Greenville Wedding Photographer : Engagement : Marissa and Justin

About a week or so ago, I made reference to rescuing a dog.  In hindsight, I'm not really sure that such a statement really sums up what happened.  Yes, it does involve me reuniting a dog with her family, but calling it a dog rescue makes it sound like a well thought out plan, with copious amounts of strategery.  Why yes, in Raganville, we like to make up words as they best suit our needs.  Anyway, I think this whole scenario might be best described as the Great Doggie Incident Of 2011.  

At some point in the last year or so, I have become a crazy dog person.  I've always loved dogs, but I'm suddenly getting to a point that I worry actively over strays, plan my dog's birthday party, and repeatedly watch Today Show segments on miracle puppies.  It's kind of weird, yes, but nothing that messes with my daily routine.  Until the day of sweet Marissa's bridal session.  I was on my way to meet her at my studio, when I noticed a dog, trotting up the road behind me.  It worried me a little because I was about to turn onto Highway 11...aka a major highway with lots of huge trucks and other things that dogs should not be running out into.  I called Steven and asked if he'd kill me if I picked up a dog, because I just KNEW if I didn't, the poor thing was going to get hit.  He said fine, because he's kind of a crazy dog person too.  The next little bit looked something like this:

Panic as dog crosses major highway. 

Half pull over, get out of car, leave door open and car running.

Cross highway while sweetly calling to the dog.

Hold out my hand to see if my new doggie friend will come to me.

Dog does come to me, and then rolls over to let me rub her belly.  Clearly I am gifted in the art of animal rescue.

Dog, clearly aware of my giftedness, begins licking my hand as a thank you for saving her.

Realize I have no plan to get the dog back across the street into my car.  Also that my car is half in the road and still running with the door open.  Crap.

Attempt to encourage the dog to come with me without the benefit of treats or a leash.

Call Steven.  Tell him I'm now trapped on the side of the road, certain that I'm choosing between this dog's life and my car, which has nearly been hit approximately 17 times at this point. 

Give Steven the phone number on the dog's tag.  Begin to question how well thought out my rescue plan was.

Another car pulls over.  Like, actually pulls over.  Off the road.  

Nice couple that seems to have put more thought into this whole endeavor steps out, and suggests that I move my car.

Nice couple gives me a leash.  I am now able to escort her into my car.

Breath huge sigh of relief.  I am now back in the game!

Realize I still have a bridal session to shoot in a few minutes...and I now have a dog in my car.  Double crap.

Steven calls and tells me that he has located the dog's vet, and should be procuring the contact info for her owner's shortly.  I tell Steven that I'm not sure what to do with my new friend because there's a bride that needs my full attention as well.  Steven promptly leaves work.

Marissa and I jet off to shoot one INSANE bridal session at the Cliffs Chapel, while Steven bonds with the dog.  Who we now know is named Bear Bear.  

Bear Bear's owners pick her up from my studio and all is right with the world.  

This whole thing probably only took 15 minutes from start to finish, but I'm pretty sure that I lost about 5 years of my life.  Seriously.  Why did I not park my car on the shoulder to begin with?  Why did I think I could possibly lift a 50+ pound dog on my own?  Why is life so much easier for everyone else?  

In any case, I have no regrets...when I sell my life as a sitcom one of these days, this one will make a great episode.  I'm not kidding.  You should totally call me up, Tina Fey!

Okay, pictures, yes...I was going to do that, wasn't I?   Marissa (who gets double cool points for not freaking out when I had a random dog with me when we met up for her bridal session) and Justin are getting married in exactly one month!  Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session...

As soon as we got to the orchard, it started raining.  Thankfully, we found a nice little tree canopy for them to hide under.  :-)