Nymeria: An Update

Nym is proving to be incredibly resilient. She had the drain removed a few days ago and the bandages on her paws were taken off. However, her paws were still in very bad shape. They are so painful for her that she can't walk well on them. So an additional treatment was added where she has to soak her feet in a special solution twice a day for 10 minutes. It's exactly as easy as it sounds but we make it work!

We are on day three of the foot treatment and she's been getting her meds for about a week now and there's a little more life in her that wasn't there before. She tries to follow me around despite her paws hurting, she wants to hang out and socialize! She still isn't showing much cooperation on wanting to meet the other dogs but she is getting along quite well with the cat which was surprising. It's the light in her eyes and the little tail wags that makes me the happiest, that's when you can tell that the healing process has really started. 

Nym's medical bill fundraiser has almost met it's goal, we are only $80 away! Please help us out with getting Nymeria healthy again! Whatever you can donate we are totally grateful for.

Please donate at : http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/nymeria/204064

Nymeria and the Best Friends Internship

Oh beloved blog, I've been neglecting you! It's been for a good cause though. The week of Father's Day I was out in Utah, volunteering at Best Friend's Animal Sanctuary. It was a great experience and I got a lot of good advice and suggestions from staff members there which encouraged me to apply for a five week internship with them. Well, I got it! I'll be interning at the Sanctuary from late October through November, getting hands on experience caring for the animals. I'm required to spend two weeks on dogs and cats but for the last three weeks I've requested horses, rabbits, and a special request for wildlife. I'm not sure yet what my schedule will be but hope to find out soon.

Besides Best Friends, I've been throwing myself completely in rescue back here at home. God knows Las Vegas needs all the help it can get when it comes to neglected and abandoned animals. Photography has also been keeping me busy, between paid shoots and animal rescue shoots. Not to mention preparing for my London trip which is 2 months away! This year is really turning out fantastic.

In the last few days however, one thing in particular has kept me very busy.

One of the rescues I volunteer with, Animal Network, was notified of a border collie in distress a few days after it was dumped by it's owner at a Nevada Power substation. This poor girl was left at a power plant for five days and severely deteriorated in this short time due to hot weather, summer storms, no shelter, and lack of food and water. Kind workers managed to get her into a building and rescue was called, fearing she wouldn't make it through the night. I personally went to rescue this little girl, she was matted and very very scared. This is what she looked like when I got her.

Once safely in my car, we instantly high tailed it to the vet. She was in bad shape, she had to be put under to be shaved and then assessed. Once the matted fur was removed, a large wound on her side was found that wasn't healing correctly. Her paws were torn up and burnt from walking on hot sand and asphalt. She also had an ear infection in both ears. Two days in the hospital and now she is resting and recovering in my home. Her paws are bandaged for a few days to help with her paws, she has a drain in her wound, she's also recovering from spay sutures. Besides her physical recovery, I'll be working hard to restore her faith in humans and rebuild her confidence. 

We named her Nymeria, she's calm and sweet and has the heart of a dire wolf after everything she's been through. I've had her a couple days and last night she started to come out of her shell a little, trying to roll in the grass and eating actual meals instead of just the treats wrapped around her pills. She is very wary and unsure about men which will be an obstacle she might never get over but we will certainly attempt to face it. 

Nymeria's bills aren't cheap so we would really appreciate any donations that could help us out with her healing process. Please donate here:http://www.animalnetwork-lv.com/index.php/donate (please note it's for Nymeria) or you can directly contact the vet at Ann Road Hospital (702) 579-9111 and make sure to put it under Nymeria's name. You can also donate via Paypal to animalnetwork.lv@gmail.com and note in comment section that it's for Nymeria.

Last you can donate directly though her YouCaring.com page. 

Please share Nymeria's story with your family and friends, you can use the flyer above as well. Every little penny helps us heal the animals already under our care and to help out others in distress. 

Don't Bully My Breed

I've been crazy busy hence the lack of blog updating. Between school, photography sessions, and animal rescue work... I'm just constantly on the go. I've spent more time driving all around the city the past two weeks then anything else and of course it's mostly in North Las Vegas which is just the greatest.

But I'm not complaining. I love being busy and I love doing whatever is necessary to help with the animal rescues I volunteer for. Which means running errands, photographing adoptable dogs, pulling animals for rescue, transporting to foster or adoption events, arranging meet and greets, and networking. 

My personal rescue at the moment though is Damu.

I pulled Damu from a strange situation a few weeks ago and he is currently in a great foster home. I connected with this dog immediately, can't even explain it. Since we immediately bonded I've been the one transporting him to and from adoption events and I'm just head over heels in love with this dog. Unfortunately I can't foster or adopt anymore animals of my own right now so I'm just completely invested in finding the right home for this gentle giant. He's a pit bull mix, somewhere between 3-6 we think, incredibly sweet. Gets along better with older mellow dogs, he hasn't been socialized with other dogs much so he gets anxious around a large group of them. Absolutely adores people and once he gets to know and trust you, you can just do about anything with him. He's such an incredible dog.

Meet and Greet is required for Damu, he is up for adoption in the Las Vegas area. I am willing to transport to AZ as far as Phoenix for the perfect home. 

WPPI Beyond the Wanderlust Shootout

I've been pretty busy lately, hence not being around as much, but I totally had to share

a few of these images I took yesterday at the

Beyond the Wanderlust WPPI Shootout.

It was an amazing experience.

So many talented photographers, beautiful models, and great vendors.

These are just a very small handful of images from the event.

Many more to come soon.

Props - Nostalgia Resources

Dress- Fleet Collection

Dating Games

I haven't written anything in awhile because I've thrown myself back into the dating pool and it's been..

Interesting to say the least. In the past two weeks I've shaken off flaky selfish men and opening myself up to something new. 

I forgot how hard dating is.

Seriously, dating in Las Vegas is tougher than dating anywhere else I think.

The guys here are extremely shady.

For example, I gave my number to a guy downtown last weekend.

He was cute and flirty and had a really good job so I figured I would give it a shot.

I gave him my number but as I was entering it into his phone a text from a girl with a little heart next to her name popped up. Ok….

He texted me the next day, telling me I'm cute as fuck, and I ask him..

"So.. I should have asked before I gave you my number but are you single?"

"No I'm taken"

……

WHY ARE YOU TEXTING ME THEN?

This is what I deal with on a day to day basis you guys.

However I'm remaining optimistic and following my friends guide..

Start at the top to make sure he doesn't have a receding hairline then look down to his face and if he has a look of bewilderment then forget it because he doesn't know what he wants in life.

(Apparently I tend to date guys with receding hairlines and that needs to stop)

Wish me luck guys.

I'm going to need it.

Midnight Love

Last night at 11pm I get a phone call from one of my best friends. I figure something's wrong if she's calling this late on a Tuesday night so, of course, I pick up. "We're getting married right now. You're the first person I called to be a witness." Now I was already prepared to be a bridesmaid (there's still a reception happening in May) but did not expect a sudden spontaneous midnight wedding down at one of the Las Vegas chapels. How can I say no to that? So I grabbed my camera and then we headed down to the chapel along with her fiancé's best friend. She's one of the few people I would roll out of bed for to do this!

I have to say, getting married in one of those tacky Vegas chapels was actually hilarious and really fun. We all couldn't stop laughing the whole time but it was still really sweet and we all got emotional and teary-eyed. I'm so happy that my friend has found someone she loves to death and wants to be with so much that she skipped all the craziness of wedding planning and just went straight for the good stuff. I'm thrilled for them and wish you guys all the best! 

These are just a few snapshots I took from last night.

I really do love…Love!

Weekly Wishes

Weekly Wishes

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1. Sign up for Beyond the Wanderlust WPPI Shoot Out. 

    I've been meaning, for so so long, to get into a workshop or shoot out this year and I finally made a   

    deposit on one coming here to Las Vegas! So excited!

2. Build a new photography website. 

    I did this yesterday! It's about time I got a professional website for my business! I really love it and 

    I'm still debating on paying for the domain name since it's a pretty long url. Don't really have the 

    extra cash right now though. Check it out!     

   JessRaquel Photography

3. Start studying for math placement test. 

    This is the very last class I need to take ever to graduate college. Unfortunately my SATs expired, I 

    haven't taken a math class in over 10 years, and I'm terrible at math. So apparently I have to take a 

    placement test to get into the math class I need. It's really stupid but as my Capstone Course class for 

    this semester doesn't start till April and it's only 3 weeks long… There's no excuse not to get this over 

    and done with. So I need to start studying.

4. Sign back up for riding lessons. 

    My trainer wants me back and I think I'm ready to get back in the saddle again now that things have  

    calmed down a bit.

5. Send in application for summer internship for Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. 

    Put in the mail today! Fingers crossed!

6. Study Italian. 

    I bought some Italian books a few months ago and was determined to learn the language. They've 

    been sitting on my desk collecting dust when things went haywire and it's time to put my mind to

    it again.

7. Stick with Resolutions. 

     My resolutions this year besides the usual going back to the gym and eating better are to be more 

     independent and self-sufficient. This includes doing more things on my own without always 

     needing a friend or significant other around. Getting my shit together including a part-time

     job since photography isn't finacially stable yet and I'm always broke which will also 

     hopefully lead to me finally being able to move out on my own. 27 and stuck with my

    grandparents.. Not that I mind it really because I love them but still.. I'm almost 30. It's not

    cute. Also to travel more and I'm already well on my way with that! Hawaii in a few months

    for my Aunt's wedding and London in the fall!

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This weeks wishes photo was taken during my snow day while following one of my resolutions of doing more stuff on my own and being more comfortable being by myself. You can see more photos from the day here.