Tucker is sick ... and Melissa McDaniel sent us photos!

OK, first, haven't been on much lately because Tucker has been sick. A couple of weeks ago, he decided he wasn't too into food. First we tried switching kibble, but when that didn't work, I knew something was wrong, so off to the vet. Bloodwork shows anemia but no other abnormalities, so we did a precautionary worming, and we're hoping that'll do the trick and resolve that problem. But a urinalysis showed very high PH and struvites, so we're dealing with that as well. He's going back to the vet again this week, but hopefully the various things the vet sent us home with will get him back on track. My poor pony looks so very sad when he's not well.

But my day brightened today when I got a package in the mail from Melissa McDaniel. Shortly before we moved to Florida, she came to Baltimore and photographed Doc and Tucker for a book she was working on called Rescued in America, a photo book of dogs from shelters and rescues. Both of my boys appear in the book, which you can order from her site thephotobooks.com. A portion of the proceeds from the books are being donated to animal rescue groups. (She's also got a photo book called Deaf Dogs and Pit Bulls & Pit Bull Type Dogs, buy them all, dog lovers!)

For all of the dogs who appeared in the books, Melissa generously sent a CD of photos from the shoot, and I must say: They are awesome. She was easy to work with and low-key, very patient with the dogs. If you're in the Warminster, Penn., area and looking for a good dog photographer, check out her site.

I think she captured my boys' personalities perfectly.

My beautiful boy Tucker ...

Who gets bored easily ...

And my very athletic but kind of dopey but extremely sweet boy, Doc ...

Who never stops moving ...

Loves things that make noise ...

And loves his kibbles. Even when he can't find them under his feets.