FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In this section you'll find some of the most common questions about your dog photography experience with me. I hope most of your questions will be answered either here, but if you have a question that isn't covered, please feel free to contact me!

TYPES OF PHOTOSHOOT

What is the difference between All Inclusive and Limited Edition?

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All Inclusive Experiences offer a personalise experience, fully tailored to your aims and vision for capturing your special moments with your four-legged best friend. These packages will include a product or piece of artwork and a full set of Print Ready digital files from your session gallery (minimum 12 images, depending on package chosen)

Limited Edition Sessions are available on set weekday dates at pre-selected locations, and include a souvenir 12x10 inch Premium Mounted Print and matching digital file of your choice, from a Viewing Gallery of 6 images

What is a Pawfect Moments Experience and what does it include?

The Pawfect Moments Experience is a Bespoke photo shoot experience fully tailored to your aims and vision for the session and is suitable for adult dogs. There are three package options, starting from £495:

Pawprints Digital - £495
An outdoor location session taking place at a location of your choice, including a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (10-15 images)

Muddy Paws and Memories - £795
An Outdoor Location Session OR an At Home Studio Style Session at a location of your choice, including a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (10-15 images), and a 20 inch Premium Wall Art with Deluxe Frame

Timeless Tales and Treasures - £1275
One Outdoor Location Session at a location of your choice, One At Home Studio Style Session OR a second Outdoor Location Session (2 sessions total), a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (25-35 images), 20 inch Premium Wall Art with Deluxe Frame, Classic Photo Album OR £395 Artwork Credit

All packages include a Pre-Shoot Chat to discuss your aims and vision for your session. Muddy Paws and Timeless Tales also include an Artwork Consultation following your photo shoot, to discuss artwork and how to best display your images. The Artwork Consultation can also be added to Pawprints Digital for £25, which is credited against your artwork invoice if you go on to place an order

Find out more here

What is a Pawfect Puppy Experience and what does it include?

The Pawfect Puppy Experience is a Bespoke photo shoot experience fully tailored to your aims and vision for the session and is suitable for puppies. There are three package options, starting from £495:

Pawprints Digital - £495
An At Home session with studio style, natural and garden portraits, taking place at 10-16 weeks old. Includes a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (10-15 images)

Puppy Moments Photo Shoot - £795
An At Home session with studio style, natural and garden portraits, taking place at 10-16 weeks old. Includes a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (10-15 images) and a 20 inch Premium Wall Art with Deluxe Frame

Puppy's First Year - £1495
One At Home session with studio style, natural and garden portraits, taking place at 10-16 weeks old, Two sessions at 6 months and 1 year old with your choice of Outdoor Location Session or At Home Studio Style Session (3 sessions total), a gallery of Print Ready digital files ready to download (25-35 images), 20 inch Premium Wall Art with Deluxe Frame, Luxury Reveal Box with 15 prints OR 4-image Multi-Aperture Wall Art with Deluxe Frame

All packages include a Pre-Shoot Chat to discuss your aims and vision for your session. Puppy Moments and Puppy's First Year also include an Artwork Consultation following your photo shoot, to discuss artwork and how to best display your images. The Artwork Consultation can also be added to Pawprints Digital for £25, which is credited against your artwork invoice if you go on to place an order

Find out more here

What is a Twilight Days Memory Session and what does it include?

Twilight Days is a relaxed, non-intrusive session designed to capture the golden moments shared between you and your senior dog. Spend time doing the things you'd normally do either at home or at a favourite location, as we capture everyday moments to treasure forever.

Your photo shoot includes a Desk Frame of your favourite image and a full set of Print Ready Digital Files (10-15 images), your pre-shoot chat and Artwork Consultation. The booking fee is £495.
Find out more here

What is a Limited Edition Session and what does it include?

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Limited Edition Sessions take place on set weekday dates and at pre-selected locations throughout the year and offer a selection of seasonal themes to create gorgeous portraits of your dog time after time. Themes include Seasonal Woodland, Seasonal Studio and Lavender Fields

Your photo shoot includes a 12x10 inch Premium Mounted Print with matching digital file of your choice, from a Viewing Gallery of 6 images. Additional images, products and digital files can also be ordered. The booking fee is from £149 (or 2 x £74.50) depending on the chosen theme.
Find out more here

Do you use props during the photo shoot session?

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This will depend on the type of session you've chosen, as well as how your dog reacts and settles on the day. If you have a particular image of setting in mind, please let me know in advance as I may be able to suggest specific preparation or techniques to practise with your dog, to give us a better chance of success.

I will never ask your dog to pose on or in something which is beyond their capabilities, or to wear something which clearly makes them uncomfortable

Do you do colour powder sessions?

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No I do not offer colour powder sessions. While I understand they are very popular, I feel there are welfare issues and health concerns surrounding them which is at odds with my ethos.

If you'd like to find out more about my concerns with colour powder sessions, please read this article from Unleashed Education which sums up the risks involved.

LOCATIONS AND VENUES

What areas do you cover?

I'm based in Geddington, Northamptonshire, and I cover the surrounding area including Leicestershire, Rutland, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and part of Buckinghamshire. There is no travel charge for locations up to a 20 mile radius from my location

I'm happy to travel further afield, but depending on distance I may need to make an additional charge to cover travel costs - if you want me to come to Inverness, I'll need to cover travel & accommodation costs! Please don't hesitate to let me know where you're based and I can advise you about this and provide a quotation for travel costs if required

The Limited Edition Sessions take place in pre-selected locations which are normally in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and the Cotswolds.

Where will my photo shoot take place?

All inclusive experiences:

If you prefer an Outdoor Location photo shoot, we can discuss the best place for this to take place. This could be a park, woodland, canal or even your garden! There are some locations I use regularly in the local area, or we can choose a location special to you. Please bear in mind that some locations charge for a photography permit which is not included in your booking fee, unless I have an annual permit for that location

I have a fully portable studio setup, so I can come to your home for your Studio Style shoot. In fact, this is often the better option as your dog will be relaxed in a familiar location. If you feel your home is not suitable, it is normally possible to hire a venue close to my location which we can also use for Studio Style portraits

Limited Edition Sessions:

Limited Edition Sessions take place in a pre-selected location, which is one of my regular locations that I am used to using. A postcode area will be advertised on my website, with full details provided only to those who book (for dog theft safety reasons)

What locations do you recommend for my Outdoor Location Photo Shoot?

For All Inclusive Experiences, we can discuss the best locations, which could be a country park, canal, meadow, woodland or even a heritage site that you are familiar with. I have locations that I can suggest if you prefer, which are mostly in Leicestershire & Northamptonshire or the surrounding area.

Please note that some locations require a photography permit which is not included in your booking fee unless I have an annual permit for that location

Limited Edition Sessions are at pre-selected locations on set dates/times, so the location for these will be determined by the date chosen when you book

What does it mean by Pre-Selected Locations on your Limited Edition Sessions?

Pre-selected locations are those which I have visited or used previously and where I have experience running photo shoots. Due to my familiarity with the locations, we can normally ensure a good range of images and settings during your photo shoot

These locations are normally permit free or I have an annual permit (with the exception of the Lavender Fields sessions, where a daily permit fee is charged, and is reflected in the session price)

My Pre-selected locations are mainly in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, with additional locations in Buckinghamshire and the Cotwolds.

I don't think my home is suitable for a Studio Style Session

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Contrary to popular belief, I don't need a huge amount of space for your Studio Style Session! There is normally enough space in a reasonably-sized lounge, provided we can shift the coffee table out of the way, so if you are worried your room is too small, it will probably be fine

However, if you have a busy home environment or for other reasons you'd prefer your session to take place elsewhere, we can normally hire a local venue near to my location in Geddington which we can use for your Studio Style session - please ask for details

Can I choose my own location?

For All Inclusive Experiences, you do have the flexibility to select a location of your choice, or somewhere special to you, with the caveat that I feel it is suitable for us to achieve your aims and vision for your photo shoot session. Please be aware that any photography permit fees are not included in your booking fee and will be an additional charge to you

Limited Edition Sessions take place at pre-selected locations on set weekday dates and therefore can not be changed

What happens if the weather is bad?

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If your photo shoot is taking place at an outdoor location, the weather is definitely a consideration! Obviously we hope that everything will take place as planned, but sometimes if it's really bad - or really hot in the summer - we may need to reschedule.

For All Inclusive Experiences, we can discuss any weather concerns at your Pre-Shoot chat, and put a reserve date in the diary 'just in case' the weather lets us down on your preferred date. It's always good to have a plan B!

If the weather changes during your photo shoot, we may cut short the session, or reschedule for a new date.

As a dog photographer, I am aware that different dogs will have different welfare needs as regards the weather - for example brachycephalic or double-coated breeds may have a lower tolerance level for heat. Welfare always comes first, so in these circumstances we can also reschedule.

ABOUT THE DOG

What happens if my dog doesn't like studio lights?

The most important thing is that your dog is happy and relaxed throughout the photo shoot, so if he doesn't like the lights, we work around it! That might mean using natural light in a studio setting if possible, or moving to an outdoor location

My dog won't sit still / can't go off his lead

I know sometimes there are far more interesting things than that person with a camera, so if your dog can't go off his lead that's fine. I do recommend that you remove the harness if your dog wears one, as these tend to be very visible in photographs. We can put it back on when moving between locations if you prefer

Please note collars will not be removed from your images unless you upgrade to Collar Removal Editing, which starts from £25 per image, depending on the complexity of the edit

Don't forget, we only need your dog to pause for a split second to capture those magical moments, so relax and go with the flow during your photo shoot - it might feel a bit chaotic but I promise it will work out on the day!

My dog is nervous of new people

I allow time at the beginning of the photo shoot to make friends with your pooch and let him sniff my camera and bag. My sessions are relaxed to make everyone feel at ease, but if your dog is really unhappy we may need to reschedule

If your dog is particularly nervous of new people, it may be better to arrange to meet in person for your Pre-Shoot Chat, so that your dog can get to know me without the pressure of the camera being there

How do I know if a photoshoot is right for my dog?

In general, your dog should be absolutely fine to take part in a photo shoot. The most important thing is that your dog is happy, comfortable and relaxed at all times, so we'll monitor his body language and make sure we don't ask him to do anything that's stressful or beyond his abilities

If your dog has any reactivity issues, please let me know beforehand so that we can discuss any precautions that need to be taken

Limited Edition Sessions are the only session I offer that are limited in time, and therefore may not be suitable for every dog - particularly those who take longer to settle or are reactive. They are also not suitable for bitches in season, as they take place in an environment where different dogs will be having photo shoots back to back.

I offer an additional guarantee on Limited Edition Sessions, so that if your dog won't settle to the point that I can't get any photos of him, I'll credit your booking fee in full towards an All Inclusive Experience, so that they can have the time and space they need to relax and capture those precious memories for you

If you have any questions about the suitability of any type of photoshoot for your dog, please get in touch and I'll be happy to discuss it with you

How can I help my dog prepare for their photo shoot?

There are plenty of things you can do to help your dog prepare for their photo shoot, and in fact I'll send you a guide on this when you book to help you set them up for success! However, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Practise a sit/stay in the run up to your session, so that your dog is used to waiting while you move away from them
Mix things up on your dog walks - include some sitting, waiting, recall, sniffy activities, paws up and parkour if you can, so that your dog learns walks aren't just about getting from A to B. Then, on our photo shoot, it will feel more normal for them and help things run smoothly on the day
If your dog knows a 'touch' and a 'watch me' cue, brush up on these before the session as they can really help with posing and getting your dog into the best positions
Think about some calming activities you can do before your session to help them relax - scatter feeds, lickimats and sniffaris are all great ideas
Plan ahead and bring plenty of their favourite treats (double what you think you'll need)
Make sure you bring a favourite toy to focus on and for playtime in the breaks
RELAX - it's normal for the humans to be nervous and worry about wasting my time, but it is really nothing to be worried about - I am completely used to dogs and I know it can take some longer than others to suss out what this crazy lady is doing lying in the mud (yes, I will be!). If you are calm and relaxed, your dog will sense your zen frame of mind and be calm as well.

Is my puppy too young for a photo shoot?

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Definitely not - puppy shoots are THE BEST!!

I offer a puppy-specific All Inclusive Experience, which are designed to capture those first moments with your puppy as part of your family, and are tailored to the puppy age with plenty of time for breaks, naps and playtime. Puppy sessions usually take place from 10 - 16 weeks old. Find out about the Puppy All Inclusive Experience here

Some Limited Edition Sessions may be suitable for puppies, however please note these are public locations where other dogs may be in the vicinity, or in an indoor venue where multiple dogs will have sessions back to back. I strongly recommend ensuring your puppy has had their vaccinations before booking a Limited Edition Session

Is my senior dog too old for a photo shoot?

Definitely not - I have an All Inclusive Package designed specifically for your Golden Oldie, to capture all the precious moments of their Twilight Days. It is a relaxed, non-intrusive session where we work at your dog's pace to ensure their comfort and capture precious moments together. Find out about the Twilight Days All Inclusive Experience here

Limited Edition Sessions may also be suitable for senior dogs, but please be aware there may be some walking required, so it will depend on your dog's physical capabilities

My dog has been diagnosed with a terminal illness - is it too late for a session?

Although none of us likes to think of it, at some point the worst will happen and our beloved best friend will gain his wings.

If you're looking for an End of Life / Rainbow Bridge Session at short notice due to critical illness, please click here to go straight to the info you need

I will make space in my diary for Rainbow Bridge Sessions, but if for any reason I can't get you in in a timely manner, I can recommend you to one of my trusted photographer colleagues who will treat you and your dog with the respect and dignity you deserve at this difficult time

How many dogs can I bring to my photo shoot?

There's no hard and fast answer to this question as it very much depends on the individual dogs and how they react together, as well as the session you've chosen.

As a general rule of thumb, 3-4 dogs from the same household is normally the maximum, but there may be flexibility - if you have a larger posse of pooches, please get in touch to discuss. You will also need to ensure we have enough human handlers (adults) to manage the dogs so we can focus on the individual dog being photographed and not worry about crowd control.

Due to the time-limited nature of Limited Edition Sessions, there is a maximum of 2 dogs from the same household.

For any session, if you want to include dogs from different households, please discuss this with me, as the doggy dynamics may need consideration and planning to ensure success on the day

COSTS, PAPERWORK AND CONTRACTS

How much does a photo shoot cost?

When you book your photo shoot, you'll pay a booking fee to confirm your date. The amount depends on the type of photo shoot and package you've chosen.

All Inclusive Experiences start from £495 and include a print or product as well as the Print Ready digital files from your gallery, while Limited Edition Sessions start from £149 and include a Premium Mounted Print with matching digital file

Additional prints, products and artwork can be chosen via your gallery or at your Artwork Consultation following your photo shoot. A list of starting prices is available on my website, with full details sent when you book (or available in advance on request).

Do I need to sign a contract / fill in forms?

There are a few forms to fill in when you book your photo shoot, but the good news is that it's all online, so just a few clicks and you're done! After your book your session, I'll send you an email with a link to your contract, introductory questionnaire about you/your dog and an invoice for the booking fee, unless you've already paid by booking through my website. They're all quick and easy to complete, but do ask if you have any questions!

What payment methods do you accept?

Payments can be made by credit/debit card, bank transfer, PayPal or an instalment plan

Can I pay by instalments?

Yes! All photo shoot packages and product orders can be paid by instalments. Your artwork and digital files will be delivered once payment has been received in full

Do I get the copyright to my images?

Copyright remains with the photographer (me) and I do not offer a copyright release. All images provided are offered for personal use only, with a print release for any digital files which will allow you to print the images for personal use at a lab of your choice. This means that you can display them in your home, create your own personal artwork, create copies or gifts for family members and share on your own personal social media

You can not use the images for any commercial or business use or any profit-making activitiy, magazine publications or for entering competitons including social media competitions run by third parties where usage rights are granted as a condition of entry. If you wish to use the images for any of these purposes, a commercial licensing fee may apply. Please contact me to discuss with details of how you wish to use the images, so that I may further advise you

What happens if I need to reschedule?

If you need to reschedule your photo shoot for any reason, just let me know and I'll be happy to transfer you to a new date which we'll mutually agree. The following fees will apply to all rescheduled sessions:

First Reschedule requested more than 48 hours prior to session date/time - no charge
Subsequent Reschedules OR less than 48 hours notice - £30 rescheduling fee

What happens if I need to cancel?

After you book with me, you have a 14 day cooling off period as per the Consumer Contracts Legislation. Your cooling off period commences from the date you pay your booking fee, and if you cancel during this period you will be entitled to a full refund, providing no part of the service has been delivered.

Once the cooling off period has lapsed, the following cancellation charges apply where no part of the service has been delivered

ALL INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES
Cancellation more than 7 days prior to the first session date: £50 administration fee
Cancellations less than 7 days prior to the first session date: 50% of the booking fee

LIMITED EDITION SESSIONS
Cancellation more than 7 days prior to the session date: £30 administration fee
Cancellation less than 7 days prior to the session date: 50% of the booking fee

WHERE PART OF THE SERVICE HAS BEEN DELIVERED
If part of the service has already been delivered when you cancel, you will be charged cancellation fees pro-rata to the services you have already received. This may apply if you have had your Pre-Shoot Chat or one or more sessions in a multi-shoot package has been delivered. Details of the pro-rata charges can be found on your contract, or provided on request.

ORDERING ARTWORK, PRODUCTS AND DIGITAL FILES

What is an Artwork Consultation and do I need one?

The Artwork Consultation is something I offer as part of All Inclusive Experience Packages (excluding digital only), and is a personalised service designed to help you choose your favourite images and discover the best way to display them in your home.

There is no hard sell and it is not about making you spend more money - it is all about ensuring that you LOVE the images that end up on your wall and that you make the right choice for YOU

While not included as part of the Limited Edition Sessions or Pawprints Digital options, if you are considering ordering artwork for your home, I do recommend booking an Artwork Consultation for a fixed fee of £25 to give you guidance and support in choosing the right products and artwork to suit your decor and budget.

If you go on to place an additional product order, this £25 will be deducted from your invoice.

What is the Gallery Upgrade on Limited Edition Sessions?

For Limited Edition Sessions, there is a one-time offer for you to upgrade your gallery of 6 images to include the Print Ready Digital files, saving you 50% off the price when you do this before your photo shoot takes place. You can do this at time of booking or can let me know at any point in the run up to your photo shoot.

What if I don't like the product included in my package?

No problem at all - we can simply switch out the product for something else from my Product Guide. If your chosen product is more expensive than the standard included item, you'll simply pay the difference in list price

I want digital files

Print Ready Digital Files are included with every All Inclusive Experience as standard. For Limited Edition Sessions, Print Ready Digital Files can be purchased as part of the Gallery Upgrade offer.

All Print Ready digital files include a print release for personal use only

What does all digital files mean?

All digital files means all edited images from your photo shoot (e.g. those shown to you in your Gallery or during your Artwork Consultation). It does not include unedited images or images which do not reach my high standard (the blinks, slobber and blanks). All images which do not reach my criteria are automatically deleted and I do not provide unedited images under any circumstances

As a guide, a Limited Edition Session Gallery will include 6 images, an All Inclusive Experience will usually include 10-15 images for a single session and 25-35 images from a multi-session package. Mini Shoots normally offer 2-3 images to choose from.

If there are similar images of an identical pose (e.g. one with mouth open, one with mouth shut), both versions of the image will be included and count as one image for the Gallery count.

I printed my photos at a High Street or online printing service and they don't look right

I use a professional printing lab for all my products, which means they are checked and corrected to ensure the image is printed correctly and to a high quality. Unfortunately it is not possible for me to guarantee the quality of your prints when they are printed elsewhere

I recommend using River & Coast if you wish to print your digital files independently

How long does it take my order to arrive?

Your artwork order will normally take 4-6 weeks to arrive from order date (except albums, which will take 4-6 weeks from proof approval). If you are paying by instalments, products will be delivered when payment has been received in full and your instalment plan is completed

If you need your product more quickly, e.g. for a special event, please speak to me before ordering so that I can check lead times

Can I order more products later?

Yes absolutely! I never delete the images I show you, so they are always available if you wish to order more at a later date.

Prices are guaranteed for 12 months from the date of your photo shoot, and thereafter you will pay the current price at time of order.

Can I cancel my product order?

Product orders are considered to be bespoke artwork and are excluded from the 14 day cooling off period under Consumer Contracts legislation. This means that all product orders are considered final once they have been paid for

OTHER QUESTIONS

Do you keep my photos forever?

My client images are stored on two external hard-drives and via encrypted cloud storage. All images are kept indefinitely, so you can order more at a later date if you wish to

Will you use my images on your social media / website / portfolio / publicity?

I normally select images from my sessions to be used in my portfolio, on my website and on social media - in fact, seeing my work in this way is probably how you came to book your photoshoot!

I love to share my favourite images. However, I realise there are reasons why you prefer your images not to be made public; for example, you may have a sensitive job which prohibits this, or you may just not want pictures of your pets/children on the internet. I absolutely understand this!

Once you have seen your images in your Gallery or at your Artwork Consultation, I will send you a social media & advertising permissions form, which will detail the different ways I may wish to use your images, for you to complete with your preferences. If, after signing the form agreeing to these uses, you change your mind, please let me know and I can update my records and/or remove any photos which are currently in use on my website. Please note that some usage may not be possible to remove retrospectively, for example, if the image has been used in printed materials or as one of my competition images. However, no further use for new materials or competitions will take place from the date on which you notify me of the change in your wishes

Please note I will never use surnames or locations to identify you online, although I may use first names or the names of your pets. I will also clone out any identifying details e.g. on dog tags

Are you a qualified & experienced photographer?

I have been a professional photographer since 2017, and in September 2021, I achieved Craftsman Status with the Guild of Professional Photographers, which is a recognised trade association within the photography industry. I have won multiple Silver and Bronze Awards in their monthly competition between 2017 and 2022.

In addition, I have undertaken training in both Canine First Aid and Canine Body Language to help ensure the welfare of your dog during their photo shoot with me.

Are you insured?

I have full public liability and professional indemnity insurance which covers you and me during your photo shoot

What charity do you support?

I am thrilled to support the excellent charity, Dogs for Autism, where I donate 10% of all sales (booking fees and product orders). It is a charity close to my heart as I have two autistic nieces.

Dogs for Autism is a UK charity providing Autism Assistance Dogs to autistic people of any age, who will significantly benefit from such a partnership, by enabling them to more easily access the world around them and to help expand their horizons.

From their website:

Our overall aim is to empower autistic people to realise their individual potential, improve their access to their chosen communities, and to enhance their emotional and physical wellbeing. Through the provision of our assistance dogs, trained to mitigate some of the disabling impacts of autism and the environment, we are committed to creating and maintaining successful client-dog partnerships that impact positively on the lives of autistic individuals and families.

How our donation helps:

£5 will buy a toy for our puppies in training
£10 will buy training treats for one dog
£15 will provide monthly flea and worm treatment for one dog
£20 will buy a family training session
£40 will buy a new jacket for our growing pups
£1,000 will pay for a training session each week for a year
£20,000 will pay for a dog's training!

Do you have your own dog?

At the moment, no I don't. Unfortunately, my husband and I also have a travel business, so we spend a lot of time traveling around the country, and it wouldn't be fair to a dog to have one of our own.

However, I grew up with our family dogs including Tess, Tyler, Leo and Charlie, and my grandparent's dogs, Rex, Danny and Benny. Currently my sister has three: Dave and Remus (labradors) and Fred (golden retriever), my mum has a cocker spaniel called Sherbet and my bestie has a labradoodle called Cecil - so dogs are a massive part of my life!

There is also a cat in the family! My niece is mad about cats and has wanted one for more than 3 years, but it just wasn't feasible in their house at the time with three large dogs. Following a recent house move, there was an extra kitten-shaped space to fill, and Edelweiss joined the family in May 2026!

You can find out more about the animals in my life on the about me page