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Black Dog Squad: A Pack of Dallas Rescue Mutts

Friday, July 29, 2022 | By: Tracy Allard

I think every pet should be photographed. They're a member of the family after all and their time with us is never long enough. As our pets age, it becomes more present in our minds..."We should really get some pictures with the family dog". When you're Shelley McKee, that's a little bit more of an undertaking as she's the dog mom to "The Black Dog Squad", a pack of 6 rescue mutts that she's picked up from various Dallas - Fort Worth area shelters and saved from unfortunately family situations.

As per her pack is aging, she's been thinking more and more about family photos to always remember this crazy time in her life, so in celebration of National Mutt Day this Sunday, July 31st, we made a date to photograph all the dogs and create an epic family portrait. We chose the Historical Park of Farmers Branch for it's location, diversity and quietness, which when you have 6 dogs, is definitely appreciated! Keep reading to meet her pack and see some hilarious behind-the-scenes photos from the session.

(click on any image to view full screen)

Pets Are Part Of Your Family - Photograph Them

The Story Of The Black Dog Squad

It all began in May of 2010, when a semi-feral little black puppy (cattle dog/border collie mix) came into her life. She was christened with the name Babe, and very quickly became Shelley's soul mutt. Now at 12 years old and blind, she’s been her constant rock and has also helped broaden the pack. Rescue mutts are like potato chips to Shelley, you can't stop at just one! 

Shelley is the manager of Camp Bow Wow Coppell, a dog daycare, boarding and training facility and over her 12 years there, she's come to the rescue of some dogs that found themselves in unfortunate family situations, that's how she picked up her next rescue mutt. Sula, now 10 years old, joined the pack in July of 2012 when her owner had to surrender her due to an early deployment. He was a daycare client and asked Shelley if she knew of anyone that might like his dog and well, the rest is history.

Shelley and The Black Dog Squad

Lainey, 10 years old and a Rottweiler / Coonhound mix, followed shortly after in December of 2012, thus creating the infamous Black Dog Trio, aka the BDT. Just Shelley her girls. In November of 2015 she saw a Facebook post of a little boy puppy at Coppell Animal Services (it was actually a picture that I took while volunteering at the shelter) who was identical to Babe when she was a puppy. He was like a carbon copy Kelpie/cattle dog mix (which when dealing with rescue dogs of questionable heritage, is a rarity), and Shelley couldn't help herself but to go and see him.

She tried to resist, working with a local rescue to spring him from the shelter and foster him until he found his forever home (I'm pretty sure you're nodding your head about now and thinking "Yeah, right, like he's ever going to leave her house", and he didn't. Surprise! Not! LOL. Max quickly became the perfect little brother to the girls, they all adored him and his antics, and now at 7 years old, Shelley can't picture her life without him. And thus the Black Dog Trio became the Black Dog Quad. 

Titan, an 11 year old corgi/cattle dog mix, became a foster at Camp Bow Wow due to no fault of his own. His family was going through a rough patch and he needed a soft place to land. Camp Bow Wows are independently owned and operated and Coppell's owner is a major supporter of rescue, both personally fostering and adopting rescue dogs, as well as professionally at Camp, allowing rescues to temporarily house dogs there when no foster is immediately available.

Titan and Lainey hit it off right away and he was the perfect “down for anything” little dude to round out the now ‘quintet’ - plus he was the right color. Barney, a 10 year old Shih Tzu, was a completely unforeseen addition. As a grumpy old-man foster at Camp Bow Wow in October of 2021, he was not doing himself any favors by shunning every potential adopter.

After his neuter surgery, he went to Shelley's house to convalesce in December for “just for a few days”. Once in a home environment, his entire personality blossomed and he ended up being the silliest, sweetest, cuddliest and most grateful little dude that Shelley could not say no to (I personally think Barney picked her, it just took her a few weeks realize it). His addition has officially crowned her pack the Black Dog Squad (although she's still The Black Dog Quad on Instagram).

Each pup gets their own “mom” time, whether it be a solo local hike or trip to the lake, a Starbucks run for a Puppachino, or just one-on-one snuggle time. In October of 2019, Shelley and soul mutt Babe, took a bucket list trip together to Colorado and spent two amazing days hiking and being in nature and solidifying their bond.

In March of 2021, Max and Lainey got to take a trip to Colorado with their best human and doggo friends and spend countless hours hiking, exploring and sitting on patios eating all the food!.

It’s very important to Shelley that each dog get their own special “big trip”, so Titan, Sula and Barney’s trips are currently in the works. Many people may think that six dogs is a lot, but at the McKee house, she wouldn’t have it any other way. ❤️

Behind the Scenes of a Family and Pet Photo Shoot

 If you own pets and have ever tried to photograph them yourself, either with, or without your family, I'm guessing that this behind-the-scenes shot from The Black Dog Squad's portrait session doesn't surprise you - a glimpse into Shelley's life, and a photo shoot, with 6 dogs. 

Hey Max, you wanna get back into your position?

A rainbow of leashes to remain in compliance with the park's - all dogs must be leashed -requirement

A car full of dogs, post photo shoot, bowls of water for all

All Around The Pet Photography Circle

We're talking about mutts this week in the pet photographer blog circle so lets head on over to Houston pet photographer, Kelly J. Russo, shares her top five reasons why mixed-breed dogs are awesome and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each post until you land right back here and then you will have completed the circle. 

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy currently has two rescue dogs and a cat in her home and donates her time and camera to a number of local rescue groups in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, you can learn more about them here. 

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Let's talk about photographing your pack!
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