I've had so many inquiries for end of life Zoe Sessions the past couple of months. At first I thought it was like when you buy a new car you suddenly see your car everywhere. We said good by to Dash in May and that's when the inquiries started.

It's always sad to say goodbye and it's never easy no matter how long you've known it was coming. It's even harder for those who have young pups who are told that that pup's life will not be extended much longer.

Sandy was such a happy dog and when we did a short photo session for her I wanted to make sure that happiness showed in the images. End of life Zoe Sessions are designed to capture all that you love about your dog while minimizing the effects of age or decease. So, we set out to get some images that showed Sandy at her best.

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months or even years where life just seems to throw one curve ball after another? I met a beautiful young lady who has managed to come out on top after one such period of time and she gives a lot of credit to her four-legged friend.

Through all the ups and downs Beagan was there. Rachel tells me that she and Beagan "saved each other." She found him in a parking lot, abandoned and malnourished. She took him in and nursed him back to health and in return he was by her side through thick and thin. He helped her through heartbreak, helped pack for moves (like only dogs can do), and probably should have worn a cap for his support during grad school and getting her PHD. They went on runs, hikes and road trips together; Rachel was the center of Beagan's world. ​

Rachel and Beagan moved to Sioux Falls only to learn (sixteen days later) that they didn't have much time left together. Beagan may have had an idea that his time was limited, but he took it upon himself to make sure that Rachel got to her new home before he said goodbye. On the last evening that they shared together, Beagan was visibly tired, but he made sure that Rachel would be able to remember him as the oh-so-handsome, loving, loyal, derpy dog that she knew and loved.

It's always so very hard to say goodbye to our four-legged friends, but memories of the times we spent with them help us hold them in our hearts forever.

Oliver's family knew that he would soon be living life one day at a time. At 12 years old he was showing signs that let his family know that he would soon be ready to go. They knew it was a blessing to have had Ollie for so long, but it was still very hard to think about letting go of their beloved companion.

Ollie was a model student from the beginning. He completed puppy class, recall class and agility; he even earned his Canine Good Citizen badge. Ollie loved being with his family. He was a big teddy bear and being a "Good dog" was in his blood as Ollie's grandfather won best of show at the Westminster Dog Show in 2004. At the age of five though, Ollie came down with canine meningitis. He was sick and afterwards had trouble using his hind legs, but he went on living and loving life for 7 more years. Ollie's dad says, "He kept us together as a family. He owes us nothing; we owe him." I think this says it all.

Ollie passed away just before Christmas. His family was heartbroken, but Ollie had given them notice of his intentions ahead of time to help prepare them. The family had read the story of the Rainbow Bridge and kept it close to heart in the months that led up to Ollie's passing. (I wonder if that unknown author has any idea how many families they have helped with the passing of their beloved pets.)

We got pictures of Ollie with his family and pictures with his housemate and friend, Zeus. Then we took some pictures to help Ollie's loved ones remember that he will forever be in their hearts.

I feel privileged to have met Ollie. Between our brief time at the session and the wonderful stories told by his family, I know that he was truly the definition of an old soul.

​There are several versions of The Rainbow Bridge out there, but they all convey the same message and conjure up the same emotions. Here is one in particular that I really like:

How do we know when it's time to let our family pet go? It's a tough decision and almost impossible for some, but I feel like it's something we can give in return for all that they've given us.

Our pets are often very stoic when they aren't feeling well. They don't have a "poor me" attitude. Instead they just figure out on their own how to do what they want to do with this new hiccup in their life.

When we start to notice something isn't right with our pet we set out to try and fix whatever it is and hope that it will work. So, what if it doesn't work or what if it isn't fixable? What then?

As our dog, Zoe got older the typical things started happening - her eyesight was getting worse, and her hearing wasn't so great anymore, but she never stopped running the fence when the kids were out at recess (she was a border collie and herding kids was her life). During her last 6 months or so something told me that she might not be with us for much longer.  I would come down the stairs every morning, see her laying on her bed and think to myself, 'It's ok if you don't wake up, Zoe'.  That might sound harsh, but I wanted her to go as peacefully as possible. Maybe it was a little selfish, too... I wouldn't have to make any decisions as to the timing of things.

Zoe was one of those tough dogs who never ever complained. During her last visit to the vet I told him that I did not want Zoe to ever suffer and I asked him how I would know when it was time to let her go. He told me simply that I would know. The day came when Zoe let me know that she was ready. There was no mistaking it and all I could do was thank her for that final gift.

Last week a good friend of mine had to go through this process with her own dog. Unlike Zoe, her dog was one of those dogs who throughout her life had one thing happen after another - allergies, diabetes, that wicked eating glasses, socks and cell phones syndrome... But, Jersey was one of the happiest dogs who ever lived. Always smiling, always giving kisses, always wanting to be with you (and on you!). She was Hermes' best dog park buddy when they were youngsters and Hermes even had a sleepover once with Jersey.  Jersey loved everyone and if you aren't afraid of big dogs I guarantee you would have loved her, too.

It's never easy, but sometimes the best thing we can do is to let them go. We tell them we love them, say our goodbyes (and some people feed them 3 hot dogs - can you see the smile on Jersey's face? ) Then we picture them as we want to remember them... happy and healthy and goofy and tirelessly loyal... and carry them in our hearts forever.

Would you like to see an album with all of the images from a Zoe Session?

It's always hard when we lose a pet, but at the holidays it seems tougher still.  I had the privilege of spending time with these pups and I know how much they are missed.

I met Susie in August. She was used for breeding before her owners brought her to live with them so she never really knew how great it could be to be a dog. Susie was a quiet dog, very shy, and would follow her mom from room to room.  She learned what love was as she had two little boys who adored her. Susie would go camping with her family and watch from the sidelines during the boys' soccer games. Besides belly rubs, I think her reward for her previous hardships was that she knew she was finally where she belonged.

Earlier in July I had a wonderful session with Maggie, (who went by the more stately name of Margaret during her senior years ). She was devoted to her owner and lived a very full life with him. She was a sweet, energetic pup who grew up loving tennis balls, her stuffed monkey, car rides and cheese. She was very attached to her human and they enjoyed hanging out together. Maggie was a wonderfully spoiled dog right up till the end . . . (as they all should be ).

You might remember a certain Vikings fan named Sophie . . . She, too has walked over the rainbow bridge to run and play to her hearts content. Sophie didn't play fetch, but she liked to play ball on the floor by pushing it back to her owners when they would roll it to her.  She was so cute and I'm guessing that those warm eyes of hers saw more smiles than a dog could wish for.  She was so very loved and she knew it . . . you could see it in her little westie face.

All three of these pups were living out their last few weeks when we did a session. I'm so thankful that I got to meet them. Like all of the pets I do sessions with, I think of them when I encounter certain things.  I will always think of Susie when I see daisies; red convertibles will always bring Maggie to mind; and I heard a goose the other day and immediately thought of Sophie and her sister Sage. (You had to be there.)  ;O)

Peace and love to our furry friends and their families.

Zoe was 16 and I knew her time was growing shorter.  Although she never let on, I knew she couldn't see as well as she once could and couldn't hear as well either. She was so smart that neither of these things really mattered though. Zoe had us spoiled as pet owners, (Hermes didn't stand a chance). From the day we brought her home, she was eager to learn and eager to please. She learned things on the second try (if she didn't learn it on the first) and she knew on the second "no" that it was something that she shouldn't do or somewhere that she shouldn't go.

I worried for months that I wouldn't know when it was time to say goodbye to Zoe. I use to come downstairs in the morning and just watch to see if she was still breathing. I told my vet that I was concerned about Zoe's old age and worried that she would be in pain at some point and never let me know it. He simply told me that when the time came, I would know. Last December, a week before Christmas, Zoe told me that it was time. She made it very clear to me so that I would have no doubt. It was the best gift she could have given me. 

In honor of Zoe, I am now offering a session for pets who are terminally ill or have only a little time left with their owner. I'm calling it, the Zoe Session. If you would like to know more about this session please don't hesitate to contact me.