“What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” ~George Eliot

What a beautiful autumn afternoon!  I met with the most wonderful family at the beach for a photo shoot and it rocked!  Mom and Dad are dear friends of mine and are  so sweet and the kids, well, they are amazing!  What a truly nice family.  I don’t think I have ever seen such luminescent blue eyes!

Even the furbaby was photogenic!

Thanks J and G  for asking me to capture your family today!  It was truly my pleasure.   Here is your sneak preview:

Happy Happy Thanksgiving!

I am truly thankful for friends like you

“Dog is my co-pilot.” – Seen on a T-shirt :)

What do you get when you take 2 border collies, 1 Aussie, 1 rat terrier, and a very cute (border collie) puppy out for a photo shoot?

FUN,  lots and lots of  FUN!

It was a gorgeous autumn afternoon and the setting was perfect.  Essex county has wonderful scenic back roads and my great friend B found an excellent spot.

B has the most sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.  They are incredibly  smart and excel in obedience and agility.  She has done a fantastic job teaching  each of them and they absolutely adore her!  They really enjoyed the walk through the woods and stopping to strike a pose or two! Although photographing five dogs at once may seem a bit daunting, these guys were so well behaved, it was a piece of cake!

Thanks B for inviting me over and allowing me to capture your gorgeous, fun, and smart furbabies.  Did I mention SMART?  I had a blast! And I almost did sneak a very adorable border collie pup into my camera bag

She almost fit into my bag!

Pet Pix Take 2

It was a wonderful day!  The weather wasn’t very cooperative, but we still had a blast and met some really nice people and their pets!

Thank you once again, to all those who came out to meet me and have a pet portrait taken on Saturday!  I appreciate your kindness and support of such a great cause.  The Humane Society is in desperate need of expanding their facilities, and the money that I raised will be donated to the expansion fund!  Almost $400.00 was raised, and although it fell short of my goal for the day, I am still very pleased with the total   I am hoping to do a few more doggie sessions in the park this week to help bump up that amount!  If you missed me at this event, please email me for another shot at it this week, – angie@angiechauvin.com.

Here are just a few of the wonderful furbabies that came out to strut their stuff!

Thank you again Tecumseh and Windsor!  YOU ROCK!!!

“It is hard to be brave, when you’re only a Very Small Animal.” – Anonymous

Yesterday I met three wonderful furbabies.  There are so,  so, so,  many at the shelter.  People move away, abandon their pets, many treated as though they are simply disposable.  And then there are the very sad ones who have lost their masters.  I can’t even imagine how they must feel being in a cage day after day after day…..waiting…..hoping.

If you have room in your heart and your home, please consider a visit to the shelter to see the great companions that are waiting for a kind person  to give them the great life they deserve.  I guarantee that you will get much more than you give when you give a helpless animal the gift of life.

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” – Maya Angelou

I have often posted about how blessed I am to be able to do something that I LOVE and enjoy so immensely.  And I know that to be able to give back to my community, especially to those who can’t help themselves or speak for themselves, is the most rewarding of all.  It was a dream of mine to be able to put on this Pet Pix event and raise money for such a deserving cause as this.  This past Saturday, that dream became a reality.  I am so very proud.

I am very happy to report that Pet Pix  was a HUGE success!  In just 7 hours and about 33 pet minishoots later, and because of the kindness and generosity of  the people in my community, I was able to raise over $800.00 for our Humane Society’s Pumpkin fund for seriously injured and neglected animals they rescue.

It was such a fun day!  I met so many wonderful, kind, animal loving people from our community.

My sincerest, heartfelt thank you goes out to all caring people  who donated, Linda and her wonderful family at Pet Depot, my beautiful, giving children who helped me before and during the event,  and to the Windsor Star, The Tribune and the SmartShopper for advertising my event.  You guys ROCK~!

Because of your generousity, helpless companions such as Stealth and Hooch will be able to get the vet care they need when they need it.

Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!

Here are just a few of the wonderful pets I photographed at Pet Pix:

Yup, this is my puppy, meeting a much tinier puppy!

My fundraiser to Help the Helpless

Good Morning,

I am very thrilled to announce a very special day happening this Saturday here in Tecumseh.  I will be on location at Linda’s Pet Depot, doing mini sessions just for your pets!  For a donation of just $25, you will receive a very special 8×10  pet portrait.

100% of the proceeds will be given to the Humane Society’s Pumpkin fund.

Since I began volunteering my photography at the shelter last summer, I have been very  affected by the stories and the plight of many sweet, helpless animals who are fortunate to be rescued by the Humane Society.  A few months ago, I   was asked  to photograph two very sad and horribly neglected dogs,  Stealth and Hooch after they were seized and saved by the officers at the shelter.  It shook me to my core.  To witness this type of neglect and abuse of innocent, helpless beings was shocking to say the least.  I also had the opportunity to photograph another wonderful dog, Timmos, who also was terribly neglected and hurt and also  saved by the  shelter, in part due to the donations  in a special Pumpkin Fund.

And so now it is my turn, to do more, to help more and to change the outcome,  and save the lives of  helpless animals.

I know I can count on the support and kindness of the people in this county to come out and join me for a day of fun and photos this Saturday!  I’d love to meet you and your furbaby!

Here are the details:

And you can comment with any questions you may have.

Thank you in advance for helping me help the helpless!

“A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue.” – Anonymous

This is the story of a little dog named Sweetie.

It is very easy to see why her name was changed to Sweetie.  She is the most kind, gentle, loving dog ever.  Which is just amazing, considering the life that  she has had.  Sweetie was basically used as a puppy machine and bred excessively.  Her person decided to surrender her to the shelter (probably the best day in Sweetie’s life),  Sweetie dangerously ill.  Sweetie was very thin and sick and had to be put on fluids immediately and spayed because her uterus was so badly infected and enlarged.  Somewhere along the way in her past,  Sweetie lost most of her left ear.

This story breaks my heart and makes me very grateful that the caregivers at the shelter are there and do what they do.  Sweetie has benefited from the “Pumpkin” fund which helps injured and very sick animals.

If you want to meet Sweetie or are interested in giving her the wonderful life she truly deserves, contact the Windsor Essex County Humane Society.

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears. ~ Arabian Proverb

I LOVE my job.  Have I mentioned that??  I ♥ that I get to meet incredible people, children and animals!  I ♥ that I am able to give back doing something I am passionate about! Love, ♥, LOVE it!!!

On Sunday, I met two of the sweetest, most gentle horses ever!  This was a first for me, and it’s a first for the Windsor Essex Humane Society as well!  Horses up for adoption!!!  And what wonderful horses they are.  A very bonded pair of mother and mare.  Perfect for Mother’s day!

Kudos to the kind family who opened up their hearts  to give these majestic creatures a temporary home!

Thanks Rachel, Kate, Laura and Jillian for your help!  Too FUN!

“The joy of my house tiptoes from room to room on silent paws.” ~ Author Unknown

I am so blessed.  I know, I  write this all the time,  I just have always been able to recognize that I am truly blessed.  I am blessed to be able to give back using my camera, a bit of talent, but really  just a lot of passion.  I have always said that I get back so much more than I give.  And I have made some amazing friends along the way.  This is a true blessing.  My great friends at the shelter knew about my dear dog Genny passing away last weekend.  Somehow they knew that a cuddle of kittens would do me good.  And how it did!

These spunky little babies were so lovable, so full of abounding curiosity and innocence, how could they  not warm your heart and feed your soul?

Meet the “M” family!  Madisyn, Mason, Matthew and Marc!  They are just 7 weeks old and looking for forever homes.

It’s a great time to open your heart and home to a new member of the family.  Seize the Day!

Kittens are good Soul Food!

♥♥♥ Princess Genevieve ♥♥♥

“Princess Genevieve of Ravenscourt”.
Loyal companion, selfless-giver, smile-maker, joy-bringer, light-shiner, teacher.
RIP my darling Gen. We love you bigger than the moon.
♥♥♥♥♥

It is with a very sad and heavy heart that I write this post.  I feel compelled to share this story with the world, and working with the hundreds of photos of  our Genny somehow gives me comfort.

On Sunday, April  19, 2009,  my family and I had to say good-bye to our sweet, sweet, loving, loyal constant companion, Genevieve.  Genny came into our lives  9 1/2 years ago and became the 6th member of our family.  She was the most adorable little Sheltie pup I had ever seen!  So full of love and bounding energy!  Genny had just celebrated  her 10th birthday on April 4th, complete with special treats and a tiara.

We were  blessed to have her as part of our family.  She taught us more than most people could ever teach.

Genny taught my 3 children what unconditional love is all about. My children, Katie, Kevin and Laura grew up with Gen.   She taught them how to laugh at themselves, to treasure the ones you love, to just be YOU,  and that it’s OK to be a little bit wacky sometimes!  She taught all of us that all you really need is love,  food, a warm place to sleep, and a friendly person to make life complete.  She taught us that even though life is hard at times, you gotta just live for the day.

Genny loved walks, treats, toys, cuddles, swimming, chasing wheels of any kind – skateboards, roller blades, bikes, and  motor cycles.  She was passionate about one day actually being able to “catch” thunder, her reflection in the back door; fireplace glass, oven door,  and up in the  skylights.  She was convinced that she could touch the sky and herd the small airplanes that flew over our backyard at night.  And she loved to sing!  She could howl in tune with the firetrucks.  Usually she just howled when she was lonely.  Living behind a school, she was well-known to all the students, who loved to pet her and run the fence with her at recess.  When they went inside, she howled for them to come back and play.

Genny had many friends that she adored.  Our b/w cat Oreo was her little soulmate.  She and Oreo would play “cat and mouse” for hours – Genny was nominated to be  the “mouse”.  They loved to chase each other and Oreo would wait patiently as Genny ran by her in “turbo” mode, then pounce on her face or back.  Oh the fun they had!  She will be sadly missed.  Genny also was best friend to Bella, Katie’s cuddly hamster;  Lily, Laura’s sweet gerbil;  and Juanita, Katie’s beautiful budgie, all who also passed away very recently. She also loved our 2 angel guinea pigs, Sequins and Zoomer for 7 years.  They were perfect for washing and herding! Genny also enjoyed 8 years with our loving angel cat, Tabitha.   Gen simply adored all living creatures.

Genny enjoyed being walked by our wonderful friend Arlene and her sweet Riley.  She knew whenever they showed up at our doorstep, something good was about to begin.  They have been there whenever we have needed them, always willing to “babysit” our little menagerie of pets.  Thank you Arlene and family for your never-ending generosity and support.

Our  heartfelt gratitude goes out to  Dr. House and Brack Animal Hospital, for your outstanding care, compassion and kindness.  We won’t ever forget it.

As a pup, Genny quickly bonded to her “cousin” Maggie, also a Sheltie.  They spent hours and hours running, chasing, attacking and exhausting each other.  It usually took about 6 hours before they slowed down!  Sadly, Maggie passed away 1 day before Genevieve.   I know they are now reunited and playing happily along with our other sweet angel pets.

Everyone who  was lucky enough to meet  Genny instantly fell in love.  And we were the lucky family who was blessed to have such an amazing, gentle, loving furbaby in our lives.  I know that my darling Tante Di, who passed away on April 4, 2009,  is taking care of  our Genny in Heaven – she simply loved Gen, and Genny loved her.  I know Genny is  gracefully resting at her feet.

Thank you my darling,  sweet little Genevieve.  We have been truly blessed.

♥♥♥♥♥

Oreo was terrified of the large dog on the monitor!

September 2008

April 4th, 2009