The sneaky dog session!
Rusty and Daisy did a great job keeping their little photo session a secret from Allen, their owner! Allen’s friend, Deanna, takes care of Rusty and Daisy when Allen has to travel and she thought it would be a nice surprise to do some photos of Rusty and Daisy as a holiday gift! Since Allen travels so much we figured it would be a piece of cake to do photographs without him knowing. We scheduled our date and the sneaky dog session was a go. But, uh-oh, turned out Allen didn’t travel that weekend! So our sneaky dog session suddenly became even sneakier! I drove to our designated location near Allen’s home and waited for Deanna to bring Rusty and Daisy to me. It really was quite exciting. We couldn’t go too far, or take too long for fear that we would be discovered! We worked fast and had some fun and few laughs too!
The other night we surprised Allen with a beautiful and touching Cool Pets multimedia presentation of his beautiful dogs! Merry Christmas!
The timing was interesting though. Poor Daisy has been having ongoing troubles with her front leg that were getting worse. Her vet had decided that the best solution would be surgery to remove the leg that was causing so much pain. So, Daisy’s surgery was scheduled for the very next day. 
Daisy had her surgery yesterday, and she is doing well. She’ll be coming home this evening, so please send good thoughts her way!
Here’s Daisy. She is just the sweetest little thing, and was very into having her photograph taken!
And, here is Rusty. He is a big, soft teddy bear…very mild mannered and shy….a genuinely good guy. Rusty is also a cancer survivor!
January 10th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Yes, Operation Sneaky Dog Session is completed and the result is absolutely AMAZING pictures of my “other” babies….Rusty & Daisy. I say “other” as I’m not their owner but have been their weekend walker and sometimes caretaker for about the past year and a half. Oh what personalities this guy and gal have! Before Daisy’s recent leg issues, we would walk, walk, walk and that little girl’s middle name is Spunky! She LOVED her walks and would jet out in front of Rusty and me, needing to be the first to investigate anything coming our way while stopping occasionally to check out the random piece of paper (her favorite). I loved watching Daisy from the other end of her leash, as she would be-bop to her own little happy tune in her head. You couldn’t help feeling happy while walking Daisy, as she so purely loved being outside and spending time well, just being a beautiful dog. And you know what? I saw her last night, just a day after surgery to remove her front right leg and she’s still….a beautiful dog. I am looking forward to when she is strong enough to be-bop around again so we can get back out on our walks together. I miss her.
Now my Rusty-bud, as I call him. What a gentle sweetheart. When I first met Rusty, he would barely look at me, he was so shy and untrusting. Now, he runs to the door to greet me and will sometimes poke his big furry head between my knees, which I believe means “pet me”. I have come to realize that he reserves this act of affection only for those that he feels comfortable with, so I am honored. Rusty and I have continued to walk in the past few months, without Daisy, but sometimes with the company of my crazy German Shorthaired Pointer, Reilly. Rusty accepted Reilly right away, even though she is the polar opposite of him – high energy, vocal and trusting of EVERYONE! They are a fun pair to walk together and I joke with Rusty each week that his girlfriend will be coming to see him….I think I’ve seen him blush a time or two. In all, my Rusty-bud is just the most gorgeous boy and has such a calming spirit about him. These pictures capture his gentle soul, amazingly, as Rusty hates to have his picture taken. He was such a good boy this day and looking at his pictures makes me just want to hug him.
Lastly, Rusty & Daisy’s owner, Allen…like Rusty, Allen is quiet at first but once he warms up to you, he relaxes and his fun side emerges. And let me tell you, he LOVES these dogs. I am so honored that a year and a half ago, he put his trust in a total stranger (me) to take his dogs for a long walk every weekend. Since that time he has been so good to me, which is why I needed to find the perfect Christmas gift for him, these pictures. I wanted him to have a forever memory of his babies, as I know they mean so much to him. After watching Susan’s presentation, I think he may have even been speechless.
Thank you, Allen, for giving me the opportunity to become part of Rusty & Daisy’s lives…I love them like my own.
And thank you, Susan, for capturing the essence of each of them. No one could have done it better.
-Deanna
January 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I, too, have been blessed to know Daisy, Rusty and Allen. I help Allen and Deanna in taking care of these two amazing babes.
Daisy is a bundle of sass and energy, the pure definition of personality. No matter what physical challenges she has faced, she’s never lost the pep and spunk inside her. Her past few months have been rough. When her long walks were no more, but she would still dart out the door, just to feel the cold grass on her belly and roll around on her back a bit on the lawn. A bunny or a squirrel would make her completely forget that she was hurting– she’d be off and running in a heartbeat! All she has to do is cock her head to the side, as if to say, “who? me?” and she’ll steal your heart.
Now that she’s had her surgery and is home and recovering, we’re all hoping that vigor will come back to her. On her first day home, she heard her Dad coming in the door and darted across the kitchen floor, barking, and hopping up on her brother’s back! She’s resting and on light duty, but her spirit is already returning, as she scarfs down a few extra goodies and enjoys lots of belly rubs. Don’t tell her I said so, but I think she’s loving all the extra attention! She’s a ham and a half and will be out chasing squirrels and bunnies in no time. Nothing’s going to break this baby’s spirit
Rusty, he’s the complete opposite of our sassy girl. Soft spoken, gentle and ever so shy, he is the bashful boy that everyone loves. Deanna wasn’t kidding when she said he takes a bit to warm up, but when he does, you can be sure he’ll push his fluffy face in between your knees for a cuddle. A cancer and abuse survivor, he’s been through it all, and still come out with a loving and snuggly personality that you can’t help but love. And the way he jumps around when he hears the word “walk” or sees his leash in your hand is completely endearing and just makes you want to walk him forever. He is just a completely handsome sweetheart of a boy.
Much like his boy Rusty, Allen is the kind, gentle and sweet guy who rescued these babies and gave them not just a home, but a family. He has brought together people who will love and care for his kids– like Deanna, their surrogate mama! His heart is bigger than the ocean and is pure gold. Every baby, human or animal, needs a dad like Allen. He is truly one of a kind.
Thank you Susan and Deanna for giving Allen a gift that truly touched him. It was the perfect gift for a guy who needs nothing, and gives everything.
And Allen, thank you for letting me, too, be a part of Daisy and Rusty’s lives. They have truly “stolen my heart”.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
As yet another person who has had the honor of spending some time with both dogs, I have to comment and acknowledge Daisy’s courage, strength, and continuing ability to bring joy to those around her. I can’t wait to see her back on her feet!