i got the shot photography
  • Home
  • About
  • Investment
    • Holiday Cards
  • Blog
  • Awards
  • Community
  • CONTACT INFORMATION
Elaine Mueller Tweedy
           (570) 575-1705

Luck and Love in Pet Adoption

3/11/2022

5 Comments

 
Picture
As we approach St. Patrick's Day, I am always reminded of this photo of our dog, Moe, that I embellished for the holiday.

Moe was always very easy going when it came to wearing just about anything.  We lost him at the age of 16, in December of 2021, and our lives haven't been the same without him.


Was It Luck?

Moe's story with us began on a March day in 2006.  He needed a foster home.  He was in Massachusetts at that time, a puppy of about 4-6 months old, and very shy.  I heard about him through the rescue I was working with and had adopted from in the past.  

We just happened to be going to pick up a horse for a young lady in Massachusetts, and decided to foster Moe, as we would be very near where he was currently located.  We were approved to foster, and after picking up our equine transport, we picked up Moe.  His name was Sherlock at the time.

It was MARCH, after all, and St. Patrick's Day was just around the corner, so maybe a "wee bit o luck" was involved with this story.  It's partially why the "I'm a Wee Bit Irish" seemed to work for Moe. 


Love Plays Its Hand

Moe basically slept with his head on my husband's lap all the way home on that trip.  We delivered the horse to his new barn, and headed to our house to introduce this new, very quiet puppy, to our gang of delinquents.  At the time we had 4 dogs:  Daisy, Ike, Ollie, and Bethy.

​Moe had absolutely no problems fitting in from the moment he met them, and within 24 hours we decided to adopt him.  He was a smoochable, unassuming lovebug, who was a pudgy, quiet puppy.
Picture
Archive photo of Moe as a puppy.
Moe loved our Golden Retriever, Ollie, more than anything, and luckily, they had a number of years together before Ollie passed.  Ollie loved Moe's toys.
Picture
Our Golden Retriever Ollie was the best babysitter for Moe.
Adoption is More Than Luck and Love

As our lifetime story with Moe unfolded, it wasn't always a glamorous plot.

Moe contracted kennel cough, and dealt with whip worms early in life.  Once past that, he developed skin allergies that would take us literally YEARS to figure out (with the help of various vets and a skin specialist) and finally conquer for good, at about age 6.

He was always extra-specially good at every vet's office, no matter what the procedure, and all of his vets and staff loved him.  BE LIKE MOE, was often the mantra we used in our house with our other dogs, who were not always the picture of cooperation at the vet's.

​For photos, Moe was ideal.
Picture
He would wear just about anything, and sit where you placed him, never moving until you actually moved him.  We had some fun with many things, and, of course, I would always make him wear antlers at Christmas or shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day.

Moe was also the emissary the other dogs sent if we were beyond their treat time clock.  He had the best whine, so our hearing dogs picked him to act on their behalf.

In terms of LUCK and LOVE then, it's we humans who feel lucky to have shared part of our life with Moe, and I know he loved us as much as we loved him.

Moe shares a spot with our dog Danny as the masthead of this blog page.  They had a special relationship.  Moe was Danny's Ollie. I am not sure how much more time Danny has with us, but I AM SURE that when he leaves, Moe will find him.


Adoption Statistics

Some statistics on Pet Adoption are below.  If you'd like to learn more about adoption in the U.S., click here.

Americans adopted 1.9 million pets in 2020. Though pet adoption statistics indicate that the number of pets adopted is in decline, fostering has become more popular.
  • 1.1 million cats were adopted; 50.4% of them were kittens.
  • 871,296 dogs were adopted; 25.3% of them were puppies.
  • Nationwide adoptions declined 31% year-over-year (YoY) in January 2021.
  • Adoption rates among shelter animals, however, increased 8.9%, due in part to significantly lower shelter intake.
  • The foster pet population increased nearly 19% in 2020.

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet.   To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, start here with Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography, Dallas - Fort Worth's award-winning pet photographer, who is lucky to spend so much time with puppies as part of her job. Then find the link at the end of each blog to click to the next photographer.

We are in for a snowy weekend.  I hope you have sunshine.  Enjoy!
5 Comments
Tracy Allard link
3/11/2022 08:38:09 am

Moe puppy pictures, oh my goodness! I'm surprised it took you all of 24 hours to decide to adopt him! ADORABLE! Such a handsome boy. I know how much you're missing him, It's been months since we lost Dingo and I still think about him a few times a week and shed a tear or two. The special ones are so hard to lose. Sending hugs.

Reply
Angela Schneider link
3/11/2022 10:21:38 am

I'm so sorry for your loss, Elaine. They bring so much into our lives and leave a hole 100 times that size when they leave.

Reply
Holly
3/11/2022 01:01:28 pm

This is such a good story! I think, if we are lucky, we will have a Moe in our lifetime. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Nancy link
3/12/2022 09:36:57 am

Moe is adorable. He was also luck to have parents like you and your husband.

Reply
Darlene link
3/13/2022 11:11:46 am

Thank you for sharing Moe's story. I love how he fit right in with your 4 other dogs - it was truly meant to be! Love the pictures in the chair - great little model!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    i got the shot

    What People Are Saying:

    "Elaine made working with my somewhat hyper dog look easy.  I can't believe the beautiful photos that came from his session!"
                                ~Tanya & Max


    "We love our family photos! It's hard to find a photographer that captures people AND their pets so well. Thank  you!"
                               ~Beverly

    "Elaine did my Senior photos.  They are stunning and I was so proud to hand out my wallets.  I honestly did not see better photos than mine in all the photos I collected.. She made the whole session fun and enjoyable."
                               ~Mia

    "Such a great studio!  I felt so relaxed with our dogs.  Elaine really is a very kind and talented artist.  We LOVE the artwork that came from our sessions."
    ​                           -Ron & Lee

    RSS Feed

(c) Copyright  I Got the Shot Photography
 All Rights Reserved

Proudly powered by Weebly