I photographed Colette and Satin towards the end of last year. Colette loves dogs. She volunteers at the Victorian Dog Rescue Group (VicDRG) an organisation that helps lost or abandoned dogs and cats find new homes. Both her dogs, Satin and Yota are rescue dogs.

Photographing Rescue Dogs

Many of you may have seen some of the recent sessions I have done with rescue dogs from the VicDRG to raise awareness of their plight and to hopefully find them a new home which they urgently need. If you are looking at getting a dog I strongly encourage you to first head over to their website  and check out some of the amazing animals they have listed there.

Satin was a pleasure to photograph her. Being a Kelpie she is highly intelligent, alert and ready to please. The love that the two of them share is evident in the images we captured and also in the beautiful words that Colette shares with us below about her relationship with Satin.

Both Colette and I loved this photograph of the two of them cuddling. There is real emotion in their connection.

Another personal favourite of mine is this solo photograph of Satin. It exudes confidence, intelligence and energy, traits she has in bucket loads.

Owning a dog can be very rewarding. Saving a dog that may otherwise have been put to sleep is a fantastic gift to give. In return you will be rewarded with many years of love, joy and cuddles. Don’t believe me? Well I’ll let Colette tell you herself.

How old was she when you got him?
Satin was 1- 2 years old when she came to me as a foster dog.

How did you come up with her name?
Satin was named by VicDRG when she came as a foster dog. She is soft like satin so the name stuck.

Any specific circumstances on how/why you got her?
Yes. I visited VicDRG’s quarantine facility and she introduced herself there. She kept jumping out of her impound area and just pretended to be one of the farm dogs. When I went up to inspect the facility and meet the dogs, she introduced herself. The memory of her haunted me and I committed to bringing her to Melbourne as my foster dog.

What is her character like?
Satin is love on a stick. She is gentle and warm, soft like Satin. Everyone who meets her comments that she is such a Sweetheart. Sweetheart was her nickname when she was in quarantine. She is the most beautiful animal God ever put breath into.

Funniest thing she has ever done?
I originally met Satin at Elizabeth’s quarantine facility in Mildura just prior to Christmas of 2010. She had jumped out of the holding yard and was just happily mixing it up with the rest of Elizabeth’s own dogs as if to say, “They will never notice that I am not meant to be here”.

No matter how many times Elizabeth put her back, Satin was a master jumper so she would just escape again. Elizabeth had nicknamed her Sweetheart because of her delightful loving nature and to this day, without exception, everyone who meets her comments, “What a Sweetheart!”

In the early days of fostering Satin, she gave me plenty of laughs and plenty of scares thanks to her jumping ability.

The first day she came to me I found her on the kitchen bench nicking the cat food I had put ‘out of reach’ on the bench.

Then a few days later I went to the gym and came home to find her gone. She had jumped the side fence and I steeled myself and called Trish (President, VicDRG) to confess to my failure as a carer and safe keeper of this black and tan Houdini. I found her 10 minutes later at the local dog groomers’ salon. She had made her way there and invited herself in. The groomer was about to give her a bath when I spied her through the shop window, enjoying all of the fuss. Satin had left home and had gone looking for me but she had managed to find other good company on the way!

I was always meant to foster Satin and never intended to keep her. There were plenty of applicants for this loving little Kelpie but none seemed to work out. So after six months of frustration I ended up caving in and sending VicDRG her adoption fee. I had fallen head over heels in love with her and couldn’t imagine ever saying goodbye to her.

Satin is now best buddies with her Koolie friend and my first VicDRG (failed) foster Yota and now all three of us have a ball together. Satin greets me with special cuddles every time I walk in the door, even if I just go outside for a minute to put out the rubbish.

When does she make you smile/laugh?
Always: from 6am – 10 pm when we go to bed. I cant not smile with my girl around.

When does she make you angry?
Never. Tonight she stole the top off my burger and I had to fake a gruff voice to show my displeasure but in all honesty, she could have the last crumb on my plate if I was starving.

Favorite thing you like doing with her?
Walking, hanging out, herding sheep, sleeping, hugging. Being.

Any other comments?
Rescue dogs are the best.

Thinking about having your pooch’s portrait done? Then contact the studio on 9570 6191 or email us here.

Enjoy
Warren