How My Dog Inspired Me to Be a Better Person. Elsa and Doug. Downtown Toledo Pet Portraits.

From Rebecca:

Doug has been making a name for himself in the Toledo photo community. He is a photographer specializing in event coverage and, what I would call, street photography. Doug’s instagram pours images of our city into my feed everyday. He has a knack for documenting our town in a way that shares the vibrance of life that is being lived in Toledo.

Despite his talent and passion for the city, the first thing I noticed about Doug was his dog. A golden doodle named Elsa who never seemed to leave his side. He often shares images of her tagging along on his adventures at work throughout the region. When I learned that Elsa had been there for Doug through some hard things, I knew that their story was worth sharing this month.

Doug said yes to be featured on our blog and, after some treat negotiation, Elsa also agreed. Check out their story below!

FROM DOUG:

A best friend can be a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, a best friend is someone who loves you as you are but who also refuses to let you not love yourself. For many people that can be something more traditional like a sibling or a longtime childhood friend. As a guy who has been to the edge of hell and back by his own hand, my best friend turned out to be a cute Texas blonde with curls for days who doesn’t speak a lick of English. That’s probably because she’s a goldendoodle, I’ll give you that. But the sentiment remains and my Elsa has been the transformative light that I needed to find my way out of the darkness and for her I’m forever grateful.

Oddly enough while living with some friends in Houston in an attempt to get a new start in yet another new city that would never be my home, they got a dog for their 4-yr. old daughter that I all but picked out for them. Two litters from two mommas owned by two friends produced 18 delightful doodles and, having been a former dog owner, my host friends let me have a little bit of a say in which cutie they chose. The biggest, fastest baby girl in curls came waddling right over to me and I suggested they had found “their” dog. They luckily agreed and we all headed back to their Spring Branch neighborhood where they’d learn for themselves what they never asked me about in their punch drunk puppified haze.

Much like a baby, or so I’m told, raising a dog from a puppy is a challenge! Alas, it was a challenge too great for them and they decided to sell her. Fearing where she could end up(and having already fallen in love with the pup they’d named Elsa and increasingly shunned), I bought her for myself with money I didn’t have and got a ride to my new apartment where the plan of a car I needed more than a dog at the time would wait. While it was a new place and it was mine, I wasn’t in a good place myself. 20 years of alcoholism came to a head and even I began failing this beautiful girl who had nothing but love to give.

So for her, and as I’d later find out for myself, I finally gave up alcohol for good and haven’t looked back in almost 6 years now. Amazingly since then, the doodle I couldn’t have known I was picking out for myself has become the best friend I’ve ever had and the reason for almost every good move I’ve made since. My life gets better every day and that darkness I once knew has been washed away by her light. She has believed in me since before I did and for that I will treasure her for my all of own eternity. Yeah, my best friend is a goldendoodle. And thank God for that. Because of Elsa, I’m still here.

Get to know Elsa:

What 3 words would you use to describe her personality? Animated, curious, attentive.
What is her favorite toy or pastime? TENNIS BALL and anything related.
How is she involved in your everyday life/work? It pained me for years leaving her home by herself when I had to work regular jobs. I always dreamed of having a job where I could "take your dog to work" but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it'd be like this and I can spend the majority of even my working days with Elsa in tow.
Why is it meaningful to have professional images of Elsa? Just like the best sunset of the year or a comet that only comes around once in ages, I know that Elsa is an extra level of special from every pet I've ever had and I never want to forget that. She's also become at least a temporary part in the history of the city I love and her meaning has grown even beyond me. That's worth all of the great photos I can get.
What stood out to you about your experience with Rebecca? Rebecca was fearless and I appreciate that. First introductions have a way of being stiff and this was anything but. I especially liked her way with Elsa and that made leaving her alone with Rebecca to create without me as a distraction a stress free experience.

Find Doug’s Work Here:

WEBSITE - INSTAGRAM

All photos taken in Dowtown Toledo by Photographer Rebecca

REBECCA TRUMBULL IS A DOG AND HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER LOCATED IN SYLVANIA, OHIO. SHE HAPPILY SERVES TOLEDO, OHIO AND ALL OF NORTHWEST OHIO WITH HER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORK.

Find her work on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest