IN FOCUS: News from Sutton Studios

Issue No. 20

February 2009

Schedule a portrait for February and your sitting fee is just $150!

SPOTLIGHT

James Taylor and Gracie
(click to enlarge)

Complicated Creatures

Ann Fisher Raney stopped by recently for a portrait sitting with her two rescued Greyhounds. She tells us, "Gracie and James Taylor both spent the first halves of their lives on racetracks in Florida and Alabama, respectively. Racing greyhounds are special animals. They have lived in austere and sometimes abusive conditions where they were regarded as commodities."

As commodities, Greyhounds who no longer produce a "return on investment" for their owners often face destruction and disposal rather than a well earned retirement.

Some racing Greys fare better. These find themselves in the care of compassionate humans who offer them a second chance. "After they receive needed medical treatment and gentle fostering by knowledgeable families," says Ann, "lucky people like me are able to adopt them. Gracie and James Taylor are special, but so is every Greyhound rescued and given a second chance to live a secure and protected life."

"James was rescued from Hurricane Katrina, so those circumstances were very difficult. He has heartworm and has had a series of illnesses, yet his heart is wide open and he offers compassion and love to everyone. Gracie appears to have been harmed or neglected. She is initially guarded but once she is convinced that you are not going to hurt her, her connection is deep and committed."

In this photo, Ann is encouraging Gracie to consider letting David take a photograph of her, but James "as always, is looking everywhere and seeing everything. He seems to have the capacity to gaze deeply. I wonder what he sees?"

Ann has had five greyhounds and David has photographed every one, beginning with Sophie (Sophonisba Locomotive Breckenridge) in 1996. "David was wonderful and his photographs were compelling portraits of my angular, stately dogs. Rescue Greyhounds are complicated creatures who have usually suffered much, yet love abundantly. David's photographs celebrate their survival and grace."

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REFLECTION & REFRACTION

Rescue and Forgiveness

My unusual job gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing creatures and some remarkable people. It also brings me an abundance of one of the things I enjoy most in life - good stories.

I find many of these stories, especially tales of animals who have been rescued from sometimes horrifying circumstances, and who have then gone on to form bonds of love and trust with humans, personally inspiring. Who among us is capable of that depth of forgiveness? Many of these stories could become fairy tales or parables.

I have decided to work on capturing some of these stories so that I can share them in my newsletter and on my blog.

Do you have a rescue story to tell? If so, I want to hear about it. If you know someone else with a story, please forward this newsletter to them and ask them to contact me, won't you?

Dog Days 2009 cover

Dog Days 2009 Calendar

We actually began sharing some pet stories in our 2008 and 2009 Dog Days Calendars, and we plan to continue that tradition with the 2010 calendar.

The 2009 calendar has been a huge success - so much so that all of the calendars we produced have already been delivered to shelters and welfare agencies, and we've even had to turn a few agencies away.

In order to extend our reach next year, we plan to produce twice as many 2010 calendars. To make sure we can do that, we're going to begin offering sponsorship opportunities as of February 1. If you'd like to become a sponsor for the 2010 Dog Days calendar, please contact us here.

While these sponsorships are not tax deductible (except as advertising expenses), every dollar you invest in Dog Days translates to $10 going to a worthy agency. You'll also get a tasteful mention on the month of your choice (subject to availability) and the pride of being one of only twelve sponsors named for helping us to produce this powerful and proven fund-raiser.

We look forward to hearing from you!

David Sutton
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COMMUNITY FOCUS

Nina (click to enlarge)

Pet Food Pantry

Our challenging economic circumstances have a trickle down effect that reaches the four-legged and helpless among us. As their owners struggle with financial challenges, once-pampered pets may be turned over to animal shelters because their owners simply cannot afford to feed them. Others will find themselves abandoned to fend for themselves for similar reasons.

When struggling families visit food pantries they don't usually find a pet food isle. If they do, that aisle is sadly under-stocked.

To help address this problem, Young At Heart Pet Rescue, an area not-for-profit, has organized and stocked a pet food pantry in conjunction with a local (human) food pantry.

In support of their efforts, Steve Weiner of Buffalo Grove made a very generous donation on behalf of his family and in honor of their dog Nina, who recently passed away. A photo from Nina's 2007 portrait sitting at Sutton Studios will soon be incorporated into the Young At Heart pantry's logo.

The Weiner family and Young At Heart Pet Rescues hope that by providing food and other pet supplies they will also be providing the means for keeping pets with their loving families and out of local shelters.

For more information about Young At Heart, or if you'd like make a donation to help keep pets and their families together, please visit www.yahpetrescue.com.