Gabriel has an amazing story of survival starting at just three months old…He had a fractured pelvis and couldn’t “poop” so everything was blocked inside which forced his intestines in the chest area which made it very hard to breathe. The vet said he needed surgery right away and then he may not make it. During the surgery his heart stopped and they got it going again…MIRACLE! Gabe is a very beautiful blue eyed kitty that is deaf but otherwise healthy and very good with dogs, cats and kids. Basically he can’t hear any commotion so gets along with all.

If you are interested in Gabriel please contact Earlene at etrestrail@wildblue.net

Merry Christmas – PW

E-mail us | View our portfolio | 360.828.1451 | DoxZen Pet Photos | Portland OR • Vancouver WA

This is Alyce – she is a Lynx Pt. Himalayan Mix that was rescued out of barn with other siblings! She is about nine weeks old and have been well socialized. Alyce is really this adorable beautiful markings and coloring.

If you are interested please contact Earlene etrestrail@wildblue.net

Kitty kisses – PW

E-mail us | View our portfolio | 360.828.1451 | DoxZen Pet Photos | Portland OR • Vancouver WA

Desi was rescued about three years ago with six other siblings. She is on the shy side but after about 15 minutes she started really working the camera! Miss Desi likes the attention on her own terms, but definitely likes to be loved. She does have a sister Daisy that is looking for a home too…

If you are interested please contact Earlene at etrestrail@wildblue.net

Kitty kisses – PW

E-mail us | View our portfolio | 360.828.1451 | DoxZen Pet Photos | Portland OR • Vancouver WA

TWITTER Winner goes to

ChuckIt Toy goes to…

And the Kevin Kubota book Digital Photography BootCamp…

Congrats to everyone!!! Please contact us directly at paula@doxzenpetphotos.com to work through the details

Now to our FACEBOOK photo contest! Loved all the entries and feel free to keep on posting your pet pictures up there…drumroll…..

MOST Adorable goes to… Scrappy!

MOST Creative goes toooooo…Cosmo!

and BEST Overall goes to….Bandit!

Congrats!!!!! Please give big dog kisses to the winners and give them a treat from me! Contact me so we can work the details out of the gift certificate or the donation.

Thank you again for all of your support and have a happy weekend!

Dog kisses – PW

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All the winners for the contests will be announced by 10:00 AM PDT tomorrow (Saturday, November 21st), so be sure to check back!

Goodnight and enjoy your weekend and we will be back on Monday!
Dog kisses – PW

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Brushing is the best way to remove plaque from your pet’s teeth. Daily brushing is most beneficial but brushing two to three times a week is acceptable if your schedule can’t accommodate daily brushing. If you’re lucky enough (or unlucky, I have had an opportunity to observe dental cleanings at my vet) to actually see a dog with dental disease you’d run to your vet to make sure you’re brushing as often as possible with the right tools. NOTE – do NOT use human toothpaste. You’ll be able to find special toothpaste for your dogs at the vet.

In the spirit of Adopt-A-Dog month, make sure a dental check-up is on the list especially if you adopted an older dog. Some people forgot that this is equally as important as vaccinations and if your vet offers wellness exams (see Frontier Vet Hospital’s wellness plan option) then an oral examination will be part of the routine exam. Frontier Vet Hospital in Hillsboro recently offered a workshop on dental health for pet parents and the community led by Dr. Hardesty. To contact them for more information or upcoming workshops – visit their site.

Some excellent resources I’ve found include: an article on About.com and Frontier Vet Hospital has an online tutorial that discusses the importance of dental care for pets. Check these out and look inside your dog’s (or cat’s…) mouth TODAY.

Dog & cat kisses – CC

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The symbol or crest that is used in my logo is a  Japanese Mon. The one above is specifically my grandfather’s family Kamon or Monodokoro called the Katabami. In true Japanese style it is simple and clean, perfect for two color process. It also holds personal meaning to me. I have been thinking of my grandfather a lot since his recent death this past fall and I know he would be proud that I was using the family Kamon in our business.

The word DoxZen I came across several years ago and put on my license plate. It is a real name believe it or not!But for me it has two meanings…

Dox is short for Doxie, which is short for Dachshund.

Zen – our pets are zen. They are always present, in the now. I adore their ability to forgive and the amount of trust they show us. They are a representation of love, charity, joy, delight, and simplicity. Even if they have been abused, starved, or beaten, when you come to them with compassion and a soft voice, you can see their tails wag a little. Zen also ties in with my family Kamon!

So why didn’t I use my name? This was actually my second and most logical choice. But there have been issues with ‘Wessells’ name for me – I have had the pleasure of having it for nine years. It has been nine years of mis-spelling and to complex to pronounce correctly. Pronounced somewhat like: Whe – sells and spelled with two ‘e’, two ‘l’ and three ‘s’… yes, three. I had to make a business decision here, not a personal one.

What was your process and why? If you don’t have a business give it some thought as to what you would do – you never know when that opportunity for you to start something new for yourself might come up!

Dog kisses – PW

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• Favorite Food: anything with fish
• Pet Peeve: being picked up without permission
• Favorite Pastime: tricking Riley off the sofa so she can have the position
• Naughtiest Deed: walking into the fireplace and rolling around in the ashes
• Obesession: cleanliness, cleanliness, cleanliness
• Favorite Toy: Little catnip mice

Beth has amazing natural light coming into her house. This particular day was typical of Portland Oregon in the fall – dark and raining. Fortunately her house had great windows and Nora’s eyes were soaking up every bit of light that was coming in. It was interesting to see after the photo shoot that Nora’s eyes are slightly different colors – I didn’t notice this until I was processing the photos.

Nora was rescued by Beth several years ago. She is a Turkish Angora and certainly carries all the traits of one! While I was sitting on the couch talking to Beth, Nora proceeded to comb my hair with her nails – not kidding. Apparently she loves long hair! Angora cats also tend to be very ‘dog like’, interacting with everyone in the room. She was definitely trying to steal the show away from Riley (the dog, coming up!).

Cat kisses – PW

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Indigo Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue organization with a goal to end pet over population and abandonment in the greater Portland, Oregon community.

Heather Hines, President of the organization, took some time out of her crazy schedule for Q & A:

What are some of the day to day challenges you face running a pet rescue?

We partner with county shelters and intervene when they contact us about dogs who are failing in the shelter environment or have come in with serious injuries. Generally, because of overcrowding at the shelters, we operate under a time constraint when trying to put dogs in compatible foster homes. It’s always a scramble to find a foster home fast enough. Of course, without a compromised economy, fundraising for a non-profit animal rescue is always a challenge, so you can imagine what it’s like now!

(Read Fresno’s story here.)

What is the perfect day for you?

One without crisis…but there’s no such thing in animal rescue. Our work is never done.

What was the one moment that made you go WOW – I am doing something good here?

There really wasn’t one moment. Every time we’ve had a dog or cat that was badly broken, abused or challenged in any way, then recovered and found a great home, we feel great. Every spay/neuter event we’ve hosted and prevented thousands of additional births, we feel great.

(Read Savannah’s story here)

How many animals are in your care now?

Our group generally fosters between 35-50 dogs at a time, and a few cats. As soon as a slot opens in a foster home, we fill it!

We hear a lot about dog rescue in Portland, OR but what about cat rescue? Is the need just as great or greater?

MUCH GREATER. 500 cat rescues will not fix the cat problem. It would only enable our community’s failure to commit to their cats for their entire lives. It’s simple math. There are too many cats and not enough homes. There are too many people who move and leave their intact cat behind to fend for itself while it produces more kittens. SPAY/NEUTER, SPAY/NEUTER, SPAY/NEUTER.

What is it about cats you love?

Their way of showing affection and their unique, funny personalities.

What are some questions that people should ask themselves before bringing a pet into their family structure?

• Can you imagine yourself providing a home for a pet for between 12 and 20 years in spite of any of life’s unexpected changes?
  
• Does your schedule allow you to provide adequate training (‘cuz surprise, they don’t train themselves…), exercise and stimulation for your pet?
  
• Are you comfortable living with all of a pet’s little issues (barking, shedding, etc.)
  
• Can you afford routine or urgent vet care?
  
• Can you imagine your pet as a member of your family and household, rather than occupying your garage or yard?

What is it about dogs you love?

Their playful innocence and devotion.

What is the best thing someone can do to help an organization like yours?

Donate, host fundraisers, foster a rescued dog, volunteer, or…board your dog at our cage free boarding at Indigo Ranch!

How can people get involved with Indigo Rescue?

Sign up for our volunteer yahoo group by going to our website clicking the Volunteer page. Volunteer emails go out once or twice a week and advise people of what we’re doing.

(Read Lilly’s story here)

How can people reading this help you right now?

Make a tax deductible donation to our $10,000 challenge, deadline December 31st, 2009.

Thank you Heather! Great information and lots to think about…I know times are tough, and even tougher for a non-profit. If you can give $5  – that $5 can really make a difference. Indigo Rescue, PO Box 554, Beaverton, OR 97075.

Doxzen Pet Photos will be donating $5 for every 10×13  print that is ordered from your photo shoot to Indigo Rescue!

Dog kisses- PW

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It will be a fun day of contests, guest posts, introductions, pet features, pet care tips and much more! Make sure you follow us on Twitter and become a Facebook Fan so you can participate in the contests.