Dog Rescue | biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Nov 12

Victory: A Birthday Celebration — 13 years

October 12, marked eleven years since we adopted our sweet dear little Victory! The time is going by much too quickly! We decided to make October 12 Victory’s birthday — the day we went to Michigan and adopted our sweet fur girl. (This post is a month late due to the release my new book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs.)

As such, we recently celebrated Victory’s birthday marking her eleventh year with us since her adoption! This also marks seven years celebrating as a ‘big sister’ to Alex! This year, for Victory’s birthday, we did a personalized pink and coral themed birthday! (As shown below, last year, we did a personalized pastel theme; two years ago, we did a personalized fall theme and pastel theme; three years ago personalized theme and a pastel theme; four years ago pink theme with gold accent; five years we did a pastel rainbow theme with a silver accent; six years ago we did pastel theme with a gold and silver accent; seven years ago we did a gold and champagne theme; eight years ago we did a light pink and gold themed birthday; nine years ago we did a pink themed birthday; and ten years ago, we did rainbow themed birthday for Victory!) For this double-digit birthday, we had another cake made with Victory’s likeness — Victory reading my newly released book, Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs! It turned out beautifully! We also purchased some fun decorations and balloons, along with a coral sweater for Victory, a tradition, in honor of her birthday! Victory also enjoyed a steak prepared by Doug, along with her very own cupcake (with no icing, of course!) Victory looked absolutely adorable and beautiful on her birthday, as always, shown below! This is the seventh birthday that Victory celebrated with her sidekick, Alex! It is wonderful to witness their relationship beautiful relationship; Alex adores her fur sister, and I think the feeling is mutual! Alex loves giving Victory treats and hugs! Victory had a fun birthday and she truly enjoyed being over fed and the center of attention! I sincerely believe Victory knows her birthdays are all about her!

We are truly the lucky ones to share our lives with this wonderful, loyal, and loving being. Victory has been such a source of comfort to us all. Victory has also fully embraced her ‘big sister’ role! Victory is very attuned to her little sister and loves to greet Alex in the mornings and evenings! It melts our hearts! Victory continues to join us evening for play time and story time, in addition to all meals! We also do our best to keep Victory fully integrated in our trips and outings as well, and we had a fun fall together with many outings together! We are so very grateful and thankful for our Victory. She means the world to us and we love her very much.

For Victory’s birthday, we gave her: a blanket; an assortment of toys that Alex picked out; assorted treats; and a new coral sweater! And, my parents gifted their grand puppy, Victory, an Orvis gift card! Additionally, Alex also made some art for Victory, along with a special card!

(All birthday decorations are via Sweet Lulu and Meri Meri.)

Here is a video of Victory enjoying her steak!

A look back at Victory’s birthday celebrations over the years…

Here is a look back at Victory on her birthdays!

If you are considering getting a dog, I hope that you consider adopting a rescue or shelter dog. There are so many dogs in need of a good, loving home, especially now, with the dog overpopulation crisis. As shown below, Victory, a rescue, has changed so much physically and emotionally over the years since we adopted her, pictured on the left (image from Victory’s foster mom via the Michigan Sheltie Rescue). You really can save a dog’s life, while simultaneously enriching your own life/lives, which is a win-win for everyone. We cannot imagine not having a rescue dog in our lives!

My book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, was recently released!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

Oct 25

ABANDONED: Released in the United Kington Today!

Happy Friday!

Today is an exciting day–ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, was released in the United Kingdom today! If you live in the United Kingdom, you can order your copy today!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

Oct 17

ABANDONED: Featured Dogs in ABANDONED With Their Books

In my new book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, I chronicled roughly 60 once-abandoned dogs, illuminating each one’s journey from a shelter or rescue organization to a loving, permanent home. ABANDONED is a decade-long project inspired by my own rescue Shetland Sheepdog, Biscuit, who had been abandoned. This set me on a quest to examine the lives of other abandoned dogs. I initially met and photographed each dog shortly after they entered a shelter or rescue organization, and then again approximately a year after being adopted. The juxtaposition of the “before and after” photographs illustrate the profound benefits of animal adoption for both dogs and humans alike. Especially now, with the dog overpopulation crisis and the recent natural disasters, it is critical for people to adopt these special dogs in need of permanent, loving homes.

Below are a few photographs of the dogs, who are still living, that are featured in ABANDONED with their physical books, provided by their adopters! These dogs include from the top left to the bottom right: Sabre/Arfy; Merlotte’s Tara/Tara; Dennison/Denny; Robo/Washburne; Dreifuss/Dreyfuss; Minnie; Clooney; Tyson/Cruz; and Humphrey/Ricky-Bobby! I am so incredibly grateful that some of the dogs featured in ABANDONED are still here with us on earth, as I photographed the dogs for this long-term project during 2013 through 2015.

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

Oct 15

ABANDONED Featured: Ready Living Podcast

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Andrea Weckerle, the host of the Ready Living Podcast, where she asked very thoughtful and insightful questions about my new book: ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs. You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcast or Spotify!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

Oct 10

ABANDONED Book Helps Dogs in Need Supporting the SPCA International

ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, has been released into the world! Thank you to everyone who has purchased my book! It has been wonderful to hear from you and receive your feedback on this book I have worked on for over a decade! There are so many generous people who have helped me along this journey, for which I am very grateful and I owe such a great debt.

It is National Adopt-A-Dog Month, and I hope that if you are considering getting a dog, you only adopt and not shop. There are so many wonderful dogs living in shelters and rescue organizations who need permanent, loving homes. It is up to us humans to solve the dog overpopulation crisis in our country.

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

Oct 8

ABANDONED Featured: Modern Dog Magazine

Today, Modern Dog Magazine featured ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs as one of its book club picks for this fall! The fall 2024 issue is on newsstands as of today! A few images are shown below!

My parents picked up a copy of the Modern Dog Magazine today, and a photo is shown below!

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

Oct 7

Victory: Blessing of the Animals

We recently attended the Blessing of the Animals at Alex’s school! This is third time attending this fun and important event! You can read more about last year’s Blessing of the Animals; and you can read more about the Blessing of the Animals from two years ago here. It was the most attended Blessing of the Animals that we have attended! It was really fun to witness Victory receive another blessing. Victory did well, and I am certain she knew that this event was all about her! A few photographs are shown below! And, we were given another certificate to take home with Victory’s blessing. It was a fun time together!

Additionally and importantly, on Saturday, Victory will be with us 11 years! We have a fun birthday celebration planned, with an extra special cake, I cannot wait to share more! We made her birthday the day we adopted her from the Michigan Sheltie Rescue! We are enormously grateful for Victory! She is just the best and sweetest little soul! And, Doug and I are celebrating 20 years together this fall along with our 16th wedding anniversary this week! October has been a very full and exciting month! Happy Fall!

Oct 4

ABANDONED: Recommended by Ann Patchett, The Laydown Diaries

Ann Patchett, one of my favorites writers, recommended ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs on the Laydown Diaries at her bookstore, Parnassus Books, on October 1, 2024. I was elated, as I admire her greatly and I love her work. You can view this episode of the Laydown Diaries recommending ABANDONED here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

Oct 3

ABANDONED Featured: The Eye of Photography

ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs was featured recently on The Eye of Photography (L’Oeil de la Photographie), one of my favorites photography sites! You can read more here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.

Oct 2

ABANDONED Featured: Psychology Today with Marc Bekoff

I had the wonderful pleasure of speaking with Marc Bekoff about ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, featured in Psychology Today! You can read the interview here.

And, if you have not ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today! Many thanks for your support!

I am donating a portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of this book, to the SPCA International, helping dogs in need around the globe. You can read more here and here.