CATEGORIES: Pets…specifically DOGS

The theme for Sepia Saturday this week also works nicely as a collectible vernacular photography category—pets and those who love them. Some people specialize in collecting photos of dogs. In fact, there are at least two books that feature nothing but photos of dogs. You'll find links to them in the left column available at Amazon (Photobooth Dogs and Dogs). I'm especially fond of the photobooth shots of dogs. My dog would never sit still long enough to have his photo taken in a photobooth. Shoot, I can barely get him to stand still long enough in the house to get a shot that isn't blurred. He's a puppy and has energy to spare. I'm envious.

These photos are both real photo postcards. They are from Donald G. Schnabel's family photo album, most likely taken in Ohio.


Click on image to see it larger.

I'm especially fond of this second shot. It reminds me of an image from a silent movie.



I doubt I'll ever set out to find snapshots of pets. If I find something that really speaks to me I'll buy it, but it's not a category I'll have to have. I've already got enough photos of all the pets I've owned over the years. They are the perfect category.

To see previous posts about dogs click "dog" in the tags below.
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Available at Amazon 
Tattered and Lost: The Quiet Art of Reading

The TROLL DOLL really adds mystery to the shot

Don’t you hate it when people put you on their “cc” email list and constantly send you tons of photos of cute baby animals? 

But do they send you cute baby kittens with a troll doll?

Click on image to see it larger. But seriously, what's the point?

To see more vintage snapshots of pets click on the “PETS” label below.

The CAT IN THE CHAIR says...

I always look at snapshots like this and imagine what the cat was thinking. Something along the lines of, “I’ll do it when they’re sleeping. Yeah, that’s it. I’ll make my move when they’re most vulnerable. That’ll teach them to put me in some stinkin’ baby chair!”



No information about this kitty. Perhaps if we knew the name we could check the police blotters from long ago under:

CATS ATTEMPT TO KILL OWNERS FAILS

At midnight on June 24th a disturbance was heard coming from the house at 22 Picketfence Lane. Neighbor, Frances McNutty, called the police at 12:04 concerned for the safety of her neighbors. Upon entering, the police found the owners of the house unconscious with blood loss due to severe scratches over their entire bodies and a house in disarray. The bodies were found in the bedroom. The only other occupant in the house was their cat Benny asleep in a basket of laundry.

Originally no suspects were found until a roll of film was developed exposing motive for the attack.

The cat was taken away in tiny handcuffs; a look of contentment on its face.

Neighbor Frances MuNutty was heard to say, "I'm stunned. Benny was always such a good pussy cat. He never pooped in my bushes."

Benny is now serving his time at a farm in upstate New York where he has a mice quota to fill each day. 

WHO WILL KEEP THE TEMPO? Why, the dogs tail of course!

I wish I had some words of wisdom to impart about this shot, but I don’t. I purchased it today and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be my Sepia Saturday post. It has nothing to do with the actual suggested theme.


Click on image to see it larger.

My theme this week is to honor all the amazing posts done by musician Mike Brubaker at TempoSenzaTempo. If you haven’t stopped by to read some of his detailed pieces about musicians from the past you’re missing out.

The photo was taken at Peoples Studio at 133 S. Gay St, Knoxville, Tennessee.

UPDATE: I was hopeful Mike Brubaker might see this post and make a comment providing some information about this image and he did. Thank you Mike!

Gosh, I'm very flattered! Such a neat photo! Band uniform capes start around 1930s when school bands started to march and play for football games - in the rain. And Ok it's an alto saxophone and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (maybe). A dog's howl and a saxophone's yelp are pretty much the same annoyance.

A dog AMID THE SUNBEAMS

PUPPY on a step

I believe in truth in advertising. I told you in the subject line what this would be. I didn't lie. Trust me. Always trust me.


Click on image to see it larger.

To see more vintage snapshots of pets click on the "pets" label below.

KITTENS in the house

Not one of the cats I have adopted was ever younger than around 9-10 months when I took them in. With each of them, I wish I'd seen them when they were very young because they had to be stunning. I doubt I will ever own a kitten. That is something I will miss.


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MUFFY THE CAT's meow

It’s been a few months since I posted vintage snapshots of pets. I posted mostly images of dogs, a rabbit, and goat, but only a single cat photo. I will now rectify that.

I give you Muffy.

Click on image to see it larger.

Pet owners can go to extremes expressing their adoration for their pets. I love my pets, but I know that putting their food on a china plate with a sprig of parsley just makes me look like a fool. And the peas and carrot chunks in my dogs food are pointless. He just as happily consumes turkey shit, but I don’t think they’ll ever do a commercial showing a dog doing a taste test with turkey shit winning, parsley or no parsley.

The most extravagant thing I ever did for one of my pets was to buy a plaid dog collar at Harrod’s in London. I knew it would look great against his black fur. I still have the collar though the plaid is worn off and the dog died over a decade ago. That’s as wild as I ever got.

I never owned a cat until 1990. I’d always had dogs and birds. A cat was just a pet that other people had. I could never really understand the reason to own one. They were let out in the morning, they came back for food, then again went out. That was it. It wasn’t until I met a longhaired black cat named Whiskey that my attitude started to change. I can now happily say since 1990 I have resided in a home that has been the abode of choice to 4 cats; one is on my lap as I write this.

So let’s hear it for Muffy and its owner who decided the cat needed such a fancy abode of their own.

To see previous posts about pets simply click on “PETS” in the labels below.

The DOG OF THE THIN MAN

I can't help but think of the dog Asta from the classic film The Thin Man when I look at this shot.

And who knew, Asta had an online fan site? According to the site, this breed of terrier became quite popular in the 1930s and '40s leading to an overpopulation. I can only wonder if this woman was influenced by the Thin Man series.

NOBODY was making eye contact

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HEARING TEST for dogs

Do a dogs ears lay flat against its head if a woman cackles in the background? You be the judge.

ERNIE with a puppy and a baby

Really, there's nothing to say. It's Ernie. Welcome back Ernie.

Click image to see it larger.

And for those who FAVOR BUNS

From the Three Buck Big Box of Photos.

Click on either image to see it larger.

To see another photo of Michelle click here.

Did somebody say GOAT RACES?

If you're racing dogs they use that stupid mechanical rabbit, obviously better than a real rabbit.

So what do they use for goat races? A tin can on a string dragged around in front of them? Actually with the way goats eat I'm guessing you could put just about anything on a string, even just a string, and they'd go after it...if they were in the mood.

Click on image to see it larger.

This image is badly glued into an old album.

Doin' DOG STUFF

I love watching happy dogs doing dog stuff. Dog stuff is pretty much anything a dog would do without human direction. Though this girl is with the dog, in the dogs mind it's a whole other world.

Gotta love dogs doin' dog stuff!

The FOUR LEGGED MEMBERS of the household

People love their pets and I’m no exception. In my life I’ve lived with 6 dogs, 4 cats, and 8 parakeets. I also now have two feral peacocks who come to visit and be fed. I love to sit down next to them as they eat. And when Pete, the male, spreads his tail and walks towards me, then turns brushing my face with the feathers I’m thrilled with the moment. I cherish the interaction.

I’m going to be featuring some pet photos from my collection. Dogs and cats and rabbits and goats, oh my.

CHERISH your pets

For the past week, since I got home from my vacation, I've been dealing with my little dog becoming partially paralyzed. Fortunately he's back to near full recovery, but a week ago was very stressful with sleepless nights. Three years ago at Christmas time he became completely paralyzed from the neck down and required major spinal surgery followed by 6 months of non-stop care. So when he started having trouble walking last week and would cry out when touched my mind raced back to the nightmare of the full paralysis. I rushed him to emergency on the 4th and the doctor confirmed there was partial paralysis, but she couldn't say if it was temporary or permanent. He spent a few days on pain meds and now is once again running back and forth inside the house, doin' dog stuff. I'm sleeping much better.

I've always had pets. Can't imagine life without at least one. Right now I have a dog and two cats. One of the cats was a feral that I worked with in my backyard for two years before finally gaining enough of his trust to bring him inside. The sweetest little tiny toy you could imagine. Has major medical problems, but he makes up for it when he trills his little call. Wee Bobbie, the Manx.

Photos of pets bring back memories and ultimately some sadness because they're always gone too soon. When I saw this vintage photo at the antique store in Weaverville I smiled, thinking about the joy the little babe probably brought to those who owned it. I hope it grew up to be a happy dog doin' dog stuff all its life.

Click on image to see it larger.

I have a photo of a dog that was in one of my dad's squadrons. His name was Boots and he used to fly with the crew and even had his own military ID. My dad always smiles when he sees that photo of Boots and recalls stories of how they sneaked him aboard the flights.

Right now I have a flock of wild turkeys outside my window. Did a head count and came up with 50. They're yelling at each other with some chasing others around and around at the base of trees. Stupid as can be, but I consider them my pets too. They don't seem to feel the same. I think it's time for me to go out and break up a couple of these fights. "Okay, you bunch of turkeys...knock it off!"