Meet the Paws Project Dogs: May
The Paws Project Calendar is about more than photographs. It’s about dogs, their stories, and using creativity to give back. Each month, I’ll be sharing the dogs featured in the calendar and a small insight into their lives.
A heartfelt thank you to every dog who took part and helped raise over $1800 for Ellie’s Canine Rescue through their involvement in the project.
Read on to meet May’s dogs and learn a little more about each of them…
Cookie, Dax & Mim
Breed: Mixed breed rescue, Mixed breed rescue, Springer Spaniel
Age: 6 years, 5 years, 2 years
Where did you get your dogs from?
Cookie came from a Facebook group at six months old.
Daquiri, known as Dax, was adopted from the SPCA at three months old.
Mim came from a breeder in Christchurch at eight weeks old.
What's their personality like in a few words?
Cookie is the matriarch. She keeps everyone in line with quiet authority.
Dax is nervous of the world but also the fierce protector of her siblings.
Mim is the silly little brother, the entertainer of the group, always wanting to be noticed.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Cookie can get itchy and will commando crawl across the grass or carpet to deal with it.
Dax is goofy and cuddly, and deeply expressive. Her face gives away everything she is feeling. She cannot hide a single emotion, which makes her endlessly entertaining.
Mim does the classic Spaniel circles and never sits still.
Ryka
Breed: Swedish Valhund
Age: 4 years
Where did you get him from and how old was he when you got him?
Ryka came to his owner after a chance encounter at Lyall Bay Beach with a couple and their Swedish Vallhund. His owner had originally considered getting a corgi but, after thinking about the potential disc issues that can come with the breed, felt it might be a lot for a first-time dog owner. After learning about Swedish Vallhunds, they got in touch with a breeder and waited around eighteen months before the call came. Ryka was picked up on the 4th of July 2021. His name was meant to be made up. It turns out it is also a shoe brand.
How would you describe his personality in a few words?
Ryka is a cool little guy. Sassy in the best possible way, a joker, and true to his breed: stubborn, wilful, and independent.
Does he have any funny quirks or habits?
When Ryka gets corrected for anything, he answers back in a low, gruff, old-man mutter, absolutely arguing his case under his breath. He also likes to push his head through the cat door to see who is arriving.
Lenny
Breed: Springer Spaniel x Labrador
Age: 2 years
Where did you get him from and how old was he when you got him?
Lenny came from a breeder on Trade Me at six months old, the runt of the litter. Not quite a rescue, but not far off either.
How would you describe his personality in a few words?
Lenny is gentle, caring, soft, a bit of a clown, and deeply loyal.
Does he have any funny quirks or habits?
He hops and leaps in a way that is hard to describe but impossible to miss. He likes to swipe the bench and help himself from the bread bag, extracting exactly one slice and eating it. He loves kids, and he loves the other dogs at day care.
Brisket & Maple
Breed: Kelpie x Huntaway, Cattle Dog X
Age: 5 years, 1 year
Where did you get your dogs from?
Brisket came from a farm in Dannevirke, found on Trade Me. His owner describes him as feeling like a rescue.
Maple came through Retired Working Dogs, who rescued her, her brother, and her sister from a difficult situation: eleven dogs had been chained on a farm and were being bred for drug money. Maple was eight weeks when she was rescued, her family met her at ten weeks, and brought her home two weeks after that.
What's their personality like in a few words?
Brisket is loud, boisterous, demanding, and sensitive, with a very strong sense of his own importance. He is super smart.
Maple is very shy and scared at first, but lovable and snuggly once she knows you.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Brisket is obsessed with his ball. It is his job. He also loves ear rubs, which inspire a series of very unusual noises.
Once Maple considers you part of her crew, she will show you her belly. Every morning she climbs into bed and licks her dad's face.
Meeting and documenting these dogs has been such a privilege!
If you’re dreaming about documenting your own dog in a way that feels true to them, you can find more information about about my photography sessions here.
Thanks again to May’s dogs (and their humans) for being part of the Paws Project and helping support local rescue dogs.
