DreamEyce Studio Blog

This is how to save a life

dreameyce — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:10:07 +0000

I don’t usually like to ‘brag on’ or talk about my passionate, emotional work with animal rescue/saving lives in local (North Texas) high-kill shelters and rescues, but here’s an article that mentions my photography, and 3 puppies (BoBo, Roberta, and Dakota) that my family pulled from Sherman, Texas animal control (A rural high-kill shelter right at the Oklahoma border) to transport to a rescue in southern Texas: http://pawsitivelytexas.com/shelter-puppies-rescued-beat-parvo/ I was able to pull these puppies I’d photographed (Along with all the other animals at the shelter) 2 weeks in a row from the shelter, then drove them over 7 hours down to For the Love of Strays rescue in Corpus Christi, TX to a rescue that was willing to take them in. They had picked up parvo at the shelter and we didn’t know it, but with the love, and care from their foster home Liza Hitt and her family they all 3 made it through and were ADOPTED!

A quote from me: “I knew the moment I met these kiddos I needed to help get them out of there, and was shocked when I went in the next week (To the Sherman, TX animal control) and they were still at the shelter! I’m so happy that Liza (Leo’s Mom), and For the Love of Strays were able to take them in as we rushed to get it all settled down. The road trip was long but SO worth it, and being new to Texas (From Oregon) and never having been down that way, the drive from Denton to Corpus Christi was a wonderful experience for us.

I feel so blessed that my photography is making a big impact in the local rescue scene, and I hope to be able to keep up the life saving… one camera click at a time. Nothing like something you love doing so much making a difference, and changing the world, one pup at a time!”

When we had moved to north Texas from Oregon I knew about the high kill rate of some regions, but never seen it, and the effects of a throw-away community, where even animals were disposable commodities. I came down here and was shocked, and saddened to see so many strays, roaming dogs, dogs sold on street corners, in flea markets, and overflowing in community animal shelters. It’s been a huge culture shock for me, to see highly adoptable animals not only being surrendered into shelters in the first place and not snatched up that same day, but that they’re being killed in masses. While I can’t personally save them all, I do my damnest to help network, and find homes out there for the ones that I am able to help.

If anyone thinks “it can’t be done”, regarding saving the lives of shelter dogs, well you’re very wrong. It can be done, it just takes actually taking the time to network the available animals that are in shelters, and getting them into forever homes. If anyone wonders how, this article is a great example of how to saves lives of adoptable animals who’re being killed in shelters every day. For more information on the no-kill movement, Nathan J Winograd has books and online information on how he has created no-kill communities all around the US. I attended to No-Kill DFW conference last month and heard him and others speak about how they made no-kill communities. I’m very glad I was able to go! (Was a birthday present from my friend Natalie, who nabbed me a ticket to go with her right before they sold out!)

The best part of the story of these 3 little Heeler puppies that no one wanted in North Texas, is that not only were they adopted by wonderful families in Corpus Christi, but Liza herself adopted the little girl who was first to come down with parvo and almost died!

If you would like to help save lives of shelter pets, please support your local shelters (They need money, food, bedding, toys, etc), volunteer if you can (Care for animals in shelters, foster, transport), help network pets in need, consider adopting pets and NEVER support for-profit breeding of animals, and help educate and promote responsible pet ownership in your community. Animals don’t get into shelters and killed by mistake- it takes an irresponsible person to land the animal in the shelter in the first place. If we can work to keep animals out of shelters in the first place through education, we have more chances to help the ones who do wind up in shelters get out without overcrowding. In my dream world we’ll all live in communities where adoptable animals are adopted, and if an animal has problems and needs to be euthanized, they can have a loving, peaceful, and respectful goodbye rather than gassing, or assembly-line style kill and toss. No creatures deserve that, and the situation can change if communities work to make it happen. This my friends, is how lives are saved.

Photoshop Magic: Before and After

dreameyce — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:45:44 +0000

I don’t generally like to use photoshop/post-processing much (I prefer to take a photos right the first time, than fuss with it afterwards since I’d rather shoot than photoshop!) but here’s one of the few photos I decided to do a lot of ’surgery’ on!

As a photographer I aim to set up the shot perfect right from the get-go, but sometimes I don’t have the best background or environment though. This is a boy at Chance’s Haven dog rescue in Gainsville, Texas, up for adoption. The only location they had for photos was the front yard, and the dogs had to wear a leash. He was playing, and fetching, leaping, and twisting for his ball, and he stopped and made the most adorable pose and face and I GOT it… with the leash wrapped around him, and lots of clutter in the way. I’m glad I was able to save the shot through the magic of post-processing.

I’m by no means a photoshop expert, so PLEASE input from those who are if you have any. I’m not totally sold on the colors, but I like how it makes him pop. I’m glad I’m learning, because as much as I work my tushie off to get shots exact in the first place, sometimes, like here, I need photoshop’s assistance, and I’m glad I’m becoming skilled enough with that tool I can make a difference!

Rusty was very fun to photograph, handsome, charismatic, and FUN! He’s also available, and would love to play fetch all day with anyone willing to toss his ball for him!

Check out Chance’s Haven on Facebook, and watch for more photos of their adoptable dogs by DreamEyce Studio in the future! Consider adopting today, if you have space in your home for a pet in need. If you’re not in the position to adopt, there’s always donating to help care for the sick or injured dogs who often arrive at Chance’s Haven and other dog rescues!

The photo that started it all

dreameyce — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:56:19 +0000

There was a very defined moment when I fell in love with photography. I was around 12 years old. I had been taking snapshots for a few years, taking pictures whenever I could. I would use some of my dog walking, dog bathing, dog sitting, babysitting, and lawn work money as a kid to buy film for my trinky little point and shoot 35mm cameras (The rest was used on dog stuff, and shows!), but they were nothing but hard images, before this hard-hitter for me. Excuse the poor copy, it’s a shitty scan of a beat up scrapbook picture.

This is Drake. Now I’m sure most of you have never met Drake (I won’t say “none of you”, as I know some family reads here, and they’d have met Drake! ;), but Drake was important. Drake was an amazing dog. Ok, ok, he was amazing in the mundane, typical beloved dog kind of way. He never won awards, he never saved lives, or leaped over tall fences to chase after cats down the road to create lasting “naughty dog” memories like some. He was likely a Labrador x Bloodhound mix. No one knows, he was a mutt, picked up as an adult from an unknown background. But Drake was important. He was amazing. I remember as a child I knew when our neighbor was coming home, because he’d begin baying as they turned down the street towards his house. He’d be sound asleep in the truck, but as soon as they made that turn, he’d start baying. Occasionally she’d try to trick him, by taking different routes home, but he always knew HIS road. We never figured out why, and it was only that road that caused his baying. That’s just one of many things, that made Drake amazing.

Drakes owner wasn’t much of a picture taker, and while I’m sure I’d taken some snapshots of him before, I don’t remember them. But this one was different. I framed it in the viewfinder, and really made the picture in my head. It wasn’t just ‘point and click’, but I really envisioned what I wanted the picture to look like. When I picked up this developed roll from the grocery store around the corner it hit me right then and there. I’d nailed it. That didn’t mean as much though, until I presented the picture tho Drake’s owner who broke down sobbing.

Now Drake has passed, cancer, as so many dogs I’ve known and loved have but this photograph showing him in all his splendor lives on. And you know what? That’s incredibly important to me. I often sit back and like most young people, try and figure out what the heck the point of my life is, where my place in this world is, and what the heck I’m suppose to do next. No matter what turn I’ve made, it always brings me right back here. Right back to Drake, and all the other pets I’ve put my heart, passion, and soul into. Because while I don’t know why, it’s important to me. And most importantly, it’s important to their owners. And the hard-hitter there, is that these photographs last forever. Generations from now these photos will still be here. Drake will still be here. And I really love capturing that. I can’t explain why I love it, I don’t understand why it’s so important to me, but it is. And that alone, is important.

I’d like to thank my wonderful Aunt Dee Dee for that camera. Now, she bought it for me hoping I’d take pictures of my siblings and family to send to her so this wasn’t quite her intention, but even though she didn’t get those photos of the kids, she did help me discover this passion of mine… even if is was all still linked to dogs ;)

Lure coursing Cardi fun

dreameyce — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:13:38 +0000

We took Maegan on a fun outing to a local lure coursing fun run. I didn’t expect her to run, but the event benefited rescue and included lunch so I entered her anyways for the heck of it. She rocked the lure, which really shocked me, since she’s not a high-drive girl, at all!

While she’s not as graceful to watch running as the slender, graceful Sighthounds, she was the talk of the event, being that stubby little dog that CAN. She ran 2 courses that day, and would have run more if I’d allowed her. She was game for that fun lure-chasing activity!

Last year we attended a lure-coursing fun event with Roy Rogers, and he had a BLAST chasing the lure, until on his 2nd run he realized that the grasshoppers on the field were REAL, and the bag fake, so redirected his hunt on the tasty bugs ;) Lets hope that when we try for his AKC Coursing Ability Title (CAT), that there’s no grasshoppers on the course! HAHA!

Dear Santa, I love butterflies.

dreameyce — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:25:59 +0000

Dear Santa,
I know it’s a ways off, but I’d really like a good butterfly picture-taking lens in time for next years butterfly season. This gives you a few months to save, and I promise I’ll try to be good.
Love,
That weird dog crazy chick, with a clicky box attached to her face most of the time.

I’m amazed and delighted by all the butterflies here in Texas! I’ve never been around so many butterflies before! The most I’d seen before here were on a summer hike up Mary’s Peak in Oregon, and even those flutterers were nothing compared to the butterflies that fill my yard in the Texas spring and summers! I just wish I had a better lens, for better butterfly pictures…. but oh well, I’ll do it anyways!

These spotty butterflies are currently infesting a neighbors bush, and come summer, some multi-colored blackish ones will infest the tree in a neighbors yard, at times, covering branches. There’s such a wide variety, and I’m in love with every one of them I see! And during all this butterfly season excitement, my yard will look like a butterfly graveyard, as my Corgis who don’t appreciate butterflies in the same way I do, leap up and take down any that dare come within Cardigan soaring reach…. wonder if I can fit a net over the dog yard this year to spare some butterfly lives? ;)

An interesting, almost creepy find while out hiking

dreameyce — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:20:13 +0000

Interesting, almost creepy find in the woods this week! This small bottle has a “handprint”-looking marking on the inside of it. When I first saw the bottle I thought it was a raccoon track on dirt on the bottle, but upon examining I found the mark was more human-like, and on the inside, not the outside of the bottle. Really cool!

That’s my 7yo daughters hand, for comparison of size. I left the bottle there in the woods for the next person to find, and wonder, what caused the hand-like marking inside of the bottle like that?

Goodbye, Good Girl Teri-Anne

dreameyce — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:00:14 +0000

A friend’s 12 year old Siberian Husky passed away. I’ve known her as long as I’ve known my husband, so 10 years. Loosing an old dog who was a rich part of your life is one of the hardest things, as it shows just how fast time goes, as I remember all the highlights of life, as her owner Amy and I had our life changes, and adventures.

Waiting for puppies, on new years eve

Teri was incredibly maternal, and raised multiple foster cat litters, even lactated for some. She was always loving, and outgoing with children, and shined whenever babies were around, her pups and all others. Her sweetness was who she was, the core of her being, and she always had a look of aged wisdom, as though she always knew something that you didn’t know. As she aged her expression never changed, as she already had seemed to know all, only her face got more white, and her activity slowed down.

Teri-Anne was loved by many, had many fans, and was most of all important to her owner. She was an incredible Siberian, and as old dogs go, she only got better with age. You changed the world, Teri. You changed the world all for the better. We love you, good girl!

Land of the free, and home of the muddy dogs.

dreameyce — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:11:33 +0000

The best part about living within very easy access of hiking trails, is lots of super fun adventures, like these! We had a record-breaking drought over the summer, and now with record rainfall, the area has made up for it’s lack of rain, and then some! Mud, mud, lots of mud, and plenty of quiet, private wooded acres and trails to run and hike the dogs through! This time it was Mimi, Maegan, and Archer with kidlet, and our friend Natalie, too. Sometimes there’s less dogs, sometimes there’s more dogs, all depends on my mood at the time, and how many dogs I feel like walking on leash down to the trails, as they’re rearing to go to their favorite running, and adventure spot!

Mimi can get quite possessive of her stick/toys, but after the muddy smackdown, Archer was right back to his total Mimi adoration.

The paws of a terrible swamp monster! Well, Mimi’s paws! LOL

When hiking down in Texas, you can’t forget the boots!

Archer and Maegan wanted to follow Mimi up the steep bank, but it was too slippery. Mimi avoids the slickness, by simply leaping from the water, to the edge and pulling herself up from there like she’s hanging off a cliff.

Maegan got brave though, and slowly figured out she could work her way slowly up. Impressive!
Steep slippery banks are hard work for short stubby legs!

Rubbing it in, just to make Archer jealous

Sad Archer is sad he can’t figure out how to follow the girls to the other side!

Mimi shows Maegan how to do the BONG out of water. Maeggie takes some notes.

Maegan hopes to be like Mimi when she grows up.

Maegan can’t figure out how to use the log as a bridge like Mimi does…

So she takes a leap, but whoops, not as graceful as Mimi does it!

Pride unhurt, she keeps on crossing!

Then shows a little friend the ropes

And replenishes all the nutrients she’d lost, from all that hard work… Cowdog!

Cool random mushroom I spotted. I used to know what these were called, but I’ve forgotten!

Along the trails we found a random gravehole just the right size for Mimi, so being morbid we had Mimi pose in it, with her new collar that says “Zombie Bait”, from Ella’s Lead. Walking Dead show fans may appreciate that decorative collar!

We have lots of fun out here, and not only do we have the woods right across from our house, but we’ve got the lake to play in right down the road. It’s nice to be spoiled like this!

Pretty Maegan at 10mos

dreameyce — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:44:15 +0000

Our baby, DreamEyce Lowryder Highrise dancer, at 10mos. She’s not been shown in AKC yet due to family budget kinks, but hopefully soon! My focus now is getting Roy Rogers finished, so we can focus on performance with him. Maegan is UKC pointed, from her first and only UKC show and I’m sure will finish fast in UKC like her brother Wyatt did. She’s at her tubey stage, so I’m sitting back watching her grow, and doing the typical show dog owner nail-biting with a puppy!

This little gal was born in my hands, and the one I was first drawn to, as I’ve always wanted a black brindle Cardigan. I’m glad she’s turning out so pretty, plus has such lovely angles, and effortless, beautiful movement. Her temperament matches her beauty, she’s amazingly gentle with children, as well as other dogs with a ‘loves everyone’ carefree disposition. I’m excited about her future, and watching all my pups continue to grow up so well, and do so much! They make me proud :)

Karin, a rescue Cardigan Welsh Corgi

dreameyce — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 04:31:29 +0000

It’s not often you see a Cardigan in a high-kill shelter, so imagine my double-take when a few months after spotting her in a shelter and she was adopted, she turns up on craigslist looking for an urgent home. Thankfully I was able to snatch her up before she became an online “hot potato pet” as I call them, passed from home to home via free ads! Karin is young, likely less than 3 years of age. We’re not sure if she’s purebred Cardigan, but she’s believed to be either that or a VERY convincing mix, as she acts just like a Cardigan.

Karin is a true clown, always goofy, and strives to make people laugh. She’s a very fast learner, very food-motivated, and aims to please. She’s learned an assortment of tricks in just the short time she’s been under my care and loves learning new things daily.

Karin sits pretty for a cookie. Awww!

Karin may still be looking for her forever home, so if you’re interested in adoption info, and meeting Miss Karin please drop me a note. Karin is in Denton, Texas, spayed, heartworm negative, working on basic training, crate-trained, and is pretty reliable in house training but has had a couple messes. She loves to snuggle, and goes “wooooo woooo woooo” when she gets really happy, or wants something. She’s good with other dogs, but can play rough, and she’s terrified of the veterinarian’s office but we’re working on that and she’s doing very well with visits to the offices just for cuddles, and cookies. Karin is great with and loves kids, as well as cats.