PHOTOS | Pet Pics in the Park

ACCESS YOUR PHOTOS FROM PET PICS IN THE PARK

Download your photos from our March 25 Pet Pics in the Park. Special thanks to Jill Garrett, our official pet photographer.

We encourage you to share your photos in social media and use our hashtags: #PetPicsInThePark #OmegaHouse #Avenue360

DOWNLOAD YOUR PHOTOS

Use code 8996 to download

When I was young, I wanted to be a large animal vet. Animals have always been a part of my life. I truly think I speak animal better than human. I knew that there were things that being a large animal vet that I didn’t want to be subjected to. I knew that I would never be able to handle death or mistreatment of animals. Instead, I decided to freeze a moment. In that moment, the animal would live forever. They would never die. They were never mistreated. Only in that moment. That’s what I knew I wanted.

I’ve had a camera since I was 8 years old. I drove my mom crazy with having to pull over to the side of the road whenever I would see horses or cows. I just wanted to help them live forever.

As I got older (I will never say that I grew up, because I never did, nor will I ever), I went to college. Did I study photography? Nope. Do I use any of my degrees now? Nope. I knew what I wanted to do and no one was ever going to stop me.

My spawn wanted to start riding horses when she was young. I took my trusty camera with me to take photos of her riding and jumping. When she started to compete, I took photos of her there, too. It snowballed…. Soon I was asked to photograph other people riding then asked to cover horse shows. My dreams were coming true! After 12 years of being an equine photographer, I needed a change. Not because of the animals.. never because of the animals.

This is when Chloe came into my life. I basically stole her from my daughter. The history behind Chloe opened my eyes so very much. All the those things that I had been learning about throughout my life about animals really came into play when Chloe came into my life. I knew. I just knew. I had to photograph dogs and other animals. So, that’s exactly what I did.

I started photographing rescue dogs. I ended up with numerous rescues. How can anyone say no?? They are not broken. They are not awful. They have been better dogs than I have ever had. Every single rescue dog I have and currently had has made my life to fulfilling.

Chloe is a rescue. She has saved me more times than I can count. She is my soulmate. My heart dog. Everything I do with animals today is because of her. I push myself more and more each day for her. I have studied countless hours of dog behaviors to really learn how to communicate to them in their own way. It is up to me to learn how to communicate with them. Not the other way around.

To my dearest Chloe… Thank you for coming into my life. You mean everything to me. Also, you are never allowed to die.