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Casey Jones - 6/15/19

Name/Age: Casey Jones - approx. 5 y/o

Family Members: ): Bill & Jill , Michaela (22) who visits home from college and is his favorite human in the world. Fur siblings are Cookie Louise (Chihuahua – 9 years old) and Ralphie (Cat – stray approximately 5 years old)

How long has Casey been in the family? 2 years as of July 7, 2019

Profession: Bill - Salesperson Jill- Paralegal

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames: Case Case, Doofus, Casey Boy, A-Aron, Buddy

5 words/phrases that best describe Casey Jones?

Sweet
Goody
Fun
Bouncy
Happy

What makes Casey unique? Casey is very bouncy but loves to cuddle. Every night when it’s time for bed we say “it’s time for night night” and he runs back to his crate and snuggles with his giant stuffed rabbit Mr. Bunny.

Cooling off on a warm day! (name sake hint on his leash)

Rescue Story: We attended the Lifeline event at DeKalb County Animal Services when they were closing to move to their new facility. We had no plans to adopt a dog but were there to support Lifeline. Walking through I came around the corner and saw this beat up, scared dog in a kennel with 4 other dogs jumping all around him. He was just leaning against the wall with his face against the fencing. Not moving, totally shut down with no hope or light in his eyes. He had a huge neck scar and scars all over his face and head with bite scars up and down his body. I told my husband I wanted to take him out to the meet and greet area and he asked “are you sure you want this one?” I can’t explain it but when I looked in his eyes I knew he was meant to be mine. When we got him outside, he low crawled over to us, but his tail was giving little wags and he laid his head on our laps. We were told he had been chained up his entire life and had obviously been in some fights, but his disposition was so sweet even when he met our less than sweet Chihuahua who snarled and snapped. He just licked her and continued to wag his tail. He had a horrible kennel cough and ear infections with goop coming out of his eyes. We got antibiotics, took him to our vet when we got him home and within a few months his infections had cleared up. He still has BB pellets in his back right hip and a scar that hasn’t been covered once his hair grew in, but he has grown into a beautiful boy (although he still gets nervous around other dogs, especially when they bark, and he doesn’t like his legs pulled on or his paws touched).

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to walk with Casey in our neighborhood and hiking around various Georgia parks. He loves going to Tuscaloosa to see our daughter at the University of Alabama and makes friends wherever he goes.

What is life like since you rescued Casey Jones? Casey has shown us what it means to truly forgive and love unconditionally. He does not have any bad days despite his really bad start. It took him a while to learn to be a dog as he didn’t know anything – how to ride in a car, how to go up and down stairs, how to get up and lie on a sofa, how to play with a toy, how to eat a treat or know that he wasn’t going to be hit any time we moved. He is a fun loving sweetheart and he’s taught us to really enjoy each and every day. Casey has also changed perceptions in our family about pit bull type breeds. My dad was concerned when we first got him as he had heard such bad things about them and now he loves Casey, has him over to his house to hang out and says Casey really changed his mind about pit bull type dogs. Casey has also made me more of an advocate for not only pit bull type dogs but for all the dogs who are in shelters, rescues and other circumstances in which they need homes and I am now actively involved in transporting adoptable dogs and participating in adoption events. He is our heart.

Photographers Note: I met up with Bill, Jill & Casey at Mabry Park. Casey was very excited to be on this adventure whatever it might be. He was all wiggles and smiles; his coat just gleaming in the sunshine. (a big difference from the day he was brought home). I saw no hint of the scared pup he was at the shelter. He clearly has many reasons to be but this boy has hit the jack pot! His family has worked with him to help him gain his confidence,understand that most humans are good people and to really enjoy life (although I would bet some of the latter was always there). With all that work and his amazing personality, he is changing perceptions all on his own. It’s amazing how much just one loved pup can do. I even heard promises of hamburgers at a restaurant after the shoot because he was such a good boy. Pretty sure his life on a chain has been left in the rear view, as he sits in his air conditioned van, with a big smile on his face heading to that reward!

Bali - 5/27/19

Name/Age: Bali - She is supposedly 5, but you know how it is with rescues 😊

Family Members: Andrea & Jimmy plus Bali. We are a small family, but happy.

How long has Bali been in the family? ?: 2 years, as of February 25th of this year.

Profession: Andrea works in maternal and child health at the CDC. Jimmy is a chef at Alon’s Bakery.

Location: Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, GA

Nicknames: Baby Hippo, Princess, Princesa, Pollita, La Nina, Puerca (she has a lot of Spanish nicknames because we speak to her in Spanish a lot too)

5 words/phrases that best describe Bali?

Loyal
Goofy
Lazy
Snuggle Bug
Sweet

What makes Bali unique? Often when Bali comes back inside the house, one of us will hide. She will run around looking for us until she finds us. It is our own little version of hide and seek.

Rescue Story: In early 2017, Jimmy and I started talking about getting a dog. I knew I wanted a bigger breed, having grown up with a larger dog. Jimmy grew up with lots of dogs, including pit bulls and really wanted another pit. I started perusing shelters in Atlanta because I knew we wanted a rescue. I found ‘Flare’ on the page for adoptions at PAWS (a no-kill shelter in Decatur.) I thought she was so cute and we decided to go, just to ‘meet her.’ Little did we know that our lives were about to change forever. We showed up and said we wanted to meet Flare and the second she came out, all dirty and skinny, we knew that it was meant to be. She had been picked up by animal control a few months back and was recently post-partum, but the details of her story remain a mystery to this day. We didn’t even have dog food at our house but when they asked if we wanted to take her home that day, we enthusiastically said yes. As we drove home, Flare stuck her head out the window and smiled a big pit grin. We discussed changing her name, as she didn’t respond to Flare and it just didn’t seem to fit. We had recently been to Indonesia on vacation so when Jimmy suggested the name ‘Bali’, it sounded perfect. Once we got home, Bali sniffed around a bit and quickly jumped up on the couch, laid down and let out a deep sigh. She was home.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Bali’s favorite past time is napping right next to one of us. Whether snuggled next to us on the couch or lounging in her dog bed below my desk, she is happiest when she is close to her parents. She also loves belly rubs and playing fetch with a tennis ball. On the weekends, the three of us love to go hiking and our favorite: family camping trips.

What is life like since you rescued Bali? Our lives are astronomically better since adopting Bali. We work different schedules so she provides the best company when one of us is home alone. All she wants is to love and be loved. There is nothing better than seeing her jump off the couch and wiggle her butt as she walks towards you to say hello when arriving home. Yes, we are “that couple” that is obsessed with their dog, but we fully embrace it. I am confident that Bali’s life is also significantly better since we rescued her. She has put on several pounds (probably all the table scraps she gets from Jimmy’s restaurant!) and lives a lazy life with two parents that would do anything for her.

Photographers Note: Andrea, Jimmy & Bali came to volunteer because a friend of mine happened to be pacing a running race on her bike and Bali was a spectator. She noticed Bali (cause I mean who wouldn’t), stopped and spoke to Andrea about my little project. Andrea emailed shortly after. (I have the most supportive friends). Turns out Andrea & Jimmy are all about changing perceptions as they co-own a small coffee company that offers organic, fair-trade coffee grown by women farmers in Honduras. From her email “ also trying to change the narrative about a beautiful country that has a terrible reputation, just like our beloved pits.” (https://www.cafecelaque.com/)

We met up on a very warm evening but Bali was a trooper (so were her parents)! She was having blast watching the ducks and all the people in the park. I mean when you get to photograph a smile like hers, the heat really doesn’t seem to bother you much!

Tiny Rocket - 5/18/19

Name/Age: Tiny Rocket - 2 y/o

Family Members: Isis (Mom) & a Beta Fish

How long has Rocket been in the family? Since Dec. 1st, 2018

Profession: Cardiac Cath Lab Tech & Dog Trainer

Location: Smyrna, GA.

Nicknames: Raw-Raw, Rock-a-doo

5 words/phrases that best describe Rocket?

Joyous
Dashing
Morning Dog - no coffee needed.
Animated
Dynamic

What makes Rocket unique? When humans come over, she is so excited to see them, that she grabs the first thing she can find- socks, toys, shoes , anything! Then she prances around showing off what she brought them. Rocket also likes to dance to Salsa music with me.

Corners like she is on rails! (Pretty Woman Reference)

Rescue Story: Tiny was presented to me as a foster dog, that needed a special home. She was a dog bought off the street with a checkered past. She had amazing foster parents Jackie and Steve, who were very patient with her physical injuries and emotional scars. Her foster parents volunteer with Road Trip Home Animal Rescue and were able to spay, microchip and vaccinate Tiny. As they got to know her better, she needed extensive treatment of an eye injury plus 4 broken teeth extractions. I officially adopted her 12/1/2018 after they waited 2 months for me to move into my new house with a huge backyard. Tiny then became TINY ROCKET in her new home where she has flourished. She has had multiple eye surgeries due to a broken eye orbital. Dr. Carey at Apex Animal Hospital found she has a broken tail, skin scars along the right side of the body and small metal bullets in her lower body. Tiny Rocket has been going to training to help establish a positive relationship with people and other dogs. We are very proud of her achievements in socialization and look forward to helping her healing process.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love bath time. I take her to our local pet store "Pet Supplies Plus in Smyrna" and she enjoys the shampoo massage and towel drying. She likes to give morning snuggles and kisses.

What is life like since you rescued Tiny Rocket? Much more excitement and joy in the house, toys everywhere. She helped me thru a sad time after I lost my mom last year.

Photographers Note: All I can say is this girls name fits her, she is a speedy little bundle of energy and loves to run around her huge backyard. Rocket is another example of where humans clearly let her down and yet, to see her play and greet me (a stranger), there is no sign of that let down. One of the words that her Mom used to describe her above; joyous is spot on. She is joyous! After speaking with Isis, she has done a ton of work with her to help gain her confidence and work through some issues she has & that work continues. Even with whatever she experienced in her past, this dog is happy! I am so glad her foster parents waited for Isis because these two were meant to be together.

Emailing with Isis after the shoot, I asked if Rocket was tired out afterwards. Evidence below:

It’s tiring work being “the talent” for a photo shoot!

Luna - 5/4/19

Name/Age: Luna - 2.5-ish y/o

Family Members: Ashley & Joe

How long has Luna been in the family? Around 1.5 years

Professions: Ashley & Joe are both CPA’s

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Lun-o (my 3-year old niece started calling her that), Luna The Destroyer, Luna Tuna

5 words/phrases that best describe Luna?

Sweet
Smart
Clown
Ball Thief
Kangaroo

What makes Luna unique? I don’t think she has ever met a stranger. She loves almost everyone she has ever met, and walks right up and leans on them or sits on their feet if they give her attention. She is a clown, and there has not been a day since we have had her that she does not make me laugh. She is so smart – we have taught her several tricks, like jumping into a box on command, sitting on a small stool like a circus lion, and shaking both left and right hands. Give her some snacks and work with her for a few minutes, and she can learn anything. She also seems to have springs in her back legs and can jump super high, leaping over other dogs at the dog park, flying through the door to jump on the bed, or just jumping straight in the air to get her tug rope from your hand. I love watching people who do not know her watch her jump for the first time.

Gliding through the air with the greatest of ease!

Rescue Story: I had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to my 15 year old Dachshund, Denver, in February 2017. He was my first dog ever, and was lucky to spend 11 of his 15 years together. It was so hard watching him grow old and say goodbye that I swore that I would never have another dog.

Fast forward to August 2017, I organized a service project for my office at Lifeline Animal Project, and was paired with a beautiful gray bully for a walk around the block. By the time we got back, I realized that there was a dog shaped hole in my heart. Pretty soon after, we started the process of looking for a dog. We searched Petfinder for about a month looking for “our” dog. We wanted a young, medium sized dog that could potentially be a running partner for Joe, no specific breed or gender in mind. Knowing so many wonderfully bullies from some of my gym friends, I was open to a bully or bully mix. We kept going back to Luna’s profile – something about this “hound mix” just spoke to us and I had a feeling that she was meant to be our dog. We contacted Homeless Pet Foundation to arrange a meeting. She walked up to us at a Saturday adoption event at a PetSmart and sat right in my lap. I was immediately in love, and we took her home that day.

We were told that she was an owner surrender, and that her previous family was ill and could no longer care for her. She had been in the shelter for about 3 weeks, and had recently been spayed.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to take Luna on adventures. She can frequently be found on the patio at Rev Coffee on weekend mornings, followed by a few rounds of fetch at a nearby dog park. We take her to breweries and restaurants to sit on the patio so she can chew a water buffalo horn and get scratches from strangers. She is also an amazing cuddler and always down for a Netflix binge.

What is life like since you rescued Luna? I was not exactly prepared for her energy level – a one-year old dog is fully grown, right? I never had dogs growing up, and my only previous dog was older when I adopted him, and generally low-key. She was very calm and gentle her first few days, but she very quickly got comfortable and let her personality shine, and destroyed all of the toys that she had previously been so gentle with. She gnawed her harness off in her crate. She somehow managed to get the crate liner pan out of her crate and bending the frame without getting herself out. She was super mouthy, but only with me, and only on my hands – I had a lot of bruises the first few weeks. I also had fights with her every morning while I was getting ready for work – she would steal each item of clothing and I had to chase her around the house to get my sweater back. Joe is more of the disciplinarian – even dogs we meet out in public, whose owners claim their dog does not know how to sit will sit for him. She seemed to know not to try these shenanigans with him. I was the pushover who was just so happy to have some floppy ears to pet that I let her get away with anything.

We quickly enrolled her in basic obedience classes through K-9 Coach and started sending her to playcare a few days a week to help her work on socialization and manners, and work off some of her crazy puppy energy. She passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen exam (barely – she never quite got the hang of leash walking on a collar). That process really helped us all to bond and helped channel her energy into something more productive than stealing clothes and pulverizing DVD player remotes. And now she is a lot older, and her energy level is still high, but has calmed down quite a bit.

Through the last almost year and a half, we have really had to adjust our schedules to make sure that we are giving her enough attention and exercise. We are both CPAs, so several months of the year, we work very long hours. We have a schedule set of who is working from home on the evenings (which has actually been really helpful for us as well), when she is going to playcare, who is responsible for feeding. We don’t plan on having any human children, but basically treat Luna like she is one. She fits into our lives so well that as long as a place is dog-friendly, we bring her with us. It’s taken some work and patience to get this far, but I am so happy that we have her in our lives. She has definitely been worth the work and adjustment, and I cannot imagine our lives without her.

Photographers Note: I met up with Luna, Ashley & Joe at the Atlanta Polo Fields in Vinings. My second time at this location for a photo shoot. It was a warm day but the space was perfect for Luna to show off her ball skills and drain a little of that energy that was mentioned above. I will say I did get to witness all the hardwork that has been put into her training as well as her leaping skills (see below). She was such a good girl, even with horses and other distractions around. One of the many things about Luna that I love, is when you look at her you for sure see hound in there but then from the back, her little body is all bully! An adorable combo for sure! Another amazing family that determined what was best for their family member and adjusted accordingly to ensure everyone is living happily forever after!