Cammie

"The Bobs" - Boo Boo and Yogi

Elderly pug brothers recently adopted by Cammie

Bella - Never met a snack she didn't like,

diva and grand queen of the Black Seattle Pack

Monster - Runs with the big dogs, loves his

monkey toy, and charter member of the Black Seattle Pack

You might think I'm going to talk about pugs from looking at these pictures. You might also think I'm going to talk about beautiful pet photography, because these stunning photos were taken by a real professional. And you would be right on both counts, but what this is really about is my dear friend Cammie Owen, a Seattle resident, professional photographer, and animal rescuer with a heart of pure gold. Cammie is the proud mom of the famous Black Seattle Pack - five dogs who live with Cammie, Ric and Olivia in a beautiful home in a small Seattle neighborhood. She took all of the photos in this post and has her own photography business. You can see more of her work on her Web site.

Just a few days ago, Cammie and her family grew by two more four-footed members -- Yogi and Boo Boo. Yogi and Boo Boo, aka "The Bobs" aren't black, but they have fit right in with the Black Seattle Pack. Cammie found them advertised on Craigslist last month and called the owner. The Bobs are two elderly pug brothers who had been living outdoors with their own little doghouse with heated blankets after their family's daughter developed chronic allergies about a year ago. The Bobs' family didn't want them to continue living outside - it gets pretty cold in Seattle! They wanted to find the perfect home for them. Cammie took them in to foster, but decided when she and Ric returned from vacation a few days ago, The Bobs will be a permanent part of her family.

I got to visit with Cammie and the Black Seattle Pack last year in Seattle and she treated me to a trip with the whole gang to Whidby Island via a ride on a really big ferry boat. When we got to the island and she popped open the car's hatchback, all five dogs sat perfectly still, waiting for her command to hop out. I watched people stop dead in their tracks to witness this spectacle of absolute training and discipline. And yes, I have recounted this story numerous times to Howard Pee Pugpants, but none of the lessons appear to have made a mark on my own unruly pug household, particularly Howard, who ran out in the yard three times with Carlos' freshly washed socks yesterday.