Remembering Zöe - Dog Photography Richmond

“My dog has cancer” is the kind of words that I’d never want to hear. Unfortunately, as a pet photographer, I get so many of those messages… When Zöe’s mom first reached out, we weren’t even sure if we were going to get enough time to capture these important images, but we set a date for her professional pet photo session and hoped for the best.

Zöe, who was almost 10 years old was a mix between Frenchie and English Bulldog, and without a doubt, she had the best of both… She was crazy about treats, she loved people, and she really enjoyed belly rubs and butt scratches. As a typical bulldog, she was also very stubborn so I had a “lifestyle” approach to her session, since she wasn’t really the kind of dog that will stay still for pictures, and the most important thing for her pawrents was that I captured her true self.

Even though her energy wasn’t quite what it used to be, she was very excited to be at her dad’s workplace, which was always her favourite place to be. She was a goofy girl, and despite the weather wasn’t cooperating much and the day was overcast and grey, that didn’t stop us and we still had a lot of fun together. She ran around a bit and played with her toys, I learned her monkey has been her favourite through the years. I am pretty sure that she felt loved, she had a lot of treats and simply was the star of the day.

Sadly, Zöe passed away a couple of weeks after our session. I am so thankful she had a good day and that I was able to capture her sweet smile and personality. I’m so lucky to have met her and I feel honoured I was able to create those special memories for her parents to remember her. 

Saying goodbye to a terminally ill pet is definitely hard, but photographs help provide a lasting connection. Her pawrents got Mini Album to keep their favourite images from her session… what a lovely way to pay tribute to a beloved family member!

Dogs are awesome creatures! Unfortunately, they are not around for long, that’s why I always try to get the message out to pet owners (beg!) to reach out and plan a photo session while their pet is still healthy, or at least, still themself. If you have an elderly or terminally ill pet please do not wait. Vancouver Pet Photography provides custom pet photography for clients in the Greater Vancouver Area. Get in touch to book your own personalized experience.

For more information on Vancouver Pet Photography sessions, visit “The Experience” in the menu and be sure to join the Vancouver Cool Pet Club on Facebook.