Lick For Life

Last month, I celebrated valentine's day by photographing beautiful dogs at Ottawa's Bark and Fitz location on Richmond Rd. in Westboro. I wanted to capture the dogs in mid-lick! What a hoot!

Along with the photo shoot was an awareness campaign about an organization in Kingston called Lifestream www.animalbloodbank.ca
Here is a brief explanation of their organization taken from their web site:

"Veterinarians are keenly aware of the shortage of companion animal blood supplies.

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank team members are passionate about animal welfare.

Our team is willing to do whatever it takes to promote public awareness of veterinary transfusion medicine and the magic of animal blood donations.

The mission of the LifeStream Animal Blood Bank is to provide quality blood and blood products for veterinary transfusion medicine.

We collect blood donations from volunteer canine blood donors." ~lifestream

The plan is to visit a couple of Toronto area Bark & Fitz locations for more Lick for Life photo shoots. Stay tuned for more info in the near future! ~Sue

Woof 'n' Wag Walkathon

This is my second year that has invited me back as the photographer for B.A.R.K.'s annual walkathon and major fundraiser on Sunday May 6. This is a great day in that you need to attend & and help fundraise for. The 7th annual Woof ' n' Wag walkathon for BARK will be taking place at the Arberetum on Sunday May 6, 2007. This is a wonderful hard working group that rescues, provides medical attention, fostering and adoption for dogs. I wouldn't have Chili-dog (the crazy terrier seen above) if it wasn't for B.A.R.K's trip to the Hurricane Katrina areas.

I hope to see you there. Come by and shake a paw! ~Sue
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Gandhi

I was so sad to hear that a wonderful dog I had the pleasure of photographing passed away during the Christmas holidays. Kelly was a beautiful girl with a wonderful gentle soul who captured my heart and lens on top of Montreal's Mount Royal. My thoughts are with you.

~ Sue

PerPETual Calendar
I am excited to introduce a calendar that I am designing and having printed. The Calendar will be for sale through my web site www.photobysuebird.com. The calendar will feature one year on all breeds and a second year dedicated to my Greyhound photography. The calendar will feature many photos captured over the year of 2006. The calendar will help in many of my fundraising events and will be for sale raising funds for breast cancer research with the PAWS for Charity team.

I'll update you when they will be available.
~sue

PAWS for Charity

A quick note to direct you to the new blog for the PAWS for Charity team. This will be the spot to get up to date info from the four of us involved. Check it out www.pawsforcharity.blogspot.com

A new year! We are officially leaving the Year of the Dog, what a great year to have launched my Dog photography business! Thank you to all of you who allowed me to meet and document your incredible loyal companions.

Kicking off the year of 2007 for me is a great day at Bark&Fitz on Sunday Feb 4. I have called it Lick for Life! in support of a great organization called Lifestream . This is one of only two animal blood banks in Canada providing Vet clinics the valuable blood needed for animal emergencies. Lifestream is one of my chosen organizations that I will be supporting throughout the year.

Hope to see you there!
Sue

A great Grey: Louis

This image was captured during a photo session while attending Greyhounds Reach the Beach in October of 2006. Louis has a great personality with a loving side of him that truly captured me. It was with a heavy heart that I heard about Louis' cancer just before Christmas.

I feel so privileged to have had the two hours with Louis to capture his presence for his owner to embrace forever.

My thoughts are with you in this journey,

~Sue

X-mas photos for B.A.R.K.
Every year I donate a day to B.A.R.K for Santa Paws photos. It is always great to see the returning owners and pets who I have come to know over the past couple of years. As well as the committed volunteers who spend endless hours pulling together to help raise money for this incredible rescue group. I'll have you know
Santa was on his best behaviour for the visiting dogs.

Once again, as every year, I am always torn by the horror stories & conditions that some of the rescued dogs have come from. I encourage you to visit the B.A.R.K. web site and think about volunteering or donating at the next event.

Have a happy Howl-i-day!
Sue

PAWS for Charity

I am proud to be a part of the group called PAWS for Charity, where myself and three very talented women have come together to help raise funds for breast cancer research. We made a great first time donation to the Canadian Cancer Society for $2200, raising the money in only a short couple of months. This is only the beginning of our effort bringing dogs and our products together to help raise money for very important issues. We plan to continue our fundraising and will launch our 2007 campaign ideas soon!
From left to right is: Kelly Goan Canadian Cancer Society, Sara Harley Barkingbiscuit.com, Char Harding Around the hounds.com, Julie Kelly of chillydogs.ca & moi.

Wag Doggin it Cafe
We had a great time at Wag on Bank Street near Lansdown park November 30. I met some great dogs & cool cats! Here is a one of my handsome models!

It was great to meet all of the owners, look for a gallery of select images captured that night on my web site
www.photobysuebird.com. If you would like access to the gallery for reprints, drop me an email and I'll let you in!


All the best,
Sue

Dogs in Canada Magazine

A little update for all, Check out the Dog in Canada Annual on sale now. The Zen of Fetch was shot in Constance Bay this past September with beautiful labs from breeder Mike Quennville of Mooselakelabs.com His labs are also featured in the upcoming December issue of Dogs in Canada magazine. Keep a look out for upcoming issues next year of Dogs in Canada for more Ottawa featured dogs.


WAG Pet Shop November 30 3-9 pm
If you want to come out and say hi, I will be at a meet and greet social night at WAG Doggin' it cafe WagPetshop.ca on Bank Street on November 30 from 3-9pm. I am even bringing my camera to capture your pet's personality. I look forward to meeting all the people and their pouches! See you there!

Lots going on since the last post. I had an awesome trip with some fantastic women entrepreneurs Char & Julie of Aroundthehounds.com & Chillydogs.ca for an event called "Greyhounds Reach the Beach". We had an incredible week of vending in Rehobooth Deleware in the firehall and resting our heads at a very cute little cottage in Dewey. Despite the Nor'Easter that hit the coast while we were there, we had a great time visiting all the incredible dogs visiting our booth over the weekend. I had the honour to photograph many wonderful people and their beautiful greys and even a non-grey! Here are some shots from one of the shoots on the beach with Gaby, Tinkerbelle & Doc. I cannot wait to get their books back, keep posted for an update and a peak into their books in the next couple of months. I look forward to pre-booking for Dewey 2007!

Chinese New Year of the Dog poster
featuring a beautiful retired greyhound & Dachsund puppy.




Canadian photographer Suzanne Bird photographed and designed the Year of the Dog poster for those who love great photography and everything about dogs. A great addition to the office wall. Trained as a photojournalist, Suzanne has focused her eye and talents on capturing a pet's personality for her clients. What a better year to launch her dog photography business featuring the beautiful greyhound Isabelle, this poster is a special keepsake for the discerning greyhound lover. Poster dimensions 11"X 17" (Daschund slightly smaller) Posters $21.00
tx (.8) $1.68 shp/hnd $6.50

To Purchase these posters please email me at birdpix@sympatico.ca with your shipping information. I will send you the mailing information or paypal information. Once your payment is received, your shipment will be processed.
~Sue

To keep you in suspense here is the page that features my photo of Betty and Sara-Belle, a breast cancer survivor and her loyal canine. Betty was photographed with her dog Sara-Belle for the package of Sara Harley's fundraising biscuit called Crunch for a Cure. You can get these biscuits at barkingbiscuit.com I am hoping to bring some packages along to the Wine and Cheese preview night at our beach house. Sara's picture, our group PAWS for Charity and one of Char's collars are featured in Canadian Home & Country October issue. Did you know that you can also get your own dog's picture put onto a package of Sara's biscuits? Very cool idea! Check it out.

Sue

Can you say Chili? As the temperatures drop in the Ottawa Valley, we all want to stay warm...even the pouchies! Check out this shot of Bizmark wearing a Chillydogs.ca head muff!

Dog Books : coffee table books featuring your dog
These are one of a kind, published and bound hard covered books featuring images captured during a two hour photo session at your dogs home. Each book is designed with your loyal canine in mind, capturing their personality and quarky habits for you to remember for years. For many clients, the book photo session came just in time as they lost their beloved dogs due to illness or old age. Gift certificates available, email for package options and prices birdpix@sympatico.ca



CARDS $6.50 (tx+SHP/HND= $9.00)
Thought I would finally add some photos of some of the dog greeting cards that I have created, with sayings like "with sympathy, I am so sorry, from the bottom of my heart." Each card features an archival print from my growing collection of dog photography. With a wide selection of colors and funky envelopes, it will certainly add a special touch for someone who has lost a beloved canine.



Hope you enjoy.
Suzanne

In Ottawa Valley tradition....g'day and for my favorite American friends g'day....eh! Welcome to the Urban Dog blog. I want this blog to be a place where clients can come and check out some of their photos as well as a great place to get information on some really cool businesses in Ottawa and the surrounding area that cater to our beloved pooches! Looking forward to blogging with you!

All the best
Suzanne