A busy year… and one Sirius-ly awesome dog!

Mary Swift — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:26:02 +0000

Hi everyone… I want to sincerely apologize for being such a terrible blogger over the past few months! 2013 has been a really busy year so far, partially due to the fact that I’m volunteering with more shelters and rescue groups than ever. While I love being able to work with multiple groups to photograph as many homeless animals as possible, unfortunately that leaves less and less time for putting together blog posts. I also feel like perhaps the animals are getting more exposure through Facebook than this blog, so that’s where I’m concentrating more of my efforts to share their photos and stories. I may post here from time to time, and I do hope to start posting more regularly again someday, but right now please “like” me on facebook to see new photos of adoptables from shelters and rescues all over the Baltimore area! www.facebook.com/maryswiftphotography

For now, I’ll leave you with an updated photo of Brutus (you can read more about him here), as he continues to wait for his forever home. Here he is sporting his new Sirius Republic collar! Sirius Republic is a big supporter of rescue efforts and they were so incredibly generous to donate some “Adopt Me” collars to the dogs at the Baltimore Humane Society. If you haven’t checked out this awesome company yet, be sure to visit www.siriusrepublic.com and pick out a gorgeous handmade collar for your own pooch! You can even use the code RPBH65 and some of the proceeds from your purchase will be donated to BHS. Thank you Sirius Republic!!

Diamond

Mary Swift — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:24:51 +0000

Diamond is one of my absolute FAVORITE girls at the humane society right now! She’s been there since March 2011, and I am completely baffled that she hasn’t found a home yet. She’s so loving and adorable, and she always has a smile on her face. If you walk up to her door in the dog kennel, she’ll lean up against it and beg to be petted through the bars. Diamond is a spirited girl with lots of energy, and would love to have an active family. She was thrilled to play with the squeaky toy that I had and it was hilarious to watch her kick it around and pounce on it over and over again. (I really wish I had some video of it.) Once she tired herself out a bit, she was happy to come lean up against us for some affection and then made herself comfortable in Brian’s lap. She would be such an amazing companion for someone! Diamond is about 2 1/2 years old and she’s a petite 45 lbs. (not too big, not too small!). Somebody please adopt this gorgeous little girl! You can visit her at the Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown, Tues-Sun, 12-6 pm.

(UPDATE: After a very long 2 years and 6 months, Diamond has finally found her forever home!)

Patches

Mary Swift — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:05:40 +0000

Patches is one cool cat who has been at the BHS since October 2011. He’s 6 years old, and he was surrendered to the shelter because his owner had too many animals. He’s a big boy who is part of the shelter’s “Phat Cat Fitness Camp” program, which helps some of the larger kitties shed some of their extra pounds. Isn’t he so handsome? I just wish I had more information on him. Please go visit the BHS to meet him in person… he’s a sweet and mellow boy who’s been waiting a long time for a home!

Layla

Mary Swift — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:53:02 +0000

On Sunday I had the pleasure of meeting Layla, a beautiful little Min Pin available for adoption through AARF. I met her foster mom at a local park in Baltimore and we had a very quick mini-session… poor Layla was freezing! The camera made her nervous too, but despite all that, she was a great model.

Layla was originally found on the side of the road a couple of years ago but never found her forever home, so she was recently rescued by her foster mom. Suddenly last week she had to be rushed to the emergency vet and it was discovered that she has diabetes. The rescue didn’t have the funds to pay her $1300 vet bill, so her foster mom is paying it out of her own pocket. A ChipIn has been set up to help her out with the medical expenses… if you’d like to donate a few dollars, you can do so here! http://fundsforlayla.chipin.com/jana-deoliveira-and-layla-the-pup

Layla is doing much better now with her daily insulin. If anyone is interested in adopting this sweet and energetic little girl, please contact AARF at info@animalalliesrescue.org.

(UPDATE: Layla has been adopted!)

Growing up in the shelter

Mary Swift — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:50:25 +0000

This past weekend I realized that there were several cats at BHS that were in desperate need of updated photos. These were cats that had arrived at the shelter months ago as adorable little kittens… which normally are adopted very quickly, but for some reason these kitties were overlooked time and time again. Therefore, they’ve been growing up in the shelter and are no longer the tiny cute balls of fluff that people usually snatch up so quickly. The fact that most of them are black cats doesn’t help matters any, since black cats are often the last to be adopted.

House, Cuddy, Lambchop, Elena, King Julian, Madagascar, and Maurice are all living together in one of the communal cat rooms at BHS, so I decided to stop in there a few days ago to get some new photos. I expected to be in and out in just a few minutes, but I wasn’t prepared for what greeted me on the other side of the door. Oh. My. Goodness. I was immediately swarmed by lots of happy cats when I walked in the door and was suddenly overwhelmed with the amount of affection they all wanted to give me! I was in kitty heaven… these are some of the most loving cats I’ve ever met. Which makes me even more sad for them, because I know they could have gone home a long time ago if people had just taken the time to meet them and see what incredible personalities they have. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time cuddling with them. House is one of my favorites… he’s so outgoing and sweet. If my house wasn’t already full, I might have ignored protests from my husband and applied to adopt him. You MUST go meet these cats! They may not be tiny kittens but they’re still young, between 6-8 months old. Please don’t let them grow up in the shelter!

House: Male, 7 months old (UPDATE: House has been adopted!)

Cuddy: Female, 7 months old (UPDATE: Cuddy has been adopted!)

Elena: Female, 8 months old (UPDATE: Elena has been adopted!)

Lambchop: Female, 8 months old

King Julian: Male, 6 months old (UPDATE: King Julian has been adopted!)

Madagascar: Male, 6 months old (UPDATE: Madagascar has been adopted!)

Maurice: Male, 6 months old (UPDATE: Maurice has been adopted!)

Willow

Mary Swift — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:01:02 +0000

I first met Willow two years ago, when she arrived at the BHS as a wiggly little 15-lb. puppy. She was adopted, but then returned after a few months because the other dog in the home had attacked her. Willow was adopted again and her new owners loved her very much, but unfortunately there were still issues between her and the other pets in the house, so now she is once again looking for her forever home. Willow is super sweet and absolutely adores people, but she would like to be the only pet. She is a “special needs” dog because she has Addison’s disease, meaning there is a deficiency of a corticosteroid hormone that manages how her body handles stress. The disease is manageable, but a stressful shelter environment is not good for Willow and it would be wonderful if she could find a foster home to relax in while she waits for her forever family to come along. Please consider stepping up to foster her to give her the best possible chance of finding a home soon! For more information on Addison’s disease, visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=608. If you’re interested in fostering, please contact Melissa at mmcclelland@bmorehumane.org.

Luggy

Mary Swift — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:19:50 +0000

Today I’d like to introduce you to another long-time resident of the BHS… meet Luggy! This girl has been waiting patiently for a home since January 2011. I’m not sure why she keeps getting overlooked, but I’m hoping she can find a home before she hits that 2-year anniversary of being a shelter resident… she’s waited long enough! Luggy is an independent girl who is full of personality, and she’s guaranteed to make you laugh with her antics. She’s currently residing in a room with several other cats who are part of the humane society’s “Phat Cat Fitness Camp”, a program designed to help some of the larger kitties there lose some weight. She’s been doing great and shedding some unwanted pounds, and she can’t wait to get into a real home that will help give her lots of play and exercise so she can keep her figure. Luggy is about 3 years old, is spayed and housetrained, and would prefer a home without dogs. Think she could be the girl for you? Please go visit her!

Penelope

Mary Swift — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:18:07 +0000

Penelope arrived at the BHS two years ago, in Sept. 2010, from a rescue in Virginia that had run out of space for her. She was transferred with several other Coonhounds, and shared a kennel with her sister Margaret. They all found homes quickly, including Penelope, but she was returned a couple of months later because she was escaping her yard. She was adopted again, but was returned a second time in Sept. 2011. This time it was because her owners had sent her away to a boarding kennel for “training”, where they used inhumane methods including a shock collar on her. Not surprisingly, this so-called training was not effective and just scared her. Instead of trying to work with her using positive reinforcement methods, her owners dumped her back at the shelter. Penelope has been through so much that she’s a little wary of new people, and sudden movements scare her. Despite all this, she’s still a very sweet and shy girl who loves to be with people that will treat her with kindness. She’s looking for a home with adults only, someone who can give her lots of love to make up for all that she’s missed. Please stop by the BHS to take her for a walk and give her a belly rub… you’ll fall in love!

(UPDATE: I’m very sad to report that Penelope has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. RIP, sweet girl.)

Recycled Love adoptables

Mary Swift — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:54:48 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I got the chance to meet up with a few foster families from Recycled Love rescue. What a fun morning! All of the dogs I met with that day happened to be seniors, so naturally all of them were tugging at my heartstrings. Meet Daisy, Frank, and Fred!

Daisy is an adorable 10 year old Silky Terrier mix. She’s blind and hard of hearing, but she doesn’t let that slow her down! She was so curious and sweet. (Update: I’m sad to report that Daisy’s health took a turn for the worse, and she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge recently. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her foster family who loved her so much and gave her a wonderful home.)

Next up was Frank, an 8 year old Dachshund. Isn’t he the cutest? Frank is great with other dogs, cats, and kids. He also loves to join in if you howl at him! (UPDATE: Frank has been adopted!)

Last but never least was Fred, an 8 year old pittie mix. He has the BEST smile and he just loves to give kisses! Fred would like to have a fairly quiet home where he can be the only dog.

If you’re interested in meeting any of these dogs, please contact Recycled Love rescue! www.recycledlove.org

Sicily & Simkah

Mary Swift — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:41:19 +0000

Last week I got to spend a little extra time with Sicily and Simkah, two beautiful girls who came in to the shelter together in September of 2011. While I don’t have much background information on them, I can tell you that they’re both full of personality! Sicily (the tabby) was a ham for the camera, super affectionate and always wanting attention, while Simkah (the black cat) decided that she was far too busy to pose for photos. Fortunately, she started to warm up to the camera a bit and eventually came up to us for a few pets and head scratches. If you’re looking for a couple of friendly and independent kitties to share your home with, check out these two at the BHS!

(UPDATE: Simkah has been adopted, but Sicily is still searching for her forever home!)