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Celebrating Bailey | Saying goodbye to a terminally ill pet

End of life pet photography session of senior yellow lab in Oakville, Ontario.

I haven’t met a yellow lab I didn’t instantly love. Their playful nature, deep brown eyes and soft yellow ears – they really get you right in the heart. Senior Bailey had the same effect on me. When we met, Bailey, 13, was terminally ill with stage 4 kidney failure. Upon arrival for her in-home Celebration Session, I saw her through the doorway laying on the kitchen floor under a blanket, unable to walk and clearly quite ill. When she saw me, her tail immediately started wagging and thumping.

Saying goodbye to a terminally ill pet is gut-wrenching, but photographs help provide a lasting connection. I always try to get the message out to pet owners to photograph their pets while they are healthy and vibrant — you don’t want to remember them as being sick. I initially thought the time had passed for Bailey to be photographed, but her family desperately wanted memories for their walls. I warned them the images may not be what they expect, given the advanced nature of Bailey’s illness. I think Bailey knew this was important and despite her waning energy, we managed to get some heart-tugging images.

End of life pet photography session of senior yellow lab in Oakville, Ontario.Bailey and her dad shared a wonderful bond. She was his companion before he met his wife, and she meant the world to him.
A man shares affection with his labrador retriever at home in Ontario, photo.Dog paw detail photography by Ontario pet photographer.Those puppy dog eyes …Dog photography portrait of yellow labrador retriever in Oakville home on the couch, photo.Senior dog photography in Oakville, Ontario.Bailey with her sister, Maddie, also a senior dog. Sometimes it’s the details that are the most poignant.Two dogs with paws touching, animal bond, dog photography in Oakville, Milton, Burlington and GTA,Labrador retriever dog kisses owner, man and dog, human animal bond.Bailey couldn’t walk, so we carried her outside to the alley behind her house for a few more photos. I think she enjoyed the fresh air and smells.

Celebration session for terminally ill or elderly pets in Ontario.Peaceful pet photo of senior lab sleeping on a comfortable couch, in-home pet photography, natural light pet portraits in southwestern Ontario.This last image really tugs at my heartstrings. Owning a pet is filled with funny and exuberant moments, but it also comes with tough moments and poignant moments. Imperfect moments. This image is real and authentic. It’s genuine. It reminds me that being with our aging and ill pets to the very end and providing love, comfort and dignity, is the one small act we as humans can do that even comes close to the things our canine companions do for us on a daily basis. Bailey has always had a place on this couch, and her imprint will still be there long after she’s gone. Her family ordered this image as a large print and plan to hang it above her favourite spot on this couch.

It was an honour to meet Bailey — she passed away about a week after our session. Her dad told me all about her mischief and personality before she got ill (she was quite a counter-surfer — always getting things her family thought were out of reach, and purses on the floor were always in danger of being rifled through) and I loved hearing the stories. She was very loved and will be very missed.

Wags,

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