Woofstock 2010

Last Sunday was Woofstock... a wild and crazy 60s themed event celebrating all things canine. I volunteered at the Chester Foundation booth with my good friends Bryce and Suzi. Not to mention our super awesome next door neighbors, Marsha and Nicole at the Atlantic Street Veterinary Hospital booth. We had so much fun meeting all of the adorable dogs and their humans, hearing stories while receiving lots of kisses (from the dogs, that is).

In case you haven't heard about the Chester Foundation, it is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing veterinary care for stray and disadvantaged pets. For more information, please visit their website here. With economic times as they are, people sometimes don't have the financial means to pay for the unexpected cost that comes along with a veterinary emergency. As an emergency veterinarian, it breaks my heart when people are forced to decline treatment due to financial hardship. I know, you must be thinking "well then don't charge people". Trust me, the thought has crossed my mind, like a million times. But if we did that, we wouldn't be able to pay the phenomenal staff that is highly trained and willing to work the crazy hours that come with emergency medicine. And the hospital would close, which means we couldn't help anyone. So the Chester Foundation was born. This foundation helps clients pay for the costs associated with emergency care through loans and grants. Recently established, there is not a large sum of funds available. But we are working on building it! I was more than happy to volunteer my time at Woofstock to help raise money for Chester. For a donation of $15, I photographed portraits of some adorable doggies at Woofstock. Would you like to see my models? Well wait no longer, because here are some of the coolest, most awesome dogs at Woofstock:

Here is Tessa, an adorable pug who made me smile :-) As did her sister, Pearl:

Am I crazy or is Pearl smiling? I don't know about you, but I thinks I needs me a pug in my life! Mom is just the sweetest thing and you can tell by the twinkle in her eye that she adores her little girls.

And then there is Bravo. Okay, now hold on to your hats because Bravo is about the coolest dog I have ever met. Don't believe me? See for yourself:

OMG... can you stand it? Bravo is rocking the doggles and bow tie. All that's missing is a scarf, a leather helmet and a vintage plane. Move over Snoopy, because here comes Bravo.

And then there is Lucky, the camera-shy pitbull. I must have taken close to 50 images trying to get a decent portrait to give Lucky's mommy. It took some work, but I got perhaps one of my favorite portraits of the day. It is not your traditional portrait, but I just love it! Just look at those soulful eyes.

Just gorgeous!

And then there is Cha Cha Wee Wee, who came to visit her mom Suzi (who was working hard to raise money for the Chester Foundation). Cha Cha posed with Suzi's granddaughter (would that make her a great aunt?).

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get both a dog and a toddler to look at the camera at the same time? Well, it wasn't easy. But goodness gracious, I sure am glad I stuck with it because I just love this photo! Don't you love Cha Cha's expression?

And I realize this next photo has no dog in it whatsoever... but these kind people donated money to the Chester Foundation.

This beautiful young lady is named Kezia... her mommy is on the Board of Directors for the Chester Foundation. Kezia's grandma was in town and Nicole thought it would be nice to get a portrait of Kezia and grandma together. I was willing to do it for free as, well, Nicole is my friend. Not to mention she is on the Board. But Nicole believes so strongly in this organization that she made her donation (and then some) to the Chester Foundation. Which will undoubtedly help someone someday.

And there you have it... some of the cutest, most awesomest dogs (and people) at Woofstock 2010. I am already looking forward to next year :-)