biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Sep 5

ABANDONED Featured on Visura

ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, released on October 1, 2024, has been featured on Visura. To read more, visit Visura.

And, if you have not pre-ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today, as pre-orders are vital for authors and to the book’s success! 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.

Sep 4

Inside ABANDONED: Humphrey

It is almost October, which is National Adopt-A-Dog Month!

Today, I am sharing an individual dog’s photographs and story from my forthcoming book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, released on October 1, 2024.

In ABANDONED, each dog’s story is emblematic of the 2.2 million dog adoptions that take place in this country each year—but they are also a reminder that due to our dog overpopulation crisis, 1 million rescues do not result in adoption annually.

Pictured immediately above on the left is Humphrey’s photograph before adoption; and pictured on the right is Humphrey’s photograph after adoption. Roughly one year separates the two above photographs.

Humphrey and his sister arrived at a Maryland rescue in 2013 riddled with mange, hair loss, and skin irritation issues. Adopted once, he was returned to the rescue for excessive barking—but I found him to be calm and easy to photograph, noting his “beautiful and soulful eyes.”

Happily, he was adopted a second time and re-named “Ricky-Bobby.” “The impact of adopting Ricky-Bobby has been nothing short of happiness and love,” his human companion reports. “No matter how tough of a day I have had, he always greets me at the door with a smile and a playful romp around the house.”

Humphrey, renamed Ricky-Bobby, is just one example from ABANDONED illustrating how dog rescue and adoption not only changes the lives of the dogs, but it simultaneously enriches the lives of the human companions as well. My sincere hope is that ABANDONED helps compel people to consider dog rescue and adoption, helping many dogs in need find permanent, loving homes, especially with our current dog overpopulation crisis in this country.

31 people endorsed ABANDONED including: Dr. Jane Goodall, Sally Mann, Susan Orlean, and John Grogan, to name a few, along with other New York Times bestselling authors, artists, and Presidents of large dog rescue and animal welfare organizations.

And, if you have not pre-ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today, as pre-orders are vital for authors and to the book’s success! 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.

Aug 27

My Miracles

The image below contains all of my miracles in one photograph: My daughter, Alex; my rescue Shetland Sheepdog, Victory; and my newest miracle–my book: ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, which is is released on October 1, 2024, to kick off ‘Adopt-A-Dog Month!’ My copies just arrived, and it is quite surreal to hold this book, in my hands, after so much work, effort, and dedication–a dream realized. Alex is especially excited to see this book in physical form!

Abandoned is a result of a ten-year project following nearly sixty dogs from rescue to adoption, showcasing “before” and “after” photographs, which are accompanied by each dog’s personal story. No other book has captured dogs in this manner. It is a unique project that encompasses more than just photographs—as the dogs’ stories are integral, providing context and augmenting the photographs. In addition to the dogs, I hope that people see that the human companions’ lives are equally changed in such positive, immeasurable ways. This project has been a labor of love, and I hope you will consider pre-ordering Abandoned now. My sincere hope is that Abandoned helps compel people to consider dog rescue and adoption, helping many dogs in need find permanent, loving homes, especially with our current dog overpopulation crisis in this country.

31 people endorsed the book including: Dr. Jane Goodall, Sally Mann, Susan Orlean, and John Grogan, to name a few, along with other New York Times bestselling authors, artists, and Presidents of large dog rescue and animal welfare organizations.

And, if you have not pre-ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today, as pre-orders are vital for authors and to the book’s success! 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.

Aug 23

ABANDONED: Sally Mann

In addition to Dr. Jane Goodall, it is also surreal that the words of Sally Mann, one of America’s most renowned photographers, who I have always admired greatly for her wonderful work, adorns the back cover of my book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs. It is unbelievable to me that our paths crossed, and I am so grateful and beyond ecstatic they did. I was first introduced to her work during high school, and I have followed her prolifically ever since, and I have been fortunate enough to see a few of her exhibitions in person. I especially love her landscapes and family pictures. Sally also created her work while raising a family, which is not an easy feat and it is very admirable. In addition to being a photographer, Sally is also an acclaimed writer, and I thoroughly loved her memoir, Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs.

“Abandoned is a testament to the nobility of dogs, their willingness to forgive, and the great love they offer their humans. Carver has caught all this and more in her moving portraits of these long-suffering animals whose faces will remain in your mind long after you finish this book. The stories are heartbreaking as well as affirming—and a tribute to the hard-working and dedicated people who protect and care for our best friends.”—Sally Mann, photographer and New York Times bestselling author of Sally Mann: A Thousand Crossings and Hold Sill: A Memoir with Photographs

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Sally Mann, “To be able to take my pictures, I have to look, all the time, at the people and places I care about. And I must do so with both ardor and cool appraisal, with the passions of eye and heart, but in that ardent heart there must also be a splinter of ice.” —Sally Mann

I love this interview with Sally Mann, and I hope that you enjoy it as well.

I have learned, through this great journey of creating ABANDONED, a journey that has been over a decade in the making, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing your vision come to fruition, and I sincerely hope that this body of work helps many dogs in need, as there is a current dog overpopulation crisis in our country, and it is my hope that this body of work raises awareness about the benefits of dog rescue and adoption, for both humans and dogs alike. If it were not for our beloved, Biscuit, the inspiration for ABANDONED, this project and book would not exist.

And, if you have not pre-ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today, as pre-orders are vital for authors and to the book’s success! 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.

Aug 10

ABANDONED: Dr. Jane Goodall

It is surreal that the words of Dr. Jane Goodall, an iconic woman who I have always admired for her wonderful work and her perseverance, adorns the cover of my book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs. Dr. Jane Goodall is such a kind, warm person and she has done so much vital and impactful work on behalf of animals and our planet. And, it turns out, dogs are her favorite animal! She is an exemplary model of someone who has persevered and followed her dreams, no matter what others might have thought of them. It is very admirable, and as a result, Dr. Jane Goodall has blazed the trail and changed the world.

“In Abandoned, Carver describes, with words and beautiful photographs, the plight of abandoned dogs and how a caring home can transform a frightened cowering being into a confident and happy companion who will give unconditional love. For me, a life without a dog is a life only half lived. A must read.”—Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE; Founder of The Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Jane Goodall, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE; Founder of The Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace

Additionally, I love this advice Dr. Jane Goodall would give her ten-year-old self.

I have learned, through this great journey of creating ABANDONED, a journey that has been over a decade in the making, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing your vision come to fruition, despite navigating problems and disappointments, and the uncertainty of it all. I will never forget the feeling of holding the final proof of ABANDONED in my hands, this summer, after working so hard and for so long to make this dream a reality. I hope our daughter, Alex, can witness this, first hand, as she learns to lean into and follow her big and wild dreams! Most of all, I hope that this body of work helps many dogs in need, as there is a current dog overpopulation crisis in our country, and it is my hope that this body of work raises awareness about the benefits of dog rescue and adoption, for both humans and dogs alike. If it were not for our beloved, Biscuit, the inspiration for ABANDONED, this project and book would not exist.

And, if you have not pre-ordered your copy of ABANDONED, I hope you will consider ordering ABANDONED today, as pre-orders are vital for authors and to the book’s success! 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.

Aug 7

ABANDONED BOOK: Author Royalties

Thank you to all of you who have ordered my book, ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, which is available for pre-order and officially released on October 1, 2024, in time for Adpot-A-Dog month!

A portion of my royalties, earned from the sales of my book, will be donated to the SPCA International, giving back to the dogs in need, and helping dogs around the globe. I am very happy about this partnership, as I always envisioned giving back to this cause, especially due to the dog overpopulation problem facing our country presently. There are so many dogs in need who need our help, and ABANDONED shines a light on these special dogs in need. I hope you will consider supporting your local shelter/rescue organization either via donations or with much needed supplies.

You can learn more about ABANDONED here.

Thank you for your support!

Jul 9

3 Comments

My Book: ABANDONED is Available for Pre-Order!

I can hardly believe I am typing this blog post after so many years of working on this project! My book, Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs, is finally finished, and it is now available for pre-order, and it will be released on October 1, 2024, to kick off ‘Adopt-A-Dog Month!’ This project has been a labor of love, and I hope you will consider pre-ordering Abandoned now, as it is vital to the book’s success. My sincere hope is that Abandoned helps many dogs in need find permanent, loving homes, especially with our current dog overpopulation crisis in this country.

Abandoned is a result of a ten-year project following nearly sixty dogs from rescue to adoption, showcasing “before” and “after” photographs, which are accompanied by each dog’s personal story. No other book has captured dogs in this manner. It is a unique project that encompasses more than just photographs—as the dogs’ stories are integral, providing context and augmenting the photographs. In addition to the dogs, I hope that people see that the human companions’ lives are changed in such positive, immeasurable ways.

The idea for Abandoned, literally came to me on a summer day during 2012, roughly a year-and-a-half after we had adopted our first rescue dog named Biscuit, a Shetland Sheepdog, for whom this blog is named after. He forever changed my life in so many ways—he opened my heart in a way like no other; and he brought me back to my love of photography. My curiosity and experience with Biscuit made me aware of the dog overpopulation crisis in our country, and this set me on a path to learn more about what happens to these abandoned dogs. I began documenting the fate of roughly 60 dogs of various breeds, who found themselves in shelters or rescue organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. I first photographed each dog prior to adoption, and I then photographed these same dogs, again, roughly a year later. Written narratives accompany the dogs’ photographs providing, to the extent possible, how, and why each dog was abandoned. I also explore the significant positive impact these dogs have had on their human companions’ lives, and vice versa. It is my great hope that Abandoned will help raise awareness of this overpopulation crisis and encourage people to adopt a shelter or rescue dog.

It is an understatement that the publication of this body of work required contributions from a large number of people whom I owe such a great debt.

Here is a look inside Abandoned, shown below, and you can learn more about Abandoned and read editorial reviews, here.

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.

Jul 2

Around Here . . .

Happy Summer! Alex finished up Kindergarten last month, followed by a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with some of her school friends, which she thoroughly enjoyed! We took a trip to Michigan to see family, and Victory saw our vet there where she had a mass removed, her teeth cleaned, and a wellness check. It turned out that this mass was cancerous; however, the vet got clean margins, so we are very grateful! We continue to keep an eye on Victory’s kidney function and her thyroid. We are just so grateful for our fur girl!

Alex had fun in Michigan seeing family. And, we finally got to meet Finn in person, our new family member, a rescue papillon! He is adorable! A few photos from our trip are shown below. Alex picked out her fireworks for her Fourth of July gathering with her friends–she is so excited! She also lost another tooth, while we were away! Additionally, we saw a Tiger’s game together; celebrated Father’s Day; went to the Binder Park Zoo, where we fed giraffes lettuce; took trips to the local pool; ate at local restaurants; we spent time together, and played a lot of Domino’s! Alex is really great at this game! And, Alex is on her first swim team, this summer, and she is having fun and doing well!

May 24

Inspirational Quotes on Creativity

Happy Friday! I hope you have a nice long weekend! Creative people need inspiration, and shown below are some inspirational quotes on the topic of creativity! Our daughter is one of the most creative people I know, and I hope she always keeps this quality–it’s a great quality to possess!

“Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.” –Albert Einstein

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” –Pablo Picasso

“You use a glass mirror to see your face. You use works of art to see your soul.” –George Bernard Shaw

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, and expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.” –Elizabeth Gilbert

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” –Henri Matisse

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” –Sylvia Plath

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” –Edward De Bono

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” –Maya Angelou

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” –Pablo Picasso

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” –Vincent Van Gogh

“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps have never been seen.” –Oprah Winfery

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” –Dorothy Parker

“Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.” –Bruce Garrabrandt

“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” –Jack London

“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.” –Bill Moyers

“The creative person is willing to live with ambiguity. He doesn’t need problems solved immediately and can afford to wait for the right ideas.” –Abe Tannenbaum

“Creativity can solve almost any problem” –George Lois

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.” –George Bernard Shaw

“What keeps life fascinating is the constant creativity of the soul.” –Deepak Chopra

“You don’t make art out of good intentions.” –Gustave Flaubert

“I dwell in possibility.” –Emily Dickinson

“Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe in order.” –Virginia Woolf

“The thing is to become a master and in your old age to acquire the courage to do what children did when they knew nothing.” –Earnest Hemingway

May 14

Around Here…

I cannot believe it is the middle of May, already — where has the time gone, it is literally flying, and the time seems to be going even faster since spring break!

Alex recently had her Spring Music Concert at school, and it was lovely — they sang wonderful songs, after much preparation. Alex is done with Kindergarten, in a few short weeks, which is so difficult to believe! She has grown in so many ways!

Alex continues to swim, and she will give the summer swim team a try this summer! Her favorite stroke is backstroke, and we are looking forward to checking out the new summer pool we joined! Alex also participated in some nature enrichment at school, and she is still going strong on making her art — she is very creative and comes up with some neat art project all on her own! Alex has her first tooth coming in, despite not losing a tooth yet, and we confirmed it was okay for this to happen with the dentist! We recently attended more birthday parties, which Alex always loves! We attended a Nationals’ baseball game, and plan to take Victory back to a game this year, for Pups in the Park, which we all love, and we are going to an Oriole’s game soon! This spring, I have been working really hard to finish up my book, and I cannot wait to share more with you in the coming weeks!

Our little family celebrated Mother’s Day early, as Doug is in Norway, and we all miss him dearly, and we cannot wait for him to return home! Fortunately, Signal, an app, has allowed us to video chat, like FaceTime, despite the time difference. I hope everyone had a nice Mother’s Day, and sending love and light to the fellow moms out there and peace and comfort to those who find this day difficult for any number of reasons. I feel so fortunate to be a mom to our little human and our beloved fur girl. There was a time that we were not sure if we would have a child of our own, and I count my blessings everyday. Alex is a wonderful, determined, and inspiring soul! As her mom, I am here to love her and Victory with my whole heart and guide Alex as best as I (we) can. Alex is — entirely beautifully — her own person. And what a privilege it is to share this time with her, to watch her forge her way, day by day!

Alex and I are pictured together, below, from our first Mother’s Day together to the present, as it is a tradition that we take a photo together, each year, on Mother’s Day!