05/20/2026
Meet Chula + Ducky + Their Other Half
Some dogs enter our lives quietly, some at full speed, and some become the steady presence that carries us through different seasons of life. This session held all of that at once. ❤️
Chula’s story began with fear. She came to them as a rescue through Slumdog Rescue Crew - Friends of Anderson County Shelter. When they first brought her home she was terrified. For the first couple of weeks, she stayed curled up on a blanket away from everyone, watching the world from a distance.
Now? She wants to be touching her people at all times, and the sight of a leash apparently activates her hidden parkour abilities.
Ducky, on the other hand, approaches life with full enthusiasm - especially if it involves food, adventures, or their youngest daughter. She’s the kind of dog that’s always ready to go: dirt bike rides, kayaking, paddle boarding, car rides perched on shoulders… all happily accepted. The only thing she’s not excited about? Mornings. 🤣
And then there was Bella - a tiny miniature dachshund who had been the rock for nearly 17 years, through more hardships and close calls than you could count. Even though Bella wasn’t physically present for this session, her presence could still be felt in so many ways. 🐾
Long before Ducky officially joined the family, Bella and Chula already had a house full of beloved stuffed duck toys. When they first saw Ducky carrying a tiny duck toy in her photo, they knew immediately she belonged with them - and that her name could only be Ducky. 🦆
Bella’s collar, worn around their other half’s wrist, quietly appeared throughout the photographs. One of my favorite images from the evening is the last one - Bella’s collar front & center, Ducky’s nose just peeking into the frame, and one of Chula’s paws nearby. Their other half’s arms holding so much at once: love, connection, memory, and grief.
This session meant a lot to me personally, and I deeply appreciated the openness in sharing both the joy of Chula and Ducky and the heartbreak of losing Bella.
That’s what The Other Half Project is really about - honoring the love & connection we share with our dogs. The love never really leaves us.