It is too often that I seem to be posting another farewell tribute to a fantastic dog that has touched people's lives. I want to start by saying that I take my job of photographing people's pets' as a true dream come true. The bond between people and their animals is one of the most pure emotions I have had the pleasure of capturing as a photographer. Being able to capture in an image what people see of their animal in their own eyes is my mission as a photographer.

I connect with each dog, I love to see their true spirits come alive during each session, nothing is more true than my photo session with Louis.

One of my first photo session at Greyhounds Reach the Beach in 2006 was with Louis and his entourage. Louis was majestic, young at heart and had a wise but young at heart look in his eyes. At only four years old, Louis was diagnosed with cancer only weeks after GRTB 2006.

After surgery , love and care and a year of receovery , I was so inspired to bump into Louis on the beach this past fall at GRTB 2007! How incredible to see his spirit in tact after his battle! It made my year to see him!

And so it was such a huge sadness when I received an email only a week after returning from GRTB, that I was informed that Louis suffered from a huge internal hemmorage that they could not stop. Louis left us with only memories from a few short years.

It is dogs like Louis & all the others that have I have photographed and that we have lost, that make our lives whole. Without them we may have not seen or come to know the definition of bond, selfless love and silent devotion.

Every year I will raise a toast to Louis on the sands of GRTB.

Sue