Tomorrow, the first ever Help Promote Our Paws (HPOP) Newsletter will be emailed to all those involved in the HPOP Campaign. Due to technical difficulties this newsletter has taken a long time to come about, so to celebrate its release I thought I would share some stories and images from those who have already been photographed for the campaign.
What is Help Promote Our Paws (HPOP)?
Back in January 2019, I launched an advert on Facebook, through my business page (Lucy Newson Photography), announcing that I was looking for breeds on the Vulnerable Native British & Irish Breeds List & the At Watch List by the Kennel Club, to photograph and collect stories and information about them. Adverts were also posted on Instagram and displayed in Veterinary Clinics. With the photographs and stories, I planned to start a campaign to increase people’s awareness and knowledge of these breeds.
A huge, huge, huge number of people enquired about the photoshoots and I was completely overwhelmed with the response and how many wished to be involved.
One year on, I have now photographed over 80 dogs and I have lots more photoshoots planned for 2020.
My goal for the campaign is to use social media to display the images and stories as well as creating a book to display these very gorgeous dogs.
Below are just a few of the images taken so far and information/stories written by the dog(s)’s owners:
Luna
Bearded Collie, 18 months old
“Luna is 18 months old, and a typical Bearded Collie. She’s friendly, playful and good natured which makes her an ideal family pet. Luna lives up to the breed’s nickname “Bouncing Beardie” as she has a tendency to leap up and great people; her extrovert manner is not appreciated by all our visitors.
Luna’s long coat and large expressive, almost human, eyes are admired by many passers-by who often stop us to say ‘hello’. More than often at this point we are greeted with ‘what a lovely Dulux dog’ (she’s so often mistaken for an Old English Sheepdog we’ve stopped correcting people). Next question, after we’ve stopped Luna jumping up to say ‘hello’, is regarding grooming. Yes, if you have a Beardie sometimes you may have to groom them daily, definitely thoroughly every week, and it’s a monthly bath (or sooner if they find something to roll in). Finally, and the saddest, is the statement ‘you don’t see many of them anymore’.
On the Vunerable Dogs Breeds List there are less and less being born each year, so sad considering what a rewarding companion they can make. Having grown up with a Beardie in my childhood and finding out that they were on the vulnerable list, my husband was able to pull on my emotional heart strings and he and my children finally got the family dog that they had been after for 4 years.
We couldn’t be happier.” – Vanessa
Mungo
Scottish Deerhound, 2 years old
“We have owned Mungo since he was 13 weeks old, he was a very cheeky puppy. Now he is 2, he has adopted the typical Sighthound mentality which is to be as lazy as possible at home, a real couch potato, then whilst out and about run as fast as he can and play with every dog he meets. His favourite place to be is on the beach running, preferably with other dogs. Deerhounds are very friendly, loving and loyal dogs and we wouldn’t be without Mungo.” – Emma
Bonnie
Old English Sheepdog, 2 years old
“Bonnie comes from a background where her parents were show dogs. She’s very affectionate, loves people and is very much a velcro dog – wherever you are she loves to be and please. She’s a creature of habit and routine – eats when we eat and chills when we chill out. Loving to play and adores children (she even herds them if they run as that’s part of her background as a sheep herding breed)- even coming into the children’s nursery where I work to sit with them.
She dislikes being left alone as she adores human company and seems to know what you say, as well as enjoying learning new tricks and commands. Bonnie loves going through hoops and tunnels as well as on the trampoline to watch the children.
She does take a lot of grooming, but has done from the start so she is used to it.” – Jill
Percy
Parson Russell Terrier, 13 years old
“I had the name Percy in mind before I met him as a puppy. He is Perce when being good, Percy when not too bad and Percival when in full naughty terrier mode. He loves a walk, a sniff, especially a roll in the grass – even better if there is something stinky to wiggle in. His biggest loves are food, snacks, a squeaky toy and biscuits. He hates being fiddled with, especially his feet, and he is not a fan of the vets – but luckily he has had good health. Approximately 3 years ago he started to lose his sight and is now completely blind, but has in no way slowed up – likened to a pin ball, he crashes but bounces onto the next obstacle! He is a character.” – Jeanette
Roscoe
Scottish Terrier, 11 years old
“From South Africa to America, from America to West Africa, then France, the UK and now Dubai, Roscoe has a lot of stamps in his passport!
This furry little guy is a very proud dog, who has an aversion for Afghan Terriers & Whippets, but tolerates the others…
He is best friends with humans Carl (6) and Romy (8) who play with him and cuddle him all the time.
As a Scottie, he is super stubborn and won’t really listen to anyone else but himself! We love him dearly and hope he will be with us for a long time. Scottie’s are a very beautiful breed” – Yolaine
Bailey & Dora
Norwich Terriers, 11 years old & 1 year old
“The breed known as The Norwich Terrier would appear to have come from the Countrymen mainly in the East Anglia area, where they crossed small terriers of the type they liked, mainly as ratters. In 1932 they were recognised by the Kennel Club as a breed, but consisted of drop eared & prick eared dogs. In 1964 they were eventually separated by their ear carriage and became two breeds – the prick eared remained as The Norwich Terrier and the drop eared became The Norfolk Terrier. I first had a Norwich in 1988 and my Mother 10 years later. I went on to adore this lovely breed and now show them and breed an occasional litter.
Dora, my little black and tan puppy, is such fun and loves everybody, as most of this breed do. Norwich love being part of family life. Bailey at 11 years old enjoys every minute of his time and greets all with a waggy tail. They make lovely pets for that special owner or family that can give them some quality time. As a terrier they are not little cuddly toys! They are still dogs, and a Terrier, so can be strong willed if you do not set the boundaries when a puppy. They are not so sharp as some of the terrier breed and indeed should have a loveable disposition.
Be careful though, once you have taken a Norwich into your home, they will be in your heart forever.” – Sharon
If you are interested in finding out more about the campaign or meeting some more gorgeous dogs, you can find Help Promote Our Paws on both Instagram (@helppromoteourpaws) & Facebook (Help Promote Our Paws).
These accounts are in their very early stages and I am really looking forward to growing them and raising awareness of these Vulnerable & At Watch Breeds.