The Nashville Sounds, Tito's Handmade Vodka and Agape Animal Rescue {Nashville Dog Photographer}

April 5, 2022 Heather Nelms

Who is ready for some baseball, vodka and cute dog photos?! The Nashville Sounds season starts TODAY, and so I wanted to share some fun dog photos I did at the Sounds field, and with some of the Sounds players! The pics you see below are from two photo shoots I got to do back in 2019. It was soooo fun being on the field with all the dogs and the players!

So how does the Sounds, Tito’s Vodka and Agape Animal Rescue come together in one place? Well, Tito’s is a big supporter of Agape Animal Rescue. DogJo, Tito’s companion, inspired “Vodka for Dog People Program” which inspired their support for animal rescues. Tito’s sponsor's Tail Waggin’ Tuesday’s with the Sounds, where you can bring your pup to the game! Tickets are $30 ($25 for human, $5 for pup) with all the dog ticket proceeds going to local animal nonprofit organizations, including Agape. There was a halt on Tito’s Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays for a bit, but it is back and starts TONIGHT. You can find dates for all those Tuesday games at Sounds Tuesdays. Agape’s donation nights are tonight and May 17 if you’d like to attend a game supporting them!

Now about the dog photos below…The two bulldogs were from a shoot I did with Tito’s and the Sounds. They were part of a dog calendar Tito’s made! At the time, Dooley (fawn) was nine years old. He has lived in Nashville since he turned one. Because he grew up around lots of people, he is a very social dog! He likes to get scratches on his booty and cares more about hanging out with humans than other dogs. Muggsy (brindle) was four years old at the time, and was born in Nashville. She has never met a ball she doesn’t like and will chase them all over the place. Both dogs love snuggles, snacks and making new friends!

The pictures with the other dogs were from a specific collaboration between Tito’s, Agape, and the Sounds with adoptable pups from Agape. I really did love the chance to take such fun photos of the pups and players!

Enjoy the pics below and good luck to the Nashville Sounds this season!

~Mandy

nashville sounds baseball players on the field with apage animal rescue puppies

Two bulldogs in Titos Vodka Tshirts on the Nashville Sounds baseball field

Nashville sounds baseball player holding a grey puppy on the field

Yellow rescue dog posing for a photo with a baseball player

Fredbird with the Nashville Sounds holding a grey puppy

Rescue dog with a baseball player at the Nashville sounds stadium

a baseball player and a dog in the dugout at the Nashville Sounds Stadium

Contact a Premier Pet Photographer in Nashville!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

Homecoming Tales {Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary}

October 21, 2020 Heather Nelms

This week on the blog, I would like to take the opportunity to spotlight the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary (OFSDS). Their mission is to provide lifetime homes for senior dogs. Senior dogs come with their fare share of challenges, which is why older dogs do not get adopted as quickly or as often as younger pups. OFSDS is a place where senior dogs can live out the remainder of their lives with love, comfort and good medical care. Another option they provide for the senior dogs is to be placed within a loving home as a “Forever Foster”. This is truly amazing and they have so many super sweet pups there. I wanted to take so MANY of them home with me!

I was so honored to photograph a few of these sweet pups for the front and back covers of a recently published book, Homecoming Tales: 15 Inspiring Stories from Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. The book has been published by Harper Collins Publishers and available to order now! All of the author portion of the proceeds are going directly to OFSDS.

The cover dog is Mack, “America’s Best Friend”, a blind (no-eyed) cocker spaniel. He is between 10 and 14 years old and loves to climb. He also likes to sit in his forever foster Mason's lap and 'help' him work. (Mason and Nell adopted Mack and also work at OFSDS). You have to check this guy out and read about his Presidential nomination for the 2020 election! He and The Geezer Party he represents “have values that all of America can agree with”. Outside of the Presidential Candidacy, he also took part in the Dog Bowl this year!

Junebug is the little dog on the back cover of the book. She is a chihuahua, terrier and corgi mix and is between 11 and 13 years old. She chirps instead of barks. She was rescued from a hoarding situation in 2017 and after only 3 weeks in the shelter the Williams family decided to forever foster her.

The other dog on the back cover, Maverick, arrived at the shelter after his owner passed away. He is a plott hound mix and is about 1o years old. He loves his pup sister Maisy, also from OFSDS. He was such a sweet boy to photograph!

Please consider purchasing this sweet book to support OFSDS, and check out the OFSDS website to consider becoming a forever foster for one of the sweet pups they have there!

~Mandy

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Fun Products for Dogs and Dog Lovers

July 26, 2018 Kaitlyn Holeman

Whether you're a new dog parent or you've already got more than one furry family member at home, shopping for your pet can be a lot of fun!

But they aren't the only ones who can enjoy some awesome products. Below are a few spotlights of some amazing vendors who offer a range of items for dogs and dog lovers alike!

Winks and Whiskers

One of the only companies out there of its kind, Winks & Whiskers is an apparel company for pet parents! Started by Eric and Kayla (a husband and wife team!), this company sells pet parent apparel that not only looks and feels trendy, but also gives back!

10% off all profits is donated back to animal charities, and over the last two years they've donated over $4,000! And they have a bunch of super cute designs, including ones with dog-oriented phrases, lots of small paw prints, and other pet parent slogans you're bound to love. They even have a few new camping themed ones that are perfect for the summer season!

Mutthead

Another company I love is Mutthead, which offers a wide selection of stylish collars for dogs (and cats!). They specialize in offering buckle and martingale dog collars for dogs of all sizes, but also offer leashes, bow ties, and bandanas as well.

And if you don't see a fabric you love in the type of product you're looking for, you can contact them to see if you can order something custom for your pet!

Earthdog

For an eco-friendly shopping option, check out Earthdog's hemp collars, leashes and dog beds -- all handmade here in the US! They've been around for 20 years now -- or as they say on their website, "140 dog years" -- and they donate 10% of their profits to Kody's Fund, a non-profit that funds spay and neuter programs.

Barker's Market

If you love shopping at the Franklin Farmer's Market, you may have seen the booth for the Barker's Market, a family-owned business right here in Nashville.

They make handcrafted pet apparel and all-natural pet treats -- everything from bandanas, leashes and collars to doggy donuts and cat treats! The Barker's Market also donates 10% of their profits to local pet charities that share their values by promoting animal health and happiness. :)