Tag Archives: Fusaro Photography

Oh What a Day

21 Monday Apr 2014

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Man have I had a day.  It started out with minimal sleep.  Dragon (the schnauzer) threw up in my bed night before last and I was too tired last night to fully re-make everything.  I did get most of it together but skipped the duvet cover.  It’s just a pain in the bum to get that duvet cover put back together.  As you can imagine my bed is often a battle ground where you take whatever covers you can get.  I didn’t think one little duvet would make much difference but it did.  Somehow Dragon and Bongo (Vizsla) managed to plop themselves down in such a way that it was nearly impossible for me to negotiate covers.   I also had a lot on my mind so it was a restless night.

I had to get up early, but for a good reason!  Riggins adorable photographer, Lori Fusaro, was having a video piece done on her by the AP and had asked my friend and me to be a part of the project.  Riggins and I got all dressed up to have our pictures taken and be interviewed about how much we adore Lori.  Riggins good friend Sadie (long-haired dachshund mix) and her mom Missy (my friend) came over in the morning and we were on our way.  It was a guaranteed fun time!  I’ve written about Lori before and tried to retell my story to the journalist on why I originally reached out to Lori without sounding crazy.  I think I sounded crazy.  Oh well.  If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck …

Nijo & Mckenzie - Mar 2014

Nijo & Mckenzie – Mar 2014

Riggins had a blast running around getting treats from his buddy Lori, posing like a champ, showing his friend Sadie how great it is to be off leash, and scouting out every left over food item from the Easter picnics that happened in the park the day before.  Missy and I were super happy to be part of the story about Lori.  She has captured such great memories for me of my Riggins/Wendy family!  Not to mention she is a really swell gal!  (You can read more about her here, and here)

Nijo - April 2014

Nijo – April 2014

I got home to a whirlwind of activity.  Bongo was going home, I had a meet and greet with a dog and her mommy and I had Nijo (golden retriever) coming to be dropped of for an 8 day vacation.  I’ve watched Nijo a couple of times most recently last Monday.  His mommy was hosting a Passover dinner and was worried Nijo would eat all the food out from under her guests.  He would have!  So Nijo came and spent the night with Riggins and me.  Today when Nijo’s mom got here I met her in the driveway and she said Nijo was too hot to move.  I saw that something was definitely wrong.  I got him out of the car and we put cool water on his paws and tummy.  He was able to get up and start walking to my back door but then collapsed.  It was time to take him to the emergency vet.  As fast as I could I got all the dogs in the house settled, grabbed my shoes, and hoisted Nijo into my car.  His mom sat in the back as I drove them to the emergency room.  The vet techs came out to carry him on a stretcher into the clinic.  That’s the last time I saw Nijo.  He passed away about a 1/2 hour later.  The vet immediately gave him fluids but while trying to take an EKG watched his heart stop multiple times.  They tried doggie CPR but poor Nijo’s body just couldn’t take anymore.

Nijo - Jan 2014

Nijo – Jan 2014

Nijo was a cancer survivor.   A month or so ago he came to visit and had just had his 1 year cancer free check up.  Everyone was very happy for him.  I teased him that he took more pills than I did, which is quite an accomplishment!   Nijo was about 11 years old but wanted more than anything to be active.  I took him on short walk/hikes that he loved!  He always wanted to go for longer than I was willing to chance with him.  Like all my other Goldens he loved chilling out on the kitchen floor where it is cooler and that was where he napped and sometimes even slept.  He was a sloppy eater but would eat anything and everything and an even sloppier

Sweet Nijo

Sweet Nijo

drinker.  I would have to remove the little mat I have under the dogs water bowl when he was with me and replace it with a giant towel that had to be switched out daily.  Like all my dogs I loved Nijo and I’m very shocked and sad that he is gone.

Nijo was a super loved boy and I know his family will miss him but were lucky to have such a sweetie with them for the time that they did.

39 Acts of Kindness – 26

11 Monday Mar 2013

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384841_2992371408273_1893829326_nMy mailed Wendy Bombs of Kindness hit their targets this weekend. It’s so exciting! There were a number of them so I’ll bring you up to speed throughout this week. The first one I want to tell you about went to the loving house of Gabby and Sunny.
WendyRiggins001 (2)#26 – Spring Flowers. Gabby and Sunny are the lucky pups that can call Lori Fusaro their mom. I meant Lori a few years ago when I had done a google search for Dog Photographers and came upon her website. Since our first meeting she has photographed Riggins and me twice and Riggins a third time for a calendar. He was Mr. December, and a very handsome one if I do say so myself. (Read more about my first session with Lori.)

I can’t think of anyone who selflessly gives more love, time, and money to animals than 409683_2943863035594_1573809484_nLori and her husband. They are both amazing. Lori lends her talents to help dogs up for adoption by taking professional pictures of them. Every picture Lori takes, the star dog is so adorable you want to, almost have to, take him/her home. It’s amazing how much we rely on the visual when doing things like adopting a dog (or going on Match.com for a date) but we do (Did you know that dogs that have the hardest time being adopted, everything photoelse equal, are black ones? For one they are considered mean just by color …. ask the poor woman Riggins cornered off the trail today doing Tai Chi. Riggins apparently isn’t a fan of Chinese stress release. Secondly, it is difficult to photograph black dogs and see their eyes. Without being able to look in their eyes adopters have a harder time connecting emotionally.). We are, after all, only human. Lori gives dogs who need a home, a fighting shot by putting their best face forward! She is constantly doing a photo shoot to support an animal cause of some sort, and seems to be bottomless in her wiliness to donate time, energy and money. Currently she is working on a project to highlight the adoption and love needed by and given to senior dogs. This project, no doubt, was sparked by her newest doggie love, Sunny.

Sunny, originally named Shady, was left by her family at the Carson shelter due to old age. WendyRiggins013 (2) It will come as no surprise that Lori went to the shelter to help and came out haunted by the sweet senior dog and knew she had to help. In her own words:

“Some days I’m filled with hope and purpose when I walk into the shelter. Others I go through the motions, trudging along as if I’m wading through quicksand.

As I walked in the shelter I could physically feel my heart close. It slammed shut without warning. I’m not sure why, but the noise, the smells, the dogs were just too much for me today. …

… As I walked the rows and rows of kennels, the walls felt like they were closing in on me, the air getting thinner. I imagine it’s what the animals might feel at times. Maybe all the time. The feeling is horrible. I just wanted to run out of there and never look back.

But I didn’t. I stayed. I photographed. I gave treats. I scratched ears.

The dogs cried. Whined. Barked. Some wagged. Others licked. Some turned and fled. Others cowered. Some never even lifted their heads.

… It’s bleak. It’s dark. It’s overwhelming. No living creature should ever have to endure such things. For me I know it will pass. For the animals…I can’t even think about it.” – Lori’s Blog

Heart wrenching right! There’s more. The next day …

“It’s amazing the difference a day makes. Yesterday I left the shelter depressed and overwhelmed. Today I feel invigorated and filled with purpose.

This face hasn’t left my mind since I walked out of the shelter yesterday.

CarsonJune9 17 Shady {16 year old dog abandoned}

Her name is Shady. She is 16 years old. She has been at the shelter since May 29th. She is despondent, dejected and lost. Her face has invaded every moment I’ve lived today. Driving to the Riverside shelter…she popped into my head. Photographing the dogs there…she made her presence known. Eating lunch…there she was again.

…… I am going to pull her from the shelter and find her a home. I’m going to treat her eye and make sure she isn’t in any pain. We’ll see what happens. I have no idea how her health is…at 16 years old there could be so many things wrong. But I’m throwing caution to the wind. I think she deserves to spend the last days (or months) feeling loved.” – Lori’s Blog
riggins-loriIt will come as no shock that Lori and her husband adopted Sunny (the renamed Shady) and brought her in as a permanent, and loved, member of their family. Sunny has flourished in her new home with her new family, and is a whole different dog. Isn’t that amazing!?!

If anyone deserved a Wendy Bomb of Kindness it was the Fusaro family! Since
photo (4)Sunny and Gabby are adorable girls I decided they needed a hint of spring to wear out on their daily walks. I took pieces of velcro, cut slightly bigger than the width of a dog collar, then hot glued a piece of green ribbon down on top. Finally I glued on a pretty spring flower (fake of course). I had to see what they looked like so I forced poor Riggins and Bud to model the pretty pretty flowers. Being boys they weren’t amused. I found it hilarious.

I hope Gabby and Sunny enjoy their piece of spring and wear them proudly.

WendyRiggins021 (2)(P.S. All the pictures featured on this blog – minus the pouting Riggins/Bud pic – are taken
by Lori. I HIGHLY recommend her for any family portraits especially those that include children and/or animals. Her site – http://www.fusarophotography.com/. Her Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1620117902793.82578.1231779034&type=3#!/LoriFusaro)

Act of Kindness Roll-Call:

To be continued …