the people in his life. I am often told by friends and family what a “sweet boy” he is, and he is. I have often thought he would make a great therapy dog, as his capacity to love others is endless.
I recently lost my job, and he was and continues to be my source of comfort, providing laughs, hugs and love as a go through this transition. I dread the day he will no longer be in my life and treasure every moment I have with him. My big Mac is perfect!
I totally agree. Kiyah is a 5 year old Am. Staff that is like my child. We are so bonded, I cannot imagine life without her. As soon as she started growing up it occurred to me that she wouldn’t be around forever, and I panicked. I guess we have to grab life by the horns and cherish every moment we have with them. We now have 3 dogs and a little girl on the way; I have no doubt that she will love Kiyah, Mister and Liberty just as much as we do. I am so glad that they will be around to help her grow into an amazing person.
You are right Marcia, people who think “they are only animals” deserve our pity. They will never know the true joy that comes from developing a relationship with an animal, and that is honestly sad.
Side note: As I’m typing this I am sitting at my desk with teary eyes. Not having my dogs anymore evokes a physical response in me that I cannot even explain. I’m not sure what I would do if I wasn’t tripping over them in the kitchen, or fighting them for the covers…sniffle.
<3
First off – I love the picture of Molly and I that you included – she is my little mooshy dog!
Molly is 2 months shy of 15 years old, and I got her when she was 10 weeks old – an adorable little fluffball that stole my heart – it was love at first sight! All these years later we read each other and interact like an old married couple, and when she’s feeling especially cranky due to her age I call her Bea Arthur.
The best thing about Molly is her tongue that sticks out nearly always. She didn’t get all of her adult teeth, so the tongue isn’t kept entirely inside her mouth. When she’s sleeping it gets all dried and bent, so I shove it back in her mouth and she wakes up and gives me a look like, ‘do you mind???’.
She’s kind of like living with a small, hairy grandmother…now if I could only teach her canasta…
What a beautiful post. I had a dog growing up. Her name was Lucy. We got her when I was six, and she was very much a part of our family. She was such a friendly dog. She never growled at anyone, and only barked at the mailman!
She lived to be about 12 years old I think. She had a lot of German Shepperd in her, and I hear it’s quite common for their hips to go when they are older. That’s what happened to her. I’ll never forget the day I came home and Lucy couldn’t get up to get out of the way of the entrance. We made her comfortable for the night and my dad took her to vet the next day.
I hadn’t thought about that in a long time, until now. She was a good companion. I miss her, even 20 years later.
Love ths post, Marcia and so so true. I can honestly say that I am a different person today because of Kiley. She makes me enjoy the simple things in life-an early morning walk where it feels like it is just the two of us alone in the world. The fact that I will see her little head in the window when I come home from work, waiting patiently for me. Her unconditional love and loyalty. The pure comedy that only she can provide.
Cheers,
Carol
The animal story I like to share most is one of my favourites simply because it involves one of my birds. I think it often surprises even cat and dog lovers that there are smaller animals that can express love (or at least, what I perceive to be love; as much as something so small /can/ love).
I used to work at a pet store (definitely one of the most depressing jobs I’ve ever held). I was working in the back room when I heard a noise. I looked down at one of the quarantine cages on the ground and the baby budgie I had isolated in it (underweight and issues flying properly) was clinging to the side of the cage where I was standing. This intrigued me because none of the budgies there were hand tame whatsoever. So, normally I wouldn’t pay attention to one. I definitely wouldn’t have done what I /did/ do, which was open the door to the cage, but when I did, she flew out and landed on my knee. This is still my only experience with having a pet choose me instead of me choosing it.
So, she came home with me. Leaving her at the store was basically a death sentence, because the unfortunate reality is that they wouldn’t pay for vet care for a $20 budgie. I brought her to the vet myself and was told that she likely had a disease that prevented her from properly digesting her food and that between that and her already being severely underweight, she was basically hanging by a thread and not expected to live much longer. I opted to try and save her anyway.
I named her Eclipse because the lunar eclipse was the same evening I brought her home. I had her for exactly one month: February 20th to March 20th. In that time, she was life-enriching. She was rarely inside of her cage when I was home. She liked being close to me — probably to get warm, as she was constantly cold from her lack of weight, but I like to think she had a higher understanding of what I was trying to do for her. She lay in my hand sometimes, or tangled herself up in my hair at the back of my neck. And she’d stay there grinding her beak (this is a sign of a bird being content) for hours.
Eclipse was smart, too. She regularly “houdini’d” her way out of her cage for three weeks before I figured out how she was doing it. When she did this, I usually ended up finding her on the window sill peacefully looking outside. It was almost other-worldly. It seemed like she was thinking about the great beyond.
Despite the medication, she was gone as suddenly as she’d arrived. When I stood up after burying her in my parents’ garden, a mourning dove startled me by flying out of one of the trees nearby. Logic may argue that it was just a coincidence, but I’m taking it as a sign that she is finally at peace.
Eclipse died almost three years ago, and I still feel profoundly affected by her presence in my life. Just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how long your pet is with you, they can still leave long-lasting impressions!
Cheers.
Tim - Great pictures! Awesome people! Love MYD!!!!
Carol Haynes - I completely agree Marcia! I got hooked on hot yoga (Moksha Yoga Burlington) last year and there is no turning back for me now. Even my teachers in kickboxing have commented how much more flexibility I have since I have been doing the hot yoga. Once I hit my mat, I just let everything go and it is my time for me to embrace the energy and get in touch with the earth. I feel like I shed my skin every time I take a class.