Quasi, the "Ugly" Cat Who Will Win Your Heart

If you follow this blog, you know by now how much I love pets with special needs/facial deformities.  I just think the world needs to know how awesome they are!  If you've heard of Lil' Bub, Pirate Pug Jack, Dillon the Blind Cat - whose mom I interviewed! - or Zombie Cat, then you NEED Quasi on your radar as well!

Quasi's mom Renee calls her "adorkable," and the world knows her as "UglyKitty."  No one really knows what gives her such a unique look - they think it may be an unresolved cleft lip - but it has made her something of a star!

Quasi was the inspiration for the UglyKitty Fund, which raises money for a Maryland shelter.  Since starting the fund in 2006, Quasi and her mom have raised over $5,000 for the shelter, all the while raising awareness for all of the wonderfulness that is a special-needs kitty.  :)  I got Quasi's rescue story from Renee herself - check it out below!

(Photo from Quasi's website)

"When I graduated from college and moved to Maryland," Quasi's mom wrote, "I already had a small cat that I had picked up as a stray; however, I knew I wanted two cats.  I started searching the Petfinder website for local shelter cats that needed homes when I stumbled across Quasi.  I'll be honest, her photo did not do her justice, but my heart went out to her.  I told myself that she needed a home first.  If she was still available when I went to the shelter, I would take her home.  A few weeks later, I set up a time and went over to the shelter.  Luckily, Quasi, or Faith as she was called at the time, was still available.

"The shelter was an open setting where the cats were free to roam around.  It took me a few minutes to find her...sitting in the middle of a giant food bowl with a bunch of other cats eating around her.  I expected to see her cowering in the corner, but she was right there in the middle, holding her own.  I completed some paperwork, scheduled the in-home visit, and looked forward to bringing her home."

(Photo from Quasi's website)

Quasi was timid when she first arrived at her new home, Renee says, and she hid under the bed for two weeks.  When she finally emerged, she was still jumpy, running away when her new mom "moved or sneezed or said anything."  It wasn't until a year later that the shelter kitty finally felt comfortable to snuggle up on Renee's lap, and after that, she says, "Now, it's basically impossible to remove her from my lap."  

"I'm so happy that I took a chance on her and even more so that I was patient and let her come around on her schedule," Quasi's happy mom says.  "She's the most adorable, silly, loving cat that I've ever met.  I'm so lucky to have her." 

(Photo from Quasi's Facebook page)

I love happy endings like this one!  Where most people would have passed right by this kitty, thinking it "ugly" (hence the name "UglyKitty"), Renee saw Quasi's pure adorableness and took a chance.  Thanks, Renee, and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Visit Quasi's Website!

Visit Quasi's Twitter page!

Visit Quasi's Facebook page!

Visit Quasi's Instagram!

AND check out the UglyKitty Fund/Etsy shop!

June is all about cats, and I featured this rescue story as part of Adopt-a-Cat Month on BlogPaws!  Join the Hop and tell us your kitty adoption stories!

Thanks for reading, and if you have an inspiring rescue story you'd like to share, just shoot me an email or tweet me @SecondChances23 :)

An Interview with Design Crush blogger Kelly!

Kelly, founder of the popular blog Design Crush, is most passionate about three things:  art, design, and animal rescue.  Since 2007, she has been blogging about the things that inspire her - up-and-coming artists, gorgeous wallpaper, DIY projects - and I have been following along for several months now.  Kelly's blog has filled up many of my bookmarks (with things to buy, things to make, things to drool over), but my favorite posts on Design Crush are the ones about animals.  Kelly often rounds up great links featuring animals or rescue, shares cool new products for dogs or cats, and features animal-inspired art; she also has shared a bit about her own menagerie!

Currently, Kelly has five pets - three cats and two dogs - and they are all rescues.  One was abandoned inside a sealed crate in a parking lot, and another was a lost pet as a result of last year's Oklahoma tornadoes.  She is also very involved with fostering animals in need and volunteering at her local shelter.  I was recently lucky enough to speak a bit with Kelly about her pets and their rescue stories.  

Bebe, Kelly's adorable "foster fail" from a local shelter

First, tell me a bit about yourself, your family, your pets, etc.  Have you always been an animal lover?

I grew up in a home town where we weren't allowed to have animals - the closest we got were fish, a turtle, an albino frog, and some hermit crabs.  But I've been an animal lover my entire life; I was the little girl who preferred stuffed animals to dolls and gravitated towards dogs and cats any time we visited someone who owned any.  I'm still that way, in fact!  I can't even explain in words the effect they have on me; I guess I just feel a connection that needs no words.  

Now I have five pets - two dogs and three cats.  Roxy (14) was my first cat, followed a year and a half later by Peanut (13).  Several years later came my pups, Piper (5), a Jack Russell/Manchester terrier mix, and Bebe (2), a Yorkie/Cairn terrier mix.  Then last fall we added Rainey the kitten (1) to our brood.

Peanut, the cat rescued from a covered container in a parking lot

How did you first get involved in animal rescue?  What led you to each of your pets?

Roxy was born to a farm cat in Arkansas and was my first cat that I adopted my sophomore year of college.  I had zero idea about felines and always had tons of questions for her vet!  About a year and a half later I adopted Peanut from that same vet after he was found inside a covered litter box that had been taped shut.  Several years later I bought my first home and couldn't wait to put up a fence so I could have a dog!  An acquaintance was fostering Piper, who had been found as a stray, and as soon as we met I took her and her immense energy with me.  Shortly after that I became involved with fostering myself through some friends who had grown up doing the same.  Bebe was my fourth dog foster who was straight out of Animal Welfare.  She almost immediately became a fail, and I actually (nerdy!) refer to her as my soul puppy because we were just meant to be together.  Last but not least comes Rainey.  Last May Oklahoma had some huge tornadoes, and the rescue group I work with became heavily involved in the reuniting of pets.  Of course, that involved some foster work as well, and I took in 8 eight-week-old kittens.  Rainey was partially feral and the last kitten left come October and I just couldn't let her go!

I suppose I got involved in fostering because I couldn't imagine not.  Once I did, I also realized the scope of how many animals are needlessly put down every year simply because people are either uneducated or too lazy to spay and neuter their pets.

Rainey, the kitten who was once a feral stray due to the Oklahoma tornadoes

Tell me a bit about your pets and their personalities.  Do they all get along?

Their personalities crack me up daily; I'm so thankful for that.  Roxy has always been a bit cranky and only really gets along with Peanut, who she has more or less grown up with.  Meanwhile, Peanut is like Switzerland - he gets along with whoever and whatever I bring in the house, including the dogs.  Piper can be a bit grouchy but has grown to like her sister Bebe, who is basically the female dog version of Peanut!  Rainey is a bit of a scaredy-cat but loves Bebe; in fact, I like to joke that she's actually Bebe's and not mine.

Piper, the energetic stray foster of a friend who came to stay in Kelly's home

What has been the most difficult thing about owning shelter pets, especially those who may have had trauma in their past?  How about the most rewarding thing?

The patience, for sure.  Bebe, in particular, had an awful shelter experience.  When I went to pick her up as a foster, they literally handed her to me to carry because she was too scared to walk out.  It was amazing to watch her do a complete 180° over the first six months - she didn't know what rawhide bones were, didn't understand the joy of being petted, none of it!  Now she's as sweet as can be and a 100% fully functioning pup.

Roxy, Kelly's first rescue cat!

What made you decide to rescue instead of buying a pet from a pet store/breeder?  What would you tell people who don't understand the importance of adopting?

I've never once looked at buying a pet as a viable option when there are so many in shelters looking for homes.  We may not know their backstories, but shelter pets are some of the most grateful, loving creatures on this earth.  When it comes to telling others about them, I just speak very openly and try to avoid the guilt side of things, though I do throw out some ugly numbers.  Nine times out of ten their eyes are wide open by the end.

If you'd like to learn more about Kelly, her pets, and the gorgeous things that inspire her, visit Design Crush!  It really is a beautiful blog - definitely check it out!  And a big thank you to Kelly for sharing her pets' stories!  :)

If you'd like to share your rescue story, comment or shoot me an email at chels_335@hotmail.com.  I always love hearing stories about animals in need finding their forever homes!

Thanks for reading!

xoxochelsea

Hangin' With Underdog Rescue!

Underdog Rescue, MN  is a wonderful non-profit rescue group that depends solely on volunteers and fosters to temporarily care for animals in need.  Their goal is to rehabilitate and rehome homeless dogs and cats of any age and breed; many of their adoptable dogs right now are senior dogs who have been rescued from puppy mills.  Underdog Rescue's adoption process is designed to find only the best, most loving homes for their animals.  The organization has been running strongly since 2000, and since then, they have adopted out over 2100 pets!  Since they don't have a building in which to house their homeless animals, they must depend on the kindness and generosity of volunteers, who foster the dogs or cats in their homes until the right home has been found.

The organization is mostly dedicated to "underdogs" - the pups who might be passed by or overlooked if they were in a regular shelter.  These include:  black dogs (and cats!), special needs animals, pit bull breeds, and puppy mill survivors, who, due to the trauma they have likely experienced, require some special love and care.  The fosters who temporarily care for these animals come to every adoption event, ready and willing to share stories about the dog's rescue, personality, and any special needs the animal might have.  Without these dedicated fosters, these homeless animals would likely be put into a city shelter, which tend to be pretty crowded in a metropolis.

Over the weekend, Jared and I made our way to Minneapolis, where Underdog Rescue was holding an adoption event in a pet supply store.  We weren't sure what to expect - we didn't think there would be too many people there, but we were wrong!  The place was packed, with one corner of the store fenced off and filled with cushy floor tiles and people and dogs everywhere!  Pekingese, Japanese chins, Yorkies, Shih tzus, Poms, and dachshunds all romping together happily in the play area.  (There were a couple of larger breed dogs - beagles, boxer, and lab mix - but there were many more small breeds.)  I was impressed at the friendliness of all the dogs...I didn't see one ounce of aggression, and the dogs all seemed to get along very well.

Jared snuggling with a sweetheart named Gavin!

A close-up of Gavin's little black bear face!  Gavin is a 5-year-old Pomeranian who spent his entire life in a puppy mill.  He is still a bit timid, but he loved being cradled like a baby by all the event's volunteers!  Check out Gavin and Underdog Rescue's other adoptable dogs here.

People seemed especially fond of Bauer the Boxer puppy, and Arnold the long-haired Doxie (who was wearing a very dapper tie!) kind of stole my heart.  Jared was partial to a Lhasa mix by the name of Crouton, while a dapple doxie (named Roxie!) adored him and kept curling up in his lap and refusing to move.  

Kiara caught my eye, since she was huddled under a folding chair in the corner.  While most of the dogs frolicked with the others and got attention from people, this poor girl was all alone.  I got closer to pet her, then scooped her up and held her on my lap for almost the entire event.  

Kiara is a 7-year-old Japanese Chin, and she is blind.  Another puppy mill rescue, she is still a bit timid but was such a sweetheart - she snuggled on my lap the whole time and rested her tiny chin on me.  Kiara seemed overwhelmed by all the chaos going on at the event, which isn't surprising - more sensory stuff going on than she was able to take in!

I have a soft spot in my heart for animals with special needs, and Kiara is definitely a heartbreaker.  Her foster came up to me toward the end of the event, asking, "Has Kiki been on your lap this whole time?!  Well, you have probably made her morning...she loves to snuggle, and this is all probably a little much for her."  Unfortunately, Underdog Rescue only adopts to people in the Minneapolis area...otherwise, I might have had to take Kiara home with me!

There was a skittish chihuahua or two, a gorgeous shih tzu who was fresh out of the puppy mill and still very wary of humans, and some senior poodles who were overwhelmed by all the hubbub, but overall I was so amazed by how well these dogs did.  Some of the puppy mill rescues had never been exposed to human affection before, so it was very impressive that they were able to not only allow a bunch of strangers handling them, but even enjoy it!  

While Jared and I took Crouton on a short walk, I asked her foster about the experience she had had fostering for Underdog.  "I love it," she responded.  "Underdog does a great job at finding the perfect home for these animals, so I don't have to worry.  And in the meantime, Crouton's kinda got the run of the household.  She gets lots of treats, even sleeps on my bed!  She really is an awesome dog."  

Arnold the Dachshund's foster rolled her eyes and smiled fondly as Arnold barked to get her attention (again!).  "He's only my second foster.  He's only been at my house for a few days, and he is already so attached to me!  He's a sweet guy, though," she said, scratching him behind the ears.

The foster of one of the senior poodles was a longtime veteran of the fostering scene.  "I've had seven other fosters," she told me as the poodle shivered on her lap.  "She has come so far since we first got her; she used to run and hide all the time, but now I can at least pet her."  I asked her if it was hard to see them go, and she replied, "No.  You know, you love them, but you learn not to get too attached.  They always end up in amazing homes."  It's volunteers like these that help Underdog Rescue to exist!  Without fosters, this organization simply would not work.

If you want to learn more about Underdogs Rescue, MN or send them a donation, you can visit their website here.  And as always, thanks for reading.

xoxochelsea

An Interview with Jack-Jack, the Blind Puppy Mill Survivor!

Last week, I blogged about Dillon the Blind Cat and his inspiring rescue story!  This week, I'm going to continue with the special-needs pet trend and feature another Instagram sweetheart:  Jack-Jack, a rescue Pomeranian who had a very rough start to life in a puppy mill.  This sweet boy was saved from the puppy mill he was in by a shelter, and he eventually found his forever home with Katie (who was nice enough to speak with me for this interview).  Because of the horrible conditions he had lived in, Jack-Jack ended up having several health issues - seven years later, he is completely blind as well as a cancer survivor!  Handsome Jack is now a bit of a "celebrity" dog; he inspires many people to fight against puppy mills and adopt puppy-mill survivors or special-needs dogs.  He currently lives a happy life with his mom, a few cats, and two Pomeranian siblings in Chicago, where, thanks to advocates like Katie, the sale of puppy mill dogs to pet stores was recently banned!  Read on to learn more about Jack-Jack's rescue story!  (All photos are from Jack's Facebook page)

Jack-Jack wishes you a happy belated Easter!

How did you get involved with animal rescue? 

I got involved with the rescue Jack is from through a friend who was adopting through them.  I drove the 3 hours to the rescue coordinator's, Jo's, house with her to pick up her dog.  I hit it off with the rescue coordinator, and she asked me if I would foster.  A few days later she told me she had a dog named Pedro from a puppy mill that really needed a foster home.  I agreed, and picked him up the next day.  Jack was that dog named Pedro.  I knew he had a spot on his right eye, and my Mom re-named him Jack (after 'one eyed Jack'). Jack had never really been outside or experienced life outside of a tiny cage in a puppy mill.  I bonded with him immediately.  He sat on my couch and just stared at everything going on.  Three days later Jo called and said she had a possible application on him, but had seen the instant bond we had and I had first rights on him.  It also happened to be my 24th birthday.  Without hesitation I said 'He's mine!'  He was the first- and last- dog I fostered.  I knew I wouldn't be able to continue fostering unless I ultimately wanted to keep the dog.  Instead I work on fund raising for a few different organizations.  I also own a pet supply store in Chicago called Parker's, and we hold adoption events and foster cats for a local cat rescue.  We also do a lot of fundraising for a local pet food pantry and recently donated almost 5k lbs of food to them.

What made you decide to adopt Jack-Jack rather than purchasing a dog from a breeder?

I decided to rescue after I got my first Pom, Parker.  I did all of the things you're supposed to do to find a reputable breeder- went through the breed's parent club, spoke extensively to the breeder... There were definitely some red flags, but they were easy to ignore when she was sending me super cute pictures of my tiny puppy!  Parker has had extensive health problems since he was a puppy.  When I emailed her to ask if he had been having constant bouts of diarrhea with her and to tell her I was working with the great vets at Purdue to figure out what was wrong with him, she never emailed me back.  I never heard from her after that!

(Note: Poor Parker :( This is a sad but true consequence that can happen when purchasing a dog from breeders.  Many breeders can seem very trustworthy, while they are actually just trying to get you to buy a dog from them.  If you want to go through a breeder for a puppy, make sure you physically see the living conditions in which the dogs are kept, and ask if you can meet the puppy's parents as well.  A reputable breeder should let you do this with no problems.)

Jack-Jack with his siblings Parker (left), Bebe (right), and a stuffed Pom friend!

 What is Jack's personality like?  How does he seem to have adjusted to life outside of a puppy mill?

Jack has an amazing personality.  He is absolutely bombproof- you can do anything to him and he would never think of getting upset.  You can take him anywhere and he's well behaved.  His medical team at Purdue LOVES when he comes because he's such a good patient.  He "works" at my store every day greeting customers and stealing treats and chews.  He's really a dream and absolutely the dog of a lifetime.  Jack is my heart dog, no doubt.  He survived distemper at a puppy mill, he survived a puppy mill, then started going blind, survived cancer... And he still has an amazing attitude. 

There definitely were challenges with both him and Bebe coming from a puppy mill.  He was actually the easier of my 2 mill rescues.  Jack pretty much lived on my couch for 6 months.  He just watched everything going on, took it all in.  I even fed him on the couch!  I learned early on with him to just let him do what he's comfortable with.  Eventually he decided that the world wasn't a scary place, and he should come off of the couch!

One of the amazing things about Jack is how well he adapted to going blind.  He has Progressive Retinal Atrophy.  My mom first noticed his sight issues a year or so into me owning him.  Since then his retinas are completely degenerated.  He copes so well with being blind even this ophthalmologists at Purdue don't understand how he does so well!  Every once in a while he bumps into things, and he does have a higher gait when he's in an unfamiliar place.  He still goes up and down stairs, though!  Unless you tell someone it's VERY difficult to tell he's blind.  He still goes to daycare once a week, too.  He wears a soft cone in unfamiliar places so that he doesn't hit his head, but he rarely even does that.  It's pretty amazing.

Yet another inspiring story about how special-needs pets can endure and thrive when given a wonderful home!  Katie and Jack's story definitely makes me want to get out there and rescue a puppy-mill survivor.  Puppy mill dogs have often never even set foot on grass before - they have been kept in a small cage for the entirety of their life.  These tossed-aside, neglected animals all deserve a second chance at having a happy life, and it seems like rescuing one and seeing it adjust and improve day by day would be extremely rewarding.  A huge thanks to Katie and Jack for sharing their story!  If you'd like to read more about Jack-Jack and the journey he has had since living in a puppy mill, I encourage you to check out his website, Instagram, or Facebook page.

If you'd like to be included on the blog or have a success story to share, please feel free to contact me!  Thanks for reading! <3

xoxochelsea

Dillon the Blind Cat: An Inspiring Interview

This past weekend, I wrote a blog post about "tripawds" - three-legged dogs and how amazingly resilient they are.  Today, I'm going to feature another furry friend who has special needs, though this kitty isn't so much "special needs" as he is a rockstar with senses that most other cats don't possess!  Dillon is a blind rescue kitten who was picked up as a stray by the Animal Rescue League of Boston, who later found out he had eyes that never fully developed.  His eyes were removed to reduce risk of infection, and little Dillon was put into foster care with a loving couple and two other cats.  As is often the case, these foster parents became foster fails - they fell head over heels in love with Dillon and turned his temporary home into a forever home!

Since then, Dillon (as dillontheblindcat) has become something of an Instagram sensation.  Buzzfeed even featured him in an article on "up-and-coming pets," and he now has over 5,000 followers!  Fans of Dillon seem inspired by the curious kitty - though he is without eyes, he is far from disabled.  On the contrary, his photos show him to be quite a normal young cat; he maneuvers onto furniture and down stairs with no problem, and the attention he gives things that most cats and humans don't even notice really seems to speak to people.  I was lucky enough to ask Dillon's human mom a few questions, and she had some wonderfully eloquent responses.  Check it out below!  All photos are from Dillon's Facebook account and can also be found on his Instagram.

Dillon and his mom

First, tell me a little bit about yourself, your family, your kitties, etc.  Have you always been an animal lover?

I have always had a special bond with animals -- I feel that the compassion and love that I have for them has always run deep in my veins, an instinct. I especially connect well with cats. Their body language is easy for me to read, and I rather think like a cat myself, so I can relate to them. While I love all animals, cats certainly have a special place in my heart. A relationship with any one cat is completely unique -- and to receive love from a cat is undoubtedly rewarding. Cats are honest about how they feel -- they don't lie about loving anyone. So, I find that earning a cat's love really does say a lot.

To no surprise, I have three cats. They were all rescued [separately] from the streets of Dorchester, MA by good citizens who brought them to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, where they would find a home with my fiancé and me. I used to work at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and after I took a new job I still continued to volunteer as a foster parent. Each of our cats was, at one point, one of our foster cats. 

Tell me a bit about Dillon.  What made you decide to adopt a special needs kitty?  What is his personality like, and does his lack of vision seem to affect him?

Our youngest [cat] is Dillon. Dillon lived as a stray for four whole months before getting picked up by a volunteer and taken to the Animal Rescue League of Boston for a community spay and neuter program, called a "Trap and Release" (or TNR) clinic. Most cats that come into TNR clinics are feral, meaning they are pretty un-domesticated, or wild. (Contrary to popular belief, not all "stray" cats are "feral". Feral cats would not do well in a home, in fact they could be very stressed and depressed. They do best in their own community of feral cats.) Volunteers quickly noticed that Dillon was not feral, however, and decided that he would be a suitable candidate for adoption rather than for re-release into the feral cat community. Also, it did not seem fair to re-release a cat in Dillon's condition -- Dillon never had fully developed eyes. 

Veterinarians could not specifically determine whether his underdeveloped eyes were the result of genetics or ocular herpes (a common virus that most cats are exposed to, whether they exhibit symptoms or not), but they did believe that he was completely without sight. My fiancé and I fostered Dillon for a few days before he was scheduled for surgery to have his "eyes" (though they weren't much of eyes at all) to be removed to prevent ulceration and infection. We did not notice any difference in behavior or personality before and after the surgery. He did not seem confused or depressed, which was even more confirmation to us that he was never able to see in the first place.

We think he is a very lucky cat, considering the fact that he doesn't have eyes. His other senses were able to develop so fully as a kitten that he lives an extraordinary life now, with enhanced hearing and smell. He is curious, brave, and tenacious, and we believe that is how he survived for so long on his own before he was rescued.

I have to admit, it was love at first sight for me. The moment I got him in the car with me to take him home, I knew. I said to him as he rubbed his little face on my hands, purring, "You're coming home with me, and our family is going to love you for the rest of your life." He had my heart. How could he not?

My fiancé fell in love instantly when he met him, too, and we knew we were going to adopt him. We nursed him through his recovery from surgery, and watched him build a relationship with our other two cats. It wasn't long before he had memorized every inch of our apartment. He was so fluent with his surroundings that he didn't need to check with his paw to make sure he was where he thought he was -- he would just jump right up onto furniture because he knew it was there. We were so amazed with his intelligence, and with how gracefully he was going through life without such a major sensory organ. 

It was especially neat to see his fascination with stairs. We had carpeted stairs, so they were good for him to cling to at first, when he wasn't sure of what they were. Once he became familiar with what they were and how they felt, he would race up and down the stairs over and over. He was so happy and excited when we threw toys down there for him to fetch. Oh yes, and he plays fetch!

He is truly amazing. Most people who follow Dillon on Instagram and Facebook remark on how good we are to adopt a "special needs" kitty, and how difficult it must be. But I have to say that Dillon is far from "special needs". He is so incredibly normal, usually I forget he doesn't have eyes. He even "stares" us right in the face most of the time, and he is constantly getting the better of his sisters. 

He has completely embraced his blindness, which has really taught us so much. Watching him discover the world without eyes is, ironically, eye-opening. We binocular beings often take little things for granted, like the smell of a passing breeze, or the sound of a crackling ice cube in water. For Dillon, it's an entire mystery and fascination. To watch him explore with such interest something that seems to us, and to our other cats, so mundane is truly inspiring. It is such a positive way to view life, and reminds us to appreciate even the smallest experiences. 

What made you decide to rescue instead of buying a pet from a pet store/breeder?  

There is something deep about the connection you make with a cat from a shelter. Many shelter cats have a sad history -- they were either abandoned, abused, hoarded, or orphaned -- and yet if you visit with a shelter cat, most of them will embrace your love and will return your affection within seconds of meeting you. 

There is something about saving a cat from its possibly sad past and promising to love and care for it for the remainder of its life that is so cathartic. Most people who have adopted rescue animals will tell you that their animal actually saved them. It couldn't be truer -- it's a completely symbiotic relationship, where the exchange is purely love.  This is, of course, true of any shelter or rescue animal, not just of cats.

What would you tell people who don't understand the importance of adopting?

 It is so important for us to remember how much we help our community and animals in need when we adopt, rather than when we "buy". There are so many good people and organizations out there that do so much to aid helpless, homeless animals, and I know from experience that the work is far from easy. It makes the tough days worth it when a shelter animal finds its forever-home -- it's a happy ending that brings tears to your eyes. So, the question really is, why wouldn't you adopt? The reward is just so great.

We are so happy that Dillon is so loved and adored by thousands of people, as we've seen on Instagram and Facebook. His fans say some of the sweetest things that just warm our hearts to no end. Some people have told him that just his picture has completely turned their day around for the better, and that he is an inspiration -- that is just so wonderful to hear. We are so pleased to have a cat that not only is loved by us, but that is loved by many, and who now has the following to potentially make a difference for other animals in need. He and our other cats are the lights of our lives, and we can't even fathom the day when they will no longer be with us. Until then, though, we will love them just as they love us, whole-heartedly and without question. 

For photos and information on Dillon, follow @dillontheblindcat on Instagram, or "like" him at www.facebook.com/dillontheblindcat .

Well said on SO many counts, Dillon's mom!  :)  Dillon is a great example of why you should take a second look at the cat (or dog!) that other people might pass by in the shelter.  What makes them different is what makes them special, and, like Dillon, they could end up inspiring you and changing your life.  

A HUGE thank you to Dillon and his parents for the interview, and thanks to all of you for reading <3

xoxochelsea

An Interview with Eric of Love and Luck Photography!

What helps a shelter animal get adopted?  Sweet personality, adorable face, friendly towards children?  Sure - all of these things come into play when adopting a pet.  But something that you might not think about is the importance of a great photograph of the animal.  When a homeless animal is represented by a professional and positive photo, their chances of adoption increase.  Shelter employees usually take their own picture when the animal first comes into their care; however, the dog or cat is often very scared, sad, even dirty or matted when arriving at the shelter.  This does not result in a very good photo - the animal can end up looking miserable or intimidating, which is not an accurate representation of their personality.  If a potential adopter sees a web photo of a large pitbull that appears to be distressed, they are less likely to come in to see that dog than they would if the photo showed him "smiling" with his ears up.

This is where people like Eric of Love & Luck Photography come in.  Eric and his wife Lexi run their photography business together out of Mason City, doing shoots of all sorts of events.  Their services include:  maternity, senior, family, children, weddings, engagements, couples, newborns, even headshots!  They also attend many local events to take wonderfully candid shots.  And of course, Love & Luck offers photo shoots of you and your pet.  Jared and I were thrilled with our shots with Riley from last fall; Eric was great with our pup, and he brought props that looked very cute in the photos.

Last year, Eric volunteered to take some time and photograph the animals at the HSNI, hoping that some quality photographs could help them get adopted.  He patiently spent several hours among restless labs, playful kittens, and hard-to-photograph black dogs and cats.  The next day, some photos were up and edited for us to look at...and they took our breath away!  The perspective Eric uses to photograph the shelter animals allows you to see a side of the animal you usually don't get to see when they're in a kennel - the cats look much more unique and playful, and each dog's personality is shown perfectly.  His animal photography, in my opinion, is museum-quality work - I even have an "animal-themed" gallery wall featuring some of his pieces, including the two photos below.  Since then, he comes back to the shelter (as well as some others in the area) every few months to take new pictures.

(The other staff members loved this photo so much, Eric blew it up and made it into a canvas for the shelter!)  And FYI; here is the original photo of Boss - who is a total goofball and not intimidating at all - what a difference a photo can make!

Amazing, right?!  Anyway, without further adieu, here is my interview with Eric of Love & Luck Photography!

First, tell me a bit about yourself.  How did you and your wife start Love & Luck Photography?

I have always had a love for photography. We started off very small working out of our home; although I have taken many photos, our first actual photo shoot was my son’s newborn photos. This photo shoot happened within an hour of coming home from the hospital. This was in 2011; now a few years later, we are in our own photography studio and our business is thriving - it was not an overnight success. We may not get much sleep but we are doing what we love, and that is what matters. 

How did you decide to start volunteering your time to photograph shelter animals?

Both my wife and I have had animals that were special to us in our childhood. My wife is extremely allergic to animal hair and we cannot get a pet. Although we cannot adopt a pet I can still do my part to help.

The work that you have done definitely helps to get the animals noticed and adopted, and I think that is mostly because you are able to capture really perfect moments that show off the animal's personality.  Is there a certain moment or "magic" that you try to capture when photographing animals?  What is your goal during each shoot?

My goal during every photo shoot with an animal is to capture that image that really speaks to people. I love to get the photo where their eyes are speaking to the viewer; capturing the bond a pet and owner has is what I strive for.

What is the most difficult thing about taking photos of animals?  Do you prefer taking shots of animals, humans, or something else completely?

You cannot pose an animal so I really have to be on my toes and in the moment.  I have a general love for photography so I like taking photos of anything and everything.

What is the most rewarding thing about volunteering for shelters?

Even having just a small part in bringing a great pet to their forever home makes me feel like volunteering is completely worth every minute.

Any more shelter photo shoots in your future?  What can we expect next from Love & Luck?

Yes, definitely. Love & Luck is in the process of expanding. We are getting a larger studio space and will have a room specifically for newborn photography. So look for many new and exciting things coming from Love & Luck in 2014 including lots of new products and Pet Mini Sessions!

We can't WAIT to see what's next for Love & Luck Photography!  Again, they are located in Mason City, and they have a shop as well where they sell many handmade items, like children's hair accessories and adorable crochet headbands/hats!  All photos are obviously courtesy of Love & Luck Photography.  I highly recommend Eric and Lexi for any event you may need photographed - they do amazing work!

Look for other interviews (hopefully every Monday) in the weeks to come, whether they are from successful shelter pet parents, fosters, animal shelters, or other individuals in the business of animal rescue!  You can also contact me if you'd like to be featured on the blog :)  As always, thanks for reading!

xoxochelsea