Poor Jack. He’s has been photographically neglected for a few months now as I have really not had a whole lot of time to play. So this morning I decided that no matter what, we were going to have a session on his regular romp in the park, and it turned out to be a beautiful morning to do it. After chasing many sticks and romping through the grass, he decided it was time to rest in a frost covered patch. I suppose he kind of enjoyed the sun on his back and the cool grass underneath. All that running had made him hot and he was satisfied to just chomp and a select stick for a few minutes. As soon as he lay down, the steam started rising from underneath him. It really was a satisfying moment for both of us. A little rest was in order.

Just got an email from Ashley Yeatts at the RVSPCA and another one of Jack’s littermates has been returned to the RVSPCA! Lyla is her name and she was turned over to the RVSPCA with her sister, a golden retriever. Apparently, the owner was unable to care for them any more. Here’s the scoop from Ashley along with a few shots of the cute, cute, cute Lyla. From the way Ashley described her, I think she is  Jack up one side and down the other. If so……..FANTASTIC dog.

Hey Kemper,

Attached are 4 pictures of Miss Lyla.  She was relinquished when her owner got sick and was no longer able to take care of her.  She is up to date on shots, including Rabies, microchipped and spayed.  She walked great with me on the leash and was very responsive when I called her name.  She also knew ‘sit.’  She did jump up on me a couple of times, but again, she was very responsive when I told her ‘off.’  She could definitely benefit from obedience training.

According to her previous owners, she is great with everyone she meets – other dogs, kids, cats, etc…  They also said that she is housebroken, but we can never guarantee that.  Even if she was housebroken with them, there is a chance that she may need to be ‘re-introduced’ once she is in her new home since she’s been caged here.  Overall, I think she’s an absolute sweetheart!  She’s a little skittish, but she comes out of her shell fast.  And she is gorgeous!!!  Not too sure on her weight – I would guess around 50 lbs….give or take a few.  She’s tall.

Please send anyone interested our way.  They can call me directly at 540-344-4840, ext. 206 and if they cannot reach me at my extension, they can press 2 to get the front desk.  She’ll go fast, I’m sure, but I want to make sure that she is going to her FUREVER home this time around.

Thanks again!!

Ashley Yeatts

This is Jackson. Operations Supervisor and Chief Wedding Dog at the Inn at Riverbend. Of course ya gotta love him because he looks like my favorite dog in the whole world. Even the names are similar!

Went up to Camp a few weeks ago to open things up and get the place cleaned. It was a working vacation for me cause I had to get some weddings edited and finish a new marketing piece. No internet cause I’m too cheap to pay $ 70 a month for an air card so I had to book it to the little coffee shop in the village every morning to get my mail and upload some galleries. One morning I just couldn’t make it so when I got there they were closed! Went on a rather hilarious venture into Amsterdam (the city in NY…not the one in The Netherlands) and quickly learned that this is a city far behind in the times. No coffee shops, not even a Starbucks which is utterly amazing.

So I stopped at a little computer store whose owner told me that he had heard if you sit in the parking lot at the old Best Western you can sometimes get a signal. I went fishing there for some broadband and did indeed stumble upon a spot where I got enough for a five minute download/upload session and was outa there.

Of course the highlight of the trip was watching Jack explore Camp for the first time. Needless to say, he was in doggie heaven with the woods, the lake, and a field full of tall grass and lots of smells all within a few feet of the front door. In order to prepare him for the water, I had been taking him down to the river for a month before the trip, having him fetch sticks from the deep part. He caught on fast, so by the time he got to Camp he was an expert paddler with no fear. He could easily swim out about 25 yards with us and stay out there with no assistance. But most of all I think he enjoyed digging in the beach where he made ample progress turning over all of the sand so that it looked fresh and new.

By the time we left to come back to Roanoke, Jack was tuckered out and slept the entire 10 hour trip. He is a joy. The best $129 I ever spent.

 A little over a month ago we went to see our friends Liz and Mackie and stay at their place out in the wild hillsides of Albermarle Co. Jack was making his first overnight visit doggie style and there was less anxiety knowing that we were being hosted by a forgiving animal lover. So all went well and we had a great time. But I’m not sure that Max and Bill, their two dogs, ever really got to lovin’ some Jack. Especially Bill, who laid down the line and dared Jack to cross it. It really was hilarious watching Bill defend his territory for most of the weekend. Max of course, being the older and wiser of the two was much less bothered by the young pup invading his space. He was more or less a spectator to the standoff between Jack and Bill, just enjoying the day and probably saying things like “Bill, Bill, Bill….why are you so uptight, dude”.

Sadly, we learned just a couple of weeks ago that Max died suddenly just a couple of weeks after our visit. Apparently he had a seizure and was unable to recover from it. Liz and Mackie are of course heart broken, what else can you expect when you lose a constant companion who was nothing but a joy. But apparently Bill is taking things even harder. It is indeed sad to watch a dog pine for someone they loved and cared about.

While I was up there, I did get a few shots of the dogs as they hung out with us. Liz called and said that she really appreciated the prints I sent her because they didn’t really have many good ones of Max in his old age. I was looking at some shots that I have taken of Jack over the last few months and my mind couldn’t help but wander to the future which will most likely see me watch Jack get older and eventually leave us. I really don’t want to dwell on that, but I looked at the shots of him when he was just a pup, barely able to climb the stairs, so stocky and cute.

I wouldn’t trade those for a million dollars.

So here’s to Max, a loyal and dear friend.

And Bill…….hope you get to feeling like your old self soon.

I just got an email from Ashley Yeatts at the RVSPCA and she has let me know that one of Jack’s litter mates has come back in a very neglected condition.

Ashley says that Marley is as sweet as can be and that all she needs is a good home. If anyone is interested in adopting Marley they can call Ashley direct at 540-344-4840, ext. 206.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…..if you or anyone you know would like to adopt Marley, you will be getting a fantastic dog. Marley comes from GREAT stock and her brother Jack is the best dog I have ever had. They are super smart, totally trainable, adorable, and loyal as can be. I cannot tell you how many people pass Jack on the trails and just want to eat him UP! I’m sure that Marley is just the same.

So pass this along, send a link to this blog so people can see what a pup from this litter is all about.

Make Jack happy, again!