SPCA Village in Mangere, Auckland.

On occasion I am asked to photograph some of the animals who are ready for adoption at the SPCA Village in Mangere, Auckland. It’s something I do with absolute pleasure, especially as it helps the dogs I photograph find homes sooner. This is Christine Kalin, the new CEO of SPCA in Auckland, with one of the most beautiful Collies I’ve seen. The Border Collie and older Retriever are both ready for adoption and I wish them well. I take heart in humanity when I see the commitment of the people who work for the improvement of life and conditions of the animals which mostly arrive at the SPCA after being abused by their owners. The overriding message from the SPCA is that pet owners de-sex their pets to stop the increase of unwanted animals.

Dogs in Nature

Dogs in nature are the easiest to photograph because they are, at that moment, filled with heaps and heaps of natural stimuli which helps me capture the essence of their moment. Above is an uncle and nephew team headed down to the water for a cool down and below, a Siberian Husky at home in New Zealand. Many of the photographs you will see on this blog, have been taken at the local beach where I live in Auckland, New Zealand.

Josh

This is Josh, the Meremma Sheep Dog who I shared with a friend for a while. When I built his kennel, I made it big enough for both of us. It was during the times I sat talking with him in his kennel that the idea came to mind to photograph dogs at play. Josh and I were of an age when those boisterous and crazy activities of only a few years prior were becoming lesser by the day, so you might say we understood each other. Sadly, Josh is no longer with us but I sense him often. Thanks Josh.

Dogs and me

In the past, I often looked at an old black and white photograph of a little boy who was about three years old, sitting on cement steps in front of his house. His hair is light brown and uncombed. He is wearing khaki short pants and a dark cabled jersey. At the little boy’s feet is the cutest little white terrier cross poodle you ever did see. They were friends. That little dog was the start of a lifelong love of dogs for the little boy. I was the little boy and until now, I have never thanked that little dog-friend of mine for showing me how dogs love. It has been the same love that I’ve experienced from all the dogs I’ve had since the time that photograph was taken of me on those steps, back in 1953.

Sadly, I have mistreated some of the dogs I’ve had through the years, in the mistaken belief that I was teaching them how to behave. When in fact, it was a convoluted way of exerting my authority over something I "owned". I had no idea what I was doing and when I think back on it my heart becomes incredibly heavy and all I can do is ask their forgiveness. What has become clear to me is, that as human beings, we have always had a duty to reach out and understand the people and animals we share this planet with and especially so, the animals we keep as companions because they do not have the ability to speak.

This blog is about dogs and people who love dogs from all across the world. Please treat those who post here with the same respect you would like to be treated with.