We were taking photos for the "farm letter" in our spring/summer print newsletter, and as usual there were some outtakes I thought you'd enjoy seeing. Mitch, our blind Husky who recently had his eyes removed, was our subject, and Kate was the photographer.
This first set of photos were all taken in the same sequence, one right after another, starting with the one above. In that shot you can see Mitch is looking down and has leaned forward, pulling Alayne with him. She's trying to pull him back into position. She must have said something to Mitch (like "you big oaf, get back here"), because in the next frame, Kate captured him giving Alayne an "I'll make it up to you" smooch while she dutifully remains focused on the camera:
Me, I'm obviously reacting to the serious breach of photographic protocol. I was probably saying something like, "C'mon, dude, we've got 54 more photos to go, so get with the program!"
Which Mitch immediately does (that's my boy!), and he snaps to with this expression:
According to the camera time data for that photo, it was literally just 2 seconds after the previous shot.
Alas, he couldn't stay with the program for very long -- as in, 4 seconds -- because he then wants to give me a kiss, too:
To make up for this further breach of protocol, he then offers us this next shot, which becomes the one we end up choosing for the newsletter:
The bonus photo, which happened towards the end of the shoot, was this one:
You can tell that neither Alayne nor I had any idea what Mitch was doing right there in front of us. We just kept smiling at the camera, oblivious to the Cujo in our midst. Once I uploaded the photos to the computer and saw this shot of Mitch, it reminded me of those stuffed wolves on display in an exhibit at a natural history museum, where they're trying to show just how ferocious wolves can be. (Click on photo for larger image.)
But, he's not a stuffed wolf, he's just a goofball Husky.
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Please Vote for the Farm!
The new Shelter Challenge started Monday, April 9 and ends at midnight on June 17. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner for Week 4 of the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
I love Mitch - he looks so squeezably soft and lovable. :-) I just want to put my arms around him and give him a big hug.
Posted by: Lisa Brown | May 01, 2012 at 10:28 PM
Cutest outtakes ever! Just goes to show what happens when you work through the "issues" and see the wonderful loving pets underneath.
Posted by: Becky M. | April 28, 2012 at 04:15 PM
Mitch looks like he's a great size for hugging....my kind of dog! Please give him a big hug from me. Great pics and I enjoy the funny ones as well.
Hugs all around,
ginger & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | April 27, 2012 at 05:25 PM
Too funny, LOVE the last picture! Just like a kid to make a face for the family album (ever see Calvin and Hobbes??) XXOO to Mitch, he knows how to steal the show.
Posted by: Anne in FL | April 26, 2012 at 12:43 PM
I always look forward to the outtake pictures...they sure do make me smile!
I love the one you chose for the cover and Mitch is so handsome. He's just a wonderful fella and I'm glad he's doing so well.
The last picture had me laughing. His yawn is certainly "Cujo-looking"! I would just love to give that big boy a big hug and kiss!
Posted by: Ann | April 26, 2012 at 12:30 AM
These are great. Always love the outtakes. Thanks for sharing! Mitch is such a handsome boy.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | April 25, 2012 at 05:22 PM
BEAUTIFUL MITCH & YOU TWO ARE GREAT TOO!
Posted by: FELICIA | April 25, 2012 at 03:01 PM
Terrific Trio! Great shots!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | April 25, 2012 at 02:28 PM
Great smiles all! But Mitch's Husky smiles, and licks are THE BEST!
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Margaret | April 25, 2012 at 01:57 PM
Mitch looks terrific and I'm so glad to see one of the bigger guys still at the Farm. I was beginning to wonder if you've decided to take in only smaller dogs now... easier to carry around, I know, but... I love the big dogs! Hope you'll still bring them in to balance things out.
Mitch is such a handsome guy.
Posted by: Linda | April 25, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Great picture for the cover - what a happy boy!!! :)
Posted by: Katy | April 25, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Sweet Mitch. He's another one you two didn't give up on. If I recall, he was separated from the other dogs for quite awhile due to some unexpected behavior issues. I'm too lazy to search now but Steve had a funny name for the training plan y'all put in place.
Great photos Kate!!
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | April 25, 2012 at 10:57 AM
A pretty "gal" with 2 handsome "fellas"! Can't get a better picture than that.....Mitch looks quite dashing in his summer buzz cut and great smile! :) :) :)
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | April 25, 2012 at 10:28 AM
What a sweet photo shoot! Love the pic of all three of you smiling and am looking forward to seeing it in the newsletter.
It's wonderful to see Mitch so happy, relaxed and goofy!
Posted by: Chloe | April 25, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Your outtakes are always hilarious! Of course my choice would've been the last picture, lol. I love how both humans are totally unaware, Mitch certainly steals the show:-)
Posted by: cathy | April 25, 2012 at 08:11 AM
What beautiful pictures of all of you but especially Mitch. His kisses are his way of returning the love you give to him.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | April 25, 2012 at 08:10 AM
He is adorable. What a good boy.
Posted by: Evelyn | April 25, 2012 at 03:08 AM
Those are the GREATEST pictures! Nothing happier than a smiling Husky---especially Mitch! WARMS MY HEART BEYOND WORDS!!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 25, 2012 at 01:00 AM
What a love bunny Mitch is - and these pictures are all so adorable. The second from the bottom where all 3 of you are smiling is delightful. He looks so happy. Of course he is - :)
Posted by: Angela | April 24, 2012 at 10:41 PM
First of all, I am loving the short haircut on Alayne! :-) Mitch is adorable (OK, Steve, you look great, too!!), and I am very much looking forward to the newsletter.
I wanted to comment on Bugsy--my heart just broke when I saw the photo of his damaged eyes! I am so glad he has finally found a happy, loving home with you! Another lost soul saved!
Happy Spring, guys!
Posted by: Cassie Betz | April 24, 2012 at 09:59 PM
Love it. You guys are great.
Posted by: Karen | April 24, 2012 at 09:32 PM
Mitch wasn't sure what his "best side" is. They both feel pretty good to him. So he gave the photographer what Mitch knew his fans were waiting for: both profiles.
Posted by: Bob | April 24, 2012 at 08:07 PM