I’m Angela, Mum to my beautiful rescue dog-kids. I'm an animal lover, vegan, photographer, Reiki practitioner and lover of crystals, coffee and chocolate, living in Wiltshire, UK. I’m about three quarters human, quarter dog, or at least that’s how it feels sometimes!
I have loved dogs since I was a small child and have lived with dogs for 30+ years. I've shared my life with various breeds and crossbreeds and adored them all. A number of wonderful dogs have come into my life from rescue over the past 16 years and I am very involved with dog rescue.
My passion for photography grew from my obsession with dogs; purchasing my first digital camera many years ago, in order to record precious memories of my own dogs.
If you would like to contact me about pet photography, dog rescue or Reiki for animals, please complete and submit the form on the Contact Me page.
Please take a look through this blog and visit my Galleries to see examples of my pet photography.
You will discover my passion for animals and animal welfare is evident throughout my blog. As far as chocolate goes, it's always vegan-friendly and the darker the better. Raw chocolate and Booja-Booja truffles rule. Just keep it away from your dogs :-)
I have very sadly had to make the decision to take a break from photographing people's animal companions for a while, for personal reasons, but I look forward to meeting you one day :-)
I make tuna cake as a treat for my own dogs and for the dogs I photograph in rescue, including the lovely Brandy. It goes down very well with both – and the birds in our garden enjoy it too; in fact they will pick out the bits of tuna cake first, from the bird seed I mix it up with!
Fixated, much?
Thought I would share the recipe here, in case anyone else would like to make it for their dog (or cat). It’s very easy to make and much more pleasant to make than liver cake, I think. A friend posted the recipe on a forum years ago and I’ve been making it ever since.
So … I put two eggs into a bowl, add a large tin of tuna in sunflower oil (think it’s 400g, or I use 2x185g tins; and keep the oil in too) and mix in with the eggs.
Then add 160-200g of plain flour and mix that in, adding more flour if necessary. Great thing about dogs is that they don’t mind if it’s not perfect
You can also add a little garlic (fresh or lazy!) if you like. I used to, but haven’t for a while and the treats are still loved.
I then put the “dough” into a baking/roasting tray, spread it around (technical term!) and then cook on 180c for around 20 minutes. Leave it to cool then cut into pieces. I cut it into strips and then into pieces from that.
This quantity makes a fair bit, as I give it to my own dogs and take some for the dogs at the local rescue too, so I tend to split the quantity into three lots. It can be frozen and then defrosted as needed. If you need less, you can always halve the quantity to start with. It seems to keep well in the fridge for 4-5 days.
If I can make it, anyone can! Just have a little sympathy for my poor hubby who saw the cake cut into quarters and left to cool in the fridge and thought I’d made him flapjacks. Sorry!
November 2011: So pleased to finally be able to post that this lovely girl has been adopted! She really is fantastic, I’m sure her new family will share many years of fun with her. Be very happy, Brandy
This beautiful young girl is Brandy and she is at Bath Cats & Dogs Home and looking for an amazing forever home of her very own. She is such a sweet girl and I’m amazed that someone hasn’t fallen for her already. Although couch potatoes need not apply for this lovely girl!
While I was editing her photos, Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun! started playing on the radio – and I thought this was the perfect song for Brandy
Pretty Brandy taking a treat very nicely
Brandy is a four year old, female Staffie (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) cross Collie cross Labrador (though I must admit, before I read that, I had her down as a Staffie cross Whippet sort!). She has a very pretty and dainty face and super model legs – and did I mention, she loves to have fun?! (Video proof at the end too!)
Think she rather liked the toys I took in for her!
The Safestix has gone down very well with the dogs in rescue – a fun, safe toy for them to play with
The rescue describes Brandy as friendly and affectionate towards people she knows well, although she is very nervous and wary around new people. While she wasn’t all over me for cuddles, she was certainly very happy to play with me – we had a good few games of tug and she was fine about me throwing toys for her etc.
The rescue says Brandy seems to be a lot more wary around men, but she is not aggressive in anyway. They advise that although she takes a while to come around and get to know new people, once she knows you she is very loyal and loving. If you are interested in adopting Brandy and feel you could offer her the wonderful home she deserves, you will need to visit the rescue and get to know her by walking her at least a few times to build up the bond. It will be very much worth it, dogs are such wonderful creatures and Brandy is a special girl.
Isn’t she a pretty girl?
Brandy walks well on a harness, as she tends to pull on the lead. The rescue confirms that she is fine to be left for short periods. She has become a bit stressed when left alone in a paddock at the rescue, because she wants to be with people. She didn’t make any attempt to leave while she was in with me and we’d only just met. She just wanted to play
Like I said, couch potatoes need not apply
The rescue tells me that Brandy has been mixed with other dogs on site and she is not dog aggressive, but doesn’t mix with them well in the kennel environment. They therefore consider that she would be best homed as an only dog. She is looking for an active household without any young children but could live with children aged 14+.
From my time with her, I have a vision of her living a fulfilled life with a loving family, maybe with teenage children (or older), and very much enjoying all the fun times they have together as a family.
Smiling and ready for fun – and she looks like she might rather enjoy a belly rub too
(Please click on the thumbnails above to view larger photos – there are lots, I couldn’t narrow them down any more!)
I really like Brandy, a lot. I love dogs with energy and she definitely has that. She seems a very sweet young girl and I have wondered why she is still waiting for a home, but then of course you only have to look at any rescue’s website to be reminded of just how many wonderful dogs are sat waiting for their forever home. I really hope Brandy doesn’t have to wait much longer. She very much deserves to find an amazing home.
If you feel you can offer Brandy a loving and appropriate home, you will need to contact Bath Cats & Dogs Home directly on 01225 787 321, or complete the Home’s online rehoming form, which can be found here.
Please let them know that you saw Brandy at Poochie Freak.
Please watch these little video clips too as they show you just what a lovely and fun girl, Brandy is. Did I mention how much I like her?
Brandy’s carer asked me afterwards if her tail had stopped wagging at all – I think you can guess my answer!
[...] tuna cake as a treat for my own dogs and for the dogs I photograph in rescue, including the lovely Brandy. It goes down very well with both – and the birds in our garden enjoy it too; in fact they [...]
Update 15 August 2012: So pleased to be able to update this post with the wonderful news that gorgeous Grant has been adoptedWishing you much happiness in your new home, lovely boy
This week, I’d like to introduce you to Grant, a very handsome young Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie) cross, who is being rehomed by Bath Cats & Dogs Home.
Grant is four years old and is looking for an active home where any children are aged 10+ and where he is the only pet. The rescue describes Grant as a happy, sweet natured and affectionate lad who enjoys a fuss and a cuddle. He also likes to play, as I discovered when I took him into the volunteer paddock at the rescue centre
Grant is playful, excitable and full of energy and can become quite boisterous so will need an owner who is able to deal with this. He has been waiting for his chance of a forever home for some time now and the poor chap is finding kennel life rather stressful.
The lovely Staffie smile!
Grant loves to meet new people and is described as quite obedient. He does know a few basic commands but would benefit from an owner who is happy to do more training with Grant. He seems to be both food and toy motivated so this shouldn’t be a problem for an experienced owner.
Grant enjoying the Safestix (a toy recently launched in the UK to remove the dangers of playing with a real stick!)
The very gorgeous Grant very much enjoys his walks. He is strong on lead, though the rescue said he walks well on a Halti. He does bark at other dogs while in the kennel area, but the rescue says once he is off site and in a calmer environment, he is a very different and loving dog.
Grant is looking for an active owner/family who will give him the exercise and stimulation he needs. The rescue said he is quite chilled out and would be happy to be left for a few hours, in a home environment.
If you feel you can offer Grant a loving and appropriate home, you will need to contact Bath Cats & Dogs Home directly on 01225 787 321, or complete the Home’s online rehoming form, which can be found here.
Please let them know that you saw Grant at Poochie Freak.
Grant would like to show you what a fun, young boy he is …
Fantastic photography ! I took Grant out for a walk through Bathampton Woods yesterday and I felt that he was barely pulling at all. He had a harness and a halti and I didn’t need to use the halti at all – it’s almost is if its presence acts as an effective deterrent against pulling !
May 2012 ~ Little Scampie has very sadly passed awayMy thoughts are with those who cared for him at the rescue, who I know will miss him very much. Sleep tight Scampie!
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I photographed little Scampie at Bath Cats & Dogs Home recently and he is currently being featured as Old Dog of the Week on the Oldies Club website. You can read all about Scampie on his page there, but I thought I would share a few extra photos, as he is such a cute little dog.
Good luck Scampie!
(Please click on the thumbnail images above to see the larger versions)
30 April 2011 ~ really pleased to let you know that the gorgeous sweetheart that is Sonny, has been adopted!He found his new home the very same day that his best mate Saxon found his. How lovely, the two of them heading off to their respective forever homes on the same day. Be happy boys
I know I keep saying how lovely all these dogs in rescue are – but it’s true! This time, I’d like you to meet Sonny, a six year old male German Shepherd Dog (GSD) cross who is being rehomed by Bath Cats & Dogs Home.
Sonny is best buddies with Saxon, the GSD cross I photographed recently. While the two dogs are up for adoption separately, if a loving home out there could accommodate the pair of them, I know their carer would LOVE to hear from you too
Sonny is a really sweet boy who loves people and can live with children aged 10 plus. He would be happy to live with another dog(s) – especially if they are called Saxon <see above>
What a beautiful face!
Sonny’s carer would really like to see him find his forever home very soon. The poor boy is a bit stressed in the kennel environment, which has had a negative effect on his weight and tummy, but the rescue feels this would very much improve with a move to a loving and stable home.
Sonny does bark initially, when first left, but does calm, though he is looking for a home where he wouldn’t be left for more than a few hours.
I had great fun playing in the paddock with Sonny. He enjoyed – and was very gentle with – the tugger and had fun with the Safestix too.
Sonny also seems to be somewhat of a snuggle monster. He’s a lovely gentle boy and I could really imagine snuggling up with him on a blanket in front of the fire during the Winter evenings. I think he would really enjoy chilling out with his new family after a nice walk
There are some dogs you just feel immediately comfortable with and Sonny is one of them. If you are familiar with Jasper, my oldie; Sonny reminds me of a younger, bigger version of him. Lovely nature, steady dog, very scrummy.
Did I mention what a lovely boy Sonny is?!
(Please click on the thumbnails above to view larger versions of the photos)
Here’s a little video clip of Sonny too:
If you are seriously interested in offering Sonny the wonderful home he is looking for, you will need to contact Bath Cats & Dogs Home on 01225 787 321, or complete the Home’s online rehoming form, which can be found here.
Please let them know that you saw Sonny at Poochie Freak. Good luck gorgeous boy!
My thoughts are with those who cared for him at the rescue, who I know will miss him very much. Sleep tight Scampie!
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