Sit With Me

Artwork sale and fundraiser

Thinking of a Christmas gift? Would like to shop local?

I have ready to hang artwork available, 25% of total sales will be donated to Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue. With bills for boarding, training and veterinary care for their dogs, they do so much for our community under very stressful circumstances.

Artwork includes framed prints and canvas wraps in different sizes.

AVAILABLE ARTWORK

  1. the journey
    Masai Giraffe
    Masai Mara, Kenya 
    Framed print 24” X 36” 
    $150 

  2. *SOLD* calories in, calories out *SOLD*

    Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    Pakenham, ON. 
    White framed print 13” X 16” 
    $90 

  3. *SOLD* three brothers *SOLD* 

    Cheetahs
    Masai Mara, Kenya 
    White framed print 13” X 16” 
    $90 

  4.  *SOLD* winter visitor *SOLD*

    Bar

    Barred Owl
    Pakenham, ON. 
    White framed print 18” X 24” 
    $120 

  5. *SOLD* land of red sand & foxes *SOLD*

    Red Fox kits
    Prince Edward Island 
    Canvas wrap (2”) 20” X 20” 
    $100 

  6. who are you, pretty bird? 
    Indigo Bunting
    Pakenham, Ontario
    Canvas wrap (2”) 20” X 20”
    $100 

  7. ice bomber
    Atlantic Puffin
    Elliston, NFLD.
    Canvas wrap (2”) 20” X 20” 
    $100 

  8. nature’s propeller 
    Ruffed Grous
    Pakenham, ON. 
    Canvas wrap (2”) 20” X 20” 
    $100

    Or $240 for 3 (item 6–8)

  9. morning beauty
    White-tailed Deer
    Pakenham, ON. 
    Framed canvas wrap (1.25”) 30” X 24” 
    $300 

    If you are interested in any of these pieces, please contact me with the name/ number and we can arrange the order.

    Thank you for your support!

Faces of Sit With Me from 2018

Sit With Me dogs of 2018
 

This collage represents the many faces of unforgettable dogs I have met in 2018. I co-ordinate with foster homes to meet up with them to photograph their dogs. This is to provide beautiful portraits to help get them adopted. There are several faces in this collage of dogs that are no longer with us. They will always be remembered as loving members of their family and are sorely missed.

Thank you to the foster homes and Sit With Me rescue for giving these dogs a new chance at life.

Amazing Autumn Photo Sessions

fall2018-sessions.jpg
floater-frame.jpg

My favourite time of year. Truly. Is it yours?

This is a beautiful time to have photos taken of your pet! Even though I now live in Pakenham, I have various locations to use around and in the Ottawa area.

Although most clients are dog owners .. I welcome ANY pet for a session. Provided you can safely have them on a harness, I would gladly shoot any animal.

My promotion this year includes an annual donation to Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue, a beautifully framed 16 x 16 canvas for your wall and 5 digital files. The digital files are large enough for printing up to 8 x 12. This offer includes up to three dogs. There is no set time for the session, we go for as long as I feel is needed for you to be excited and satisfied with your collection.

Dates and times will be determined based on our schedules, I’m flexible during the week but keep in mind that best light is getting earlier and earlier, so weekends might work best. Leaves will start to change more rapidly in the next two weeks, I’m always watching and ready!

Contact me today to reserve your spot!

Have you adopted from Sit With Me Rescue?

Over the years I have photographed many dogs for Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue. If you have adopted with Sit With Me and would like some photos of your dog, I have them available for purchase. 

The digital files are good for printing up to 8X12 inches and there is no watermark. They cost $22 per file and I will donate $2 from each sale back to Sit With Me. 

I have put up 5 featured dogs, along with a list below, categorized by year. I only have the names from when they were in rescue. If you recognize your dogs name and would like their photos, you can fill out the form and I will be in touch and put them online for you. If you are pretty certain I did take some photos but you don't see their name list .. get in touch and I will investigate. 

My work with Sit With Me is on a volunteer basis. By purchasing files, you not only help Sit With Me but you help me continue to this relationship of which I'm very proud.   

 

Sit With Me adoption faces of 2016

Here is a collage of some the wonderful dogs I met this year through Sit With Me. Some have been adopted, some are still looking for a home. If you are considering adding a dog to your family, please look at adoption. There are so many different types available with many rescues. Do your research, ask questions and adopt responsibly. 

My goal is to photograph dogs to help get them noticed, expedite the process to their new life and raise awareness about adoption. 

Nyla

Met up with Nylah and her humans on Sunday night. Nylah was the winner of Sit With Me's spring auction gift. Funds were raised for the rescue and we scheduled for a session at Pinhey's Point National Historical Site. 

Nylah was very well behaved and was a super model to photograph. I'm glad to have been able to give this family some great memories and raise funds for rescue at the same time.

Summer is here ... new dogs in rescue

Moving day is approaching in Quebec. The province is quite restrictive for rentals that allow pets. It seems to be more and more difficult every year. We have our frustrations with the public as well as many dogs get either left behind in the actual apartment (sometimes not being found by the landlord until days later) or genuinely not trying hard enough to find new accommodations that allow pets. I try not to be judgemental, as you never know the whole story but there is definitely a large problem with the accountability and responsibility towards their pets. 

Some of the pretty faces below are dogs that just got pulled from our local shelter. Some have been with their foster homes for a short time, and a few for a bit longer. Foster homes are vital to Sit With Me's programme. It allows the dog to 'decompress' after having massive changes in their lives. It allows them to become comfortable, settle and allow for a more accurate behaviour and medical assessment. With this knowledge, there is more success in adoption placement. 

The hardest dogs to place are pit bull type dogs. They cannot be adopted in Ontario, due to breed specific legislation, and therefore our main province is exempt. We adopt out to responsible homes in Quebec, but even in that province there are municipal bylaws that restrict the 'type' as well. We partner with Pit Bulls for Life in Edmonton Alberta. When possible, we facilitate transport via airline to the rescue for either adoption or homes they have ready to foster - and being allowed a larger audience to meet and view the adoptables. 

You will see many pittie types on this site, that I photograph. I try so hard for them because there are so many whom are wonderful and friendly and have been looked over, not because of anything they have ever done, but because of the publics perception (largely due to 30+ years of ignorant media reporting). 

They are ... just ... dogs. They are absolutely strong ... but so are many other breeds, some even stronger. A dangerous dog is dangerous due to exposure in it's life, sometimes genetic but more often by mistreatment. It's not dangerous because of what it looks like. 

New faces in rescue

in
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

Had a visit to a local shelter last weekend and got to photograph some sweet dogs. Within a week, the Husky and the Beagle are with  now with Sit With Me Rescue (The Shepherd-mix is already with Sit With Me), the Boxer-mix is with Valley Animal Rescue, the brindle Terrier-mix is with the Montreal SPCA and the Chihuahua is with BARK Rescue. Thank you to all the rescues for helping out and taking these dogs. 


Please consider adoption.  

 

image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

Looking for a forever home

We have some new faces at Sit With Me. I sent a message out to current fosters the other week to see if they could swing by my place with their dog for some updated profile shots. Foster homes are vital to most rescues, without them .. they would not be able to save the dogs that they do. Fosters help shape the behaviour of the dog, give them a loving and safe environment and prepare them for their new life, a better one. 

Thank you to all the fosters who help make Sit With Me a rescue worth volunteering for. 

New year, new faces

I decided to set up a photoshoot day for Sit With Me on Sunday. I knew a lot of the puppies, currently in their care, were getting ready for adoption and wanted to get some photos ready for their online posts. Last fall, with overlapping ages, some by a few weeks .. some by days, Sit With Me found themselves with about 37 puppies. Three of those litters had no nursing mother. A lot of hard work and dedication was provided by foster homes. In the next few weeks Sit With Me will be posting the puppies and trying to find forever homes for them.

Along with the puppies, I did a last minute call out to any other fosters (no puppiness required) who needed a photo as well. In the end, I photographed over 31 dogs. A few more will trickle in this week but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports my work and to spread the word if you know anyone looking to adopt a dog into their home. 

There are many dogs waiting in shelters that still need help. Sit With Me is volunteer based so dogs that pass assessment can only be moved into homes once there is room. Please help promote responsible adoption and check out Sit With Me's current roster of available dogs.

Sit With Me's 3rd Birthday

Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue had their 3rd birthday today at Laroche Park in Ottawa. It was great to see so many people come out and help support our rescue group who has so many volunteers behind the scenes. Volunteers whom mostly all work full time jobs PLUS helping save the lives of dogs with no time left in our local shelters. There were activities for people and pets and Chuck Desjardins Photography was taking professional photos for the afternoon. A BBQ with meat from the Manotick Butcher, loot bags, Crazy Beautiful Collars and much more. Here are some photos of the very, very hot afternoon. The park had many mature trees throughout so people and pooches could cool down, which was very nice as well as a bit of breeze here and there. 

I had two of my previous fosters show up, Robyn and Wylie and it warms my heart when these reunions happen. Many dogs I have photographed in the past have been adopted but there are still many more that are waiting. 

If you are considering adopting a dog, I ask you to consider Sit With Me. Check out their Facebook page for their ADOPTABLES album and see if there is someone in there that might suit your lifestyle. 

Photos for a cause this weekend!

If you're looking for some great photos of your pooch, I will be at Ritchie Feed & Seed on Innes this Saturday, May 30th from 11-4. There will be tons of pet related activities, including nail trims, dog wash, bbq, 50/50 draw, music and a kids activity table. 

Sit With Me is partnered with PAWS (Puppymill Awareness Working Solutions)  to help raise awareness of puppymills both regionally and nation-wide and help raise money for the ongoing intake of wonderful dogs who are getting a second chance at life. On Saturday .. there will be dogs on site whom are available to meet and greet and available for adoption. 

For these events, photos are $15 and I send you digital file via email or Dropbox a couple of days later.