For years while running multiple locations of her retail store Harmony Home, Amy fostered and adopted out cats from Williamson County Animal Center. In a 5 year period, she adopted out over 300 cats. Talk about making a difference and easing the continual overcapacity issue the shelter often faces! Following the closure of the retail storefronts, Amy continued to foster cats from WCAC and used several rooms in her home for fostering kittens and fearful cats.

When I first met Amy in 2015 while volunteering together at Williamson County Animal Center she was fostering kittens who needed bottle feeding (“bottle babies”) as well as helping socialize some cats who were fearful and needed extra tender loving care. Time and again Amy was able to connect with and calm the most frightened cat or dog that nobody else was able to reach. In addition, she has saved the lives of some of the most fragile kittens. And for those kittens who don’t survive, Amy mourns each and every loss. You would think a certain desensitization to loss would set in after awhile, but Amy forms such a deep bond with the animals who come into her loving care, it simply isn’t in her makeup to be hardened. Amy estimated she has had over 24 litters over the last 5-6 years, some for WCAC and some for other organizations.  In 2016 alone, she bottle fed 7 litters starting in February and ending just one month ago with her last one. On average each litter comprises 3 kittens, but one time she had 6, which was a handful!

Beyond all her rescue work Amy still finds time to juggle her thriving business and family life. Amy’s family is comprised of her husband Chris, son Evan, and daughter rose. While the home is a temporary refuge for the many animals who have been fostered in the past, it has become a permanent refuge to the family’s 7 rescue cats, 4 rescue dogs and Rip (Chris’ patrol-certified police dog). 

Of the 7 cats Bella, Bink, Bunny, Chester, Fuji, and Lily Belle were adopted from WCAC. They were all pretty much “foster failures” turned family members! While all fosters touch her heart, their are some her burrow a little deeper and make returning them to the shelter or a rescue impossible. Bella who was found outdoors and brought into WCAC was one big, dirty white mat of mangled fur. Scared and untouchable, she tore up several staff members and the vet when trying to hold her or examine her. Amy ended up taking her to my shop (Harmony Home) to live and now she lives at home with Amy. Bella is a relaxed, happy cat who loves affection. Bink, is another fearful cat (and “foster failure”) who proved to be unadoptable at WCAC, but not unlovable or incapable of loving back. It’s taken a long time to gain his trust and build his confidence, but slowly but surely progress is being made. Recently he crawled onto Amy’s lap last for the first time. It was a celebratory event! Bunny and Fuji were initially fostered as kittens and had a rough time start with being sick in the beginning. Chester was actually part of a 2 week old litter Amy rescued – found in an attic of a house being built in Franklin. Since the mother was never found the kittens needed to be bottle fed. All of Chester’s siblings were adopted out through WCAC. Chester who was an ugly duckling, the runt, and sickly didn’t have anyone expressing interest to adopt him. Amy loved his scrappy personality and couldn’t part with him. Chester is now a healthy and beautiful cat! Lily Belle’s was an unadoptable feral kitten from WCAC whom Amy took home to socialize. She is now thriving with her human family and loves her two boyfriends Bink and Chester. Last but certainly not least, Pancho was a rescue from the 2010 Nashville flood.  Pancho was brought into one of Amy’s shop along with his mom and 4 siblings. Amy found homes for the mom and siblings and kept Pancho. Being a “foster failure” has definitely filled the home with so much happiness, joy, and love! 

It was so much fun visiting Amy’s home and hearing all the adoption stories. I was immediately struck by how affectionate, good natured, and welcoming the cats and dogs were to me. The day I visited I had hoped to photograph all 7 cats, but knew it was an unrealistic goal. Bink, Bunny, and Lilly Belle are still a little timid and weren’t up for being photographed which was entirely ok. I defer to what is most comfortable for the cats and make every attempt to avoid situations they might perceive as stressful. Of the family’s 7 cats I was able to photograph Bella, Chester, Fuji, and Pancho. They are all such beautiful, radiant cats with endearing personalities!

When talking about her cats and dogs, Amy emphasizes how they are not treated as animals but as an integral part of the family. She believes “they are capable of deep feelings and emotions maybe not as deep as a human level, but there is something there to understand and study with each individual pet.” While recognizing more work is part of the package, the bond that exists makes it all worthwhile and believe those who don’t have animals are missing out in life. She goes on to talk about guardianship being a two way street and adds “we are not only their guardians, but they are ours as well.” Because cats and dogs are both companion animals for the most part, Amy is a big advocate of people having more than one pet. While there are always some exceptions, most usually want and need companionship from other animals. “And for people won’t have another pet because they have mourned too hard for a lost pet, all I can say to offer solace is to not get held back with our human emotions, but to keep our hearts open to new pets, because those animals in the shelters need us.” 

Since this project was for Williamson County Animal Center, I’m focusing a little bit more on Filbert’s adoption story, though all three kitties are loved equally. The day Kate met Filbert she didn’t intend on adopting a cat. At the time she was a guardian to her cat Scotchy and was living a busy life. Her visit to the shelter was October 7, 2014, and was simply to pass some time while her school application was being processed next door at Columbia State Community College. Well you know what they say about plans. Plans change! When Kate laid eyes on Filbert something in her heart shifted! Filbert, who shared the cage with his siblings, Pecan, Peanut, Almond (all named after nuts) was a terrified, little, black ball of fluff hiding in the very back of his cage. Filbert was so small, fragile, and precious. Moments later Kate found herself in the visitation room with him. In minutes Filbert stole her heart with his big yellow eyes and cuddly nature. Adoption paperwork was filled out on the spot and the deal was sealed that day for Kate and Filbert!

As with many new and exciting life transitions, bumps in the road are frequently met along the way. This proved to be the case with Filbert who ended up with a terrible upper respiratory infection. Though common with shelter and rescue cats and kittens, upper respiratory infection can be both scary and serious. It’s especially worrisome when the kitty isn’t eating. This was the case for Filbert who wasn’t eating, wasn’t acting like a normal kitten, and was sleeping non-stop. He was so sick at one point Kate was afraid he might not survive. Per the advice of her vet, Kate force fed Filbert a high-calorie food and water with a syringe every few hours. She did this for about two weeks. Feeding him around the clock was an intense experience and Kate felt like a human newborn’s mother. The day he ate the warm, wet food she set out on a plate was a day of both relief and celebration. She knew he was turning the corner and was going to make it. In no time at all Filbert was behaving like a normal kitten and playing with his big brother Scotchy. Filbert quickly became an essential part of Kate’s life and is thriving with his brothers Scotchy and Boomer. Kate is beyond grateful she met Filbert the day she visited Williamson County Animal Center. Thinking his original name fit him so perfectly, Kate decided to keep it! Filbert has many nicknames such as Filbmeister, Regis Filbin, Filby Cheesesteak, Filbatross. He is Kate’s buddy, her little “nut”, a member of the family.

Photographing someone whom I’ve met for the first time can be a little nerve wracking for both parties. When doing a Bouddoir Kitty-Cat Session I go to the home of the cat and guardian. This is the situation I believe is most comfortable for the cat, since they are in their own environment where they feel secure. I know guardians might feel a little nervous about a stranger coming into their home to photograph them as well. It is my hope all nerves quickly subside within moments of interacting with both cats and guardians. When I met Kate and her three handsome boys, I felt like I was meeting an old friend. Her boys were full of charm and seeing Kate’s face radiate with a smile whenever they did something cute was so heartwarming. Our time together evaporated so quickly. Meet Kate and her family!

Shannon and I met a couple of years ago while volunteering with the cats at Williamson County Animal Center. Our shared compassion, enthusiasm, and love for cats was a glue that bonded us almost immediately. Shannon is one of the most genuine, affectionate, compassionate, and positive people I know. She is one of those people whom you meet and feel at home with almost immediately. Her presence is one of comfort and warmth to both humans and felines. Time and again, I’ve seen the kitties light up and start meowing when Shannon enters the room. Few kitties can resist the cuddles and kisses she shares freely with her second family of kitties. A good majority of the cats at the shelter were abandoned by previous owners. The confusion, fear, and rejection can be overwhelming for so many cats. Shannon is a safe harbor for all the kitties who are in this transistionary period of their lives while awaiting their forever home.

Amidst juggling the demands of a full-time job, volunteering, and the general rigors of life, Shannon has her own family (both human and fur babies) to nurture. Witnessing Shannon at home with her own fur babies is much like that at the shelter, filled with ample affection and sweet talk. Gilbert and Ricky are both so handsome and irresistible, so loving them is pretty darn easy! Since 1990 cats have played an important roll in her family. Currently, she is a guardian to Gilbert (4.5 years old) and Ricky (8 months old) who were both adopted from WCAC.

Gilbert, a buff baby who grew into a butterscotch adult, had eyes for Shannon immediately upon meeting her. During this time she visited the shelter three times, all of which he starred her down. The third visit was a charm for both Gilbert and Shannon! “He came home with me and was one of the best surprises of Ella Rose’s childhood. He snuggles in bed with her every night and entertains all of us with his rambunctious play, especially his talent at fetching toys.”

Ricky, the newest addition to the family, was adopted a few months ago. He wrapped his paws around her heart the very first time the two met. “When I first met Ricky at the shelter, I picked him up, and he melted into my arms like butter, made the cutest little air biscuits with his front paws, and looked up at me with his one bright eye. It was love at first sight. Having only one eye has not slowed this baby down. His happy energy and endless charm have endeared him to the whole family.”

Shannon is in good company when it comes to being an animal lover. John (Shannon’s husband) and Ella Rose (Shannon’s daughter) are both animal enthusiasts. All three animals get a lot of love and affection from their humans. Freddy (the family dog), Gilbert, and Ricky all love one another. Gilbert and Ricky love snuggling with their canine brother on the sofa. Freddy in return lavishes them with kisses. It’s a sweet display of love that is so incredibly endearing. All are giving, all are happy together, all are home, AND all are family! Happy Holidays to all!

Caroline’s family has three kitties all of whom were found via Petfinder. Reagan, a black and gray tabby, was adopted from Williamson County Animal Center two years ago. He was roughly one year old when adopted and was originally named Chester. Upon first meeting, Reagan ran right up to Caroline. It was love at first sight! Prior to adopting Reagan the entire family visited him at the shelter. Of all the cats, Dad was most drawn to Reagan so the family adopted him. Now three years old, Reagan is a wonderful companion and acts much like a dog at times.

A month or two after adopting Reagan, Caroline and her mom decided he needed a buddy and adopted two, adorable, orange tabby brothers. Though not adopted from WCAC, the boys were adopted from a foster who was involved with another rescue. Born in October, Caroline’s family chose to name the boys Jack (short for Jack-o-lantern) and Casper (after Casper the Friendly Ghost). The two ginger boys and are now two  years old and couldn’t be happier!

All three kitties are handsome, chatty, and loving cats whom bond with Caroline’s parents and sister, but are especially bonded to Caroline. The three follow her around the house, talk to her, and sleep with her at night. The boys are a source of comfort on down days, especially Reagan who won’t leave her side until she feel better. When asked about having three cats, Caroline says “I am happy we adopted the boys. They are sweet, loving, rambunctious kitties and I love them!”

Filled with sadness while looking at old photos of Annabelle, Peggy was inspired to check out Petfinder to see if she could find a Simese, Torti like Annabelle and fill the little void she left behind when passing. Shortly after browsing Petfinder Peggy stumbled upon a cat name Layla (now Gianna), who was at Williamson County Animal Center, and who looked exactly like Annabelle. The only difference between the two cats was the blaze over her eye was on the opposite side of her face. Filled with instant excitement, Peggy shared Layla’s photos with Scotty and made an appeal to adopt her. Scotty, who was more of a dog person and didn’t quite understand cats, was reluctant to adopt Gianna and mentioned how they already had three rescue cats to care for. Scotty being a dog lover, especially of the Newfoundland breed, really wanted to adopt another Newfoundland dog once he was over mourning the loss of a former beloved dog who was the same breed.

The following day Peggy was unable to get Gianna out of her mind and couldn’t resist visiting Williamson County Animal Center while on a lunch break. Sadly, Gianna was in the back sick with an upper respiratory infection and Peggy was told she couldn’t see her that day. Determined to meet Gianna, Peggy shared her story about Annabelle with staff and how much it would mean to see if she had a connection with the kitty. Filled with compassion, a staff member agreed to let Peggy meet Gianna and escorted her to the back where she was being treated. Gianna met Peggy with big, round, sad eyes and extended her paw. Though sick she still manage to purr with a loud rattle while rubbing her head against the cage. It didn’t take Peggy long to determine she and Gianna had a connection and to know she wanted to adopt Gianna. After pulling herself away from Gianna, so she could return back to work, Peggy told the front desk she wished to adopt the sick kitty, but first needed to get her husbands blessing. That same afternoon Peggy told Scotty about her visit to the shelter to meet Gianna, and appealed to him a second time to adopt Gianna. She was both surprised and elated when he said yes this time. Peggy then called the shelter and advised she would be in the next morning to adopt her new kitty. Little did Peggy know Scotty had plans of his own. Peggy’s birthday was just two days away and he thought Gianna would be the perfect gift and wonderful surprise for his lovely wife. And boy was he right! Peggy was overwhelmed with surprise and joy when she found Gianna waiting for her in one of  the spare bedrooms. Because Peggy didn’t think the name Layla fit the personality of her new cat, she asked Scotty to rename her. He thought things over for awhile then settled on Gianna, which means “gift from God.” It was a purrfect name change!

Another pleasant surprise that accompanied Gianna’s adoption was how much Scotty also bonded and fell in love with her. She would frequently sit on his lap while he lavished her with attention. His endearing nickname for her was turtle. They were quite the pair and it was with Gianna that Scotty finally understood how rewarding the bond can be between human and cat. Peggy and Scotty never had children and instead had their fur babies whom they adored. They even purchased a stroller for them. Scotty could be seen in the neighborhood taking daily strolls with Gianna. Both parties loved the daily experience and it amused all whom encountered them while on their walks. From the sounds of it the two brought smiles to many a face! These were good times!

As we all know life is filled with ups and downs. The year 2013 was filled with many challenges for Peggy and Scotty, but they had each other and their faith helped them persevere. Peggy had some health issues and ended up having to undergo a below-the-knee amputation. Scotty had his own health concerns too. Despite all of this the couple would begin each day expressing gratitude. Scotty’s mantra was “to be grateful and enjoy each day as though it were your last.” Such haunting words from a wise soul. Little did Peggy know Scotty’s days were numbered, and how her life would  be forever changed on Sept. 4, 2013, when the love of her life died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm.

Throughout all the ups and downs Gianna, like her former Annabelle, has been a devoted companion from day one. She is an affectionate, vocal, entertaining cat, who is always by Peggy’s side. Gianna has been a true blessing and continually fills Peggy’s heart and life with joy, as well to Scotty’s when he was alive. She will be forever grateful to WCAC and Scotty for conspiring to give her such a wonderful gift from God!

When I met Peggy and Gianna I was so moved by their story. Even though her other rescue cats didn’t come from WCAC, I was hoping to meet them and snap a few photos, but was so caught up in moment of hearing about the life Peggy and Scotty shared that the time quickly evaporated and it slipped my mind. Peggy has been through so much and has a relentless optimism when it comes to life’s challenges, love, loss, and beginning anew. Her story is a reminder of the power of gratitude and being fully in the moment with those whom we love. Though I never had the opportunity to meet Scotty or Annabelle, I walked away feeling like I knew them a little. Their love and spirits will always live on in Peggy’s heart and the stories she shares about them. What a beautiful gift!

A week of not having a cat was more than Sue could bear. Not being ready to commit to adopting another cat, she decided to try fostering for once. When you volunteer with shelter and rescue cats it can be so difficult to choose whom to foster. There are so many wonderful personalities and they all desperately want to find their forever homes and be loved. When Sue decided to foster she chose Bunny, (formerly named Dakota), because she wanted to give her a cage break and break from the shelter. While Bunny liked people, she wasn’t fond of other cats. Though she enjoyed attention and would give kisses, she wasn’t and still isn’t a cat who likes being picked up. This is fairly common with a lot of cats.  All too often people rule out adopting such cats and don’t realize a “nearby cat” can be as affectionate as a “lap cat.” And when a cat doesn’t like to get out of a cage because of its dislike for being held, it can be really hard to potential adopters to get a read on their personality. Since Sue and her husband didn’t have any other cats, Bunny was a natural choice to foster.

Within 2 days Sue knew she couldn’t return Bunny to a cage at the shelter. A week later she became a foster failure! After a brief adjustment period, Bunny has become a relaxed and happy cat in her forever home. Though Sue never adopted Bunny as a replacement for Mr. Buttons, Bunny has definitely helped her during her grieving process. The two are a great match! Bunny bonded quickly with Sue and follows her from room to room, keeps her company on the couch, and sleeps with her every night. From time to time, Bunny will wake her mom with a gentle touch of the paw when she wants affection.

When Bunny isn’t playing with her toys or snacking on her treats, she can be found lazing around the house on her back in her favorite position. Bunny and Sue definitely hit the jackpot when they found one another. Sue is over the moon crazy about her and says she is the best cat she’s ever had! While her husband doesn’t admit it, Sue knows he is attached to Bunny too.

When I found out Sue decided to foster  and then adopt Bunny I was so thrilled. I met and photographed Bunny at the shelter a couple of weeks prior. While Bunny was initially shy with me, I could tell she would warm in time with the right guardian and situation. The first batch of photos were the ones I took of her at the shelter. Isn’t she darling?! It’s easy to see why Sue fell in love with her so quickly. Bunny will never replace Mr. Buttons. Both kitties will always occupy separate spaces in Sue’s heart of endless love!

While visiting the shelter Taylor managed to convince reluctant Harrison to check out the kitten room. Both were overwhelmed with the number of kittens in the kitten room. Moments later Harrison connected the dots and realized they weren’t at the shelter to “look at puppies” and began to get a little impatient and sneezy. After holding a few black kittens Taylor asked Harrison which one he liked. After looking at many of the kittens the couple kept going back to a litter of  4 black and white males, all with “D” names. One kitten, in particular, won the couple over. Immediately upon opening the kittens’ cage Dixon ran to towards Taylor and Harrison and latched on. Harrison who had never previously held a cat was stunned the little kitten was lavishing him with so much attention and said, “If we HAVE to get one, we might as well get this crazy one.” Even though the kitten had an upper respiratory infection (very common with shelter kittens and cats), the couple decided to take him home and minutes later they were filling out adoption paperwork. When they returned to the kitten room to collect the fearless kitten they found the little kitten climbing on the heads of another couple. Harrison quickly grabbed the cat, said “that’s my cat” and thus began a special bond between the two.

Due to his fearless nature, Dixon was quickly renamed Captain, which proved to be the perfect name for the kitten. Because Captain had an upper respiratory infection medicine had to be given. Like humans who are sick Captain didn’t have much of an appetite. During this time Harrison monitored Captain’s eating habits closely. On the day when Captain finally starting eating his food Harrison excitedly called Taylor to report the good news. Surprised and thrilled Taylor knew that Captain had truly won Harrison over for good!

Captain and Harrison developed an emotional bond that cannot be broken. Captain was Harrison’s first official pet, and the first pet the couple adopted together. He was even mentioned in their wedding vows and  had his own Instagram account. As far as allergies were concerned Harrison received allergy shots on a regular basis and never had any health issues. In addition to being loved by his humans, Captain was well received by his two, giant dog siblings who even let him be the leader of the pack. 

Unfortunately, I’m sorry to report this story has a sad ending. Captain was recently run over and crossed over to the rainbow bridge. Both Taylor and Harrison are heartbroken Captain’s life was cut so short. He will always occupy a special place in their hearts. They  are so grateful for every moment shared with him and thank WCAC for their beloved buddy.

I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to meet and photograh Taylor, Harrison and Captain. Their story is a reminder to all of us to not take those whom we love for granted, to love with all our hearts, and to know life can be all to short. So give a kiss and cuddle to all the furry loves in your life and please consider supporting your local shelter and rescue. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!