Here is a video of Baxter just being Baxter. One of the biggest joys of living with Baxter is the enthusiasm and positivity he brings to us at all times. At about :14 you can even catch a glimpse of his signature smile.

If you adopt Baxter, you could be the lucky person to greet this happy dog in the mornings, take this happy dog out for walks, and bring this happy dog with you on new adventures.

Won’t you give Baxter even more reason to be happy by giving him a forever home?

For more information on adopting Comeback Kid Baxter, click here or email peacelovefoster@gmail.com.

  >< happy

 (O_o )

 Ha haa a ha.

That’s all. Thank you for all comments . See you next update.

As early as I can remember (earlier, even, than my earliest canine sketch), I would always look out the car window at my wolf friends running along beside me, smiling at the world as they went.

They would be easily clearing snowbanks and fire hydrants, loping around parked cars and children, who would be standing at attention and staring as we interrupt road hockey games in the suburbs;  weaving gracefully through the oblivious throngs downtown, claws clicking on the pavement, patiently waiting with us at red lights before trotting on; and tirelessly charging along the transcanada highway or the 401…I’d sometimes catch glimpses of them through the forests, other times I’d track them trekking single file through a field half a kilometre away.  Needless to say they were always happiest in the countryside along the highway, exploring, following smells and whims.  But no matter where, they were always running, and always smiling.

I’m sure anyone who has seen a happy dog knows of the smile.  Alert at first – focused eyes, brows poised, closed mouth with tight lips but loose jowls, ears flexed and precisely directed, and nose quivering - all melting into blissful momentary reflection.  Reflection, yet amazingly still ultimately present in the moment.  The nose tips up in silent laughter, ears swivel back unintimidatingly, lips loosen and part, freeing the tongue while cheeks tighten, and eyes relax, eyelids nearing each other, completing the epitome of contentment.  Equally as important as the expression itself is the lightning fast return of the alertness given the slightest impetus for a new reaction. (As a side note: I’m going to guess that 2/3 of the people who read that, attempted the “dog smile”…)

It’s hard to explain but everything about the wolf speaks to me.  The stealth, strength, endurance, stillness, beauty, mystery, family values, instinctual, nomadic ability to survive, existing perfectly in its niche in the environment.  In fact, I think my respect for the animal runs deeper than my respect for…well, gravity (which, by the way, I don’t believe is entirely immutable).  Similar to gravity, as another basic law of my universe I expected a deep respect for wolves to be shared by all, at least to some degree.  However, I was genuinely surprised to relatively recently discover otherwise, that people actually harbour fear of wolves!  As Bertrand Russel said, “he who fears an animal will only see its threatening behaviour”.  I encourage everyone to choose to respect and you will see much to warrant it!

It’s funny that the characteristics that likely inspire fear in many people are precisely those that inspire me athletically: the predatory nature, chasing as if in a life or death circumstance, eyes on the prize with nothing else of any importance in the moment.  The focus, drive, and courage of the hunting wolf are precisely what I attempt to emanate in athletics.

I’m not suggesting necessarily that everyone must love wolves, but I am suggesting that everyone would do well to love and be open to learning from the natural world.  I’ve had some awesome teachers throughout my schooling, but I assure you, none have been quite like the wolf!

“In wildness is the salvation of the world.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Do all things with love”… Og Mandino

One of the reasons I began to explore pet and animal photography is because of the sometimes human qualities they can sometimes exhibit. Case in point: the lovable smiles from dogs.

This photo was taken at the 2010 Grove Fest in the Grove neighborhood of St. Louis. A couple of guys were checking out the scene of the event with their three dogs. All three of them had smiles on them and looked obviously happy about having their photo taken. If there is one thing for sure about St. Louis it is that people here love their dogs. You will most likely to multiple groups with pups at any St. Louis event.

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I’ve now posted most of the photos I had prior to the creation of this blog. From here on I will more often have singular photos, for every occasion I take a animal/pet photo, than slideshows. In addition, I want to include in future posts some information relative to the photo, whether it be the name of the animal, where I found it and if there is a story behind the animal.

Because he always makes you smile, I am giving you a shot of Reilly today.

Some of you know of him, some of you have met him and some of you have seen him on my flickr page but he is always good for a smile no matter where you see him.

Whenever I am out with Reilly I see it, strangers smile and say “Is he a Jack Russell?” and of course he is and they laugh. They all think he is a puppy. Reilly is 7. 

Reilly came to our house on August 11, 2007 and never left. He was a rescue; he lived in his foster home for 3 years before we found him. He needed some structure. His original owners would let him wander the neighborhood. He would come home with UPS packages and autographed baseball hats from other people’s garages. I guess that is why he ended up in a foster home. Tim wanted to give him back, my heart wouldn’t let go.  We trained him, Tim trained him. He now listens. He stole Tim’s heart too.  A little sketchy around kids but we know how to take care of that, he still spins but not as often. Ya have to meet Reilly in person to see the spin, neighbors watch out windows just to see; they laugh.

Reilly was suppose to have a different name but because he was an older dog we kept the one he had; I changed the spelling to a more Irish version. You know because if Reilly talked he would have an Irish brogue. Tim thinks I am nuts but there is this personality that comes out of Reilly when you are walking him sometimes.  I call it, The Officer Reilly.

Growing up in my neighborhood when I was little they had beat cops that walked the streets. At night they checked storefront doors making sure they were locked, cleared out the shadows keeping the streets safe; we lived on the first floor so I could watch them walk by they were always alert, looking side to side, going in and out of the door ways. THAT is Reilly when we walk around the neighborhood, he ducks in and out of driveways looking at people’s houses, pert, on his toes, ears pricked in the air looking from side to side and up the streets.

Here is officer Reilly to give you a smile today.

here’s chase showing his happy side. yesterday he was looking serious.

from what i’ve seen, this shiba inu is smiling most of the time.  he’s a very sweet guy.