This appreciation of the animal world can become art due to the need to forever capture the beauty of a free spirit, to portray the qualities of a personality that does not obey the same rules as us. It is infinite what one can find in wildlife that deserves to be portrayed in its maximum splendor.

That is what this award-winning Brazilian photographer does, who transferred his love for horses to a creative process to immortalize us and turn it into a profession.

This 33-year-old artist is called Antonio Jose Oliver Menes Nero and is known professionally as Tony Menes. He is originally from Titanium, Bahia, Brazil and grew up on his grandfather’s farm. Currently, he resides in Mace, Goals.

More information at: Website | Instagram | Youtube

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Tony Mendes studied nursing but soon after graduating he knew that his path was different.

A fan of photography and horses, this combination was destined to merge. Growing up on a farm, he learned to ride horses and drive cattle; at the age of five he already knew the names of all the breeds. He had two quarters of a mile and thanks to his desire to photograph them, he bought a camera to learn. Being familiar with this animal, the process of evolution in photography was fast.

This hobby did not take long to become a profession; Within a year, he began taking photography assignments while continuing to work for his grandfather on the farm, allowing him to balance both jobs. In 2016 he was encouraged to launch himself as a full-time photographer. He has been behind the camera for 10 years.

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In 2018 it was when he was encouraged to enter contests. Unfortunately, for a couple of years it did not have the expected result. This, instead of demotivating him, encouraged him to continue growing professionally and dedicate himself to studying new techniques. “I started to bring a whole studio setup with me to my work, and I tried different lighting techniques, angles and composition,” he said. “I started doing something different from the conventional. At the end of 2019 I won my first photography prize. Since then, I have been awarded with 27 photos in different countries”. Tony highlights his first prize, which was being the protagonist of a cover of the Chilenera magazine in Chile and having been invited to exhibit in Spain.

The horse has been an animal that has accompanied humans for thousands of years, fulfilling an important role as a means of transportation or for military uses, etc. Today, they are also linked to sport. They are very sensitive and sensitive beings and it’s something that Tony, growing up with them, knows. “Throughout all these years of photographing horses, I have learned that when you have respect, affection and patience, you can create a trusting connection.

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They are very intelligent and sensitive beings who notice even our mood swings,” he declared. “My goal is to show people with an artistic look how much they love and respect horses, trying to break the prejudices that still exist about equestrian sports in the world.” part of some people.” The photographer tries to make his work a declaration of respect for this animal.

But Tony discovers how unpredictable it can be to deal with an animal for this task, not understanding what the man expects of him. With experience he has begun to implement tricks to get the attention of his models: using soundboards to replicate the “neigh”, the flash of light reflected in a mirror and the sound of a horn. According to him, he has learned to cope with each difficulty as the moment required. His work has attracted a large clientele, for whom he has perfected his editing and review tools and processes.

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The images he captures are strong, penetrating and evoke that wild spirit that every horse carries in the genes, while at the same time giving us a feeling of closeness with an old friend. Tony has commented that one of his favorite photographs is titled “Horse Soul”, where a majestic black horse, on a background of the same color, returns our gaze and makes us feel his strength. “I was teaching lighting techniques to the students in my workshop and I managed to capture this photo. I kept it for almost six months until I decided to enter a contest. It was awarded in three different categories, ”he commented.

He also highlighted a black-and-white photo of a white horse galloping head-on which gave it the title “Rolex” and it is a photo he obtained by chance. “I photographed the horse as he came up a hill towards me; he was a very strong horse, and the photo was impressive. It will hardly be repeated. This photo also received three awards.”

Continuing with the work he does, he recounted a moment of great happiness for him when he sent some photos that he had been commissioned for a cover with very specific specifications. They needed a photo of a stallion, Tony tried some techniques he hadn’t used before and taking the risk paid off as the photos were accepted.

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In addition, he has come to find special moments in nature. Like when, in the middle of a photo shoot for a client, a mare and his colt stood in front of him and looked as if they were waiting to be photographed. This chance moment called “Yegua y Potro” was a finalist in a contest.

For this photographer, the support of the people is very important. “The reaction of the people is incredible,” he said. “I receive many messages of congratulations and encouragement. Seeing that there are people who love me very much, who are happy when I reply to their messages, is very gratifying.”

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Tony spends his time traveling around Brazil where he captures photos of different breeds, including his beloved American Quarter Horse. You can see his work on his Instagram account, on his website where he sells prints, and is currently working on the production of a photography book in North America and Europe. In addition, he is dedicated to giving annual photography workshops.

What do you think of Tony’s work, dear pandas? Which of his photos caught your attention the most? Don’t forget to vote for your favorites and leave your comments below! And, if you’re a photography lover and want to see more amazing images, check out these past Curious Panda articles here, here, and here.

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The post The Man Who Whispered to Horses With His Camera: 30 Stunning Horse Portraits appeared first on Now Wakeup.

Ken Penda, 80, who lives in a mobile home community in Hemet, California, walks his 14-year-old dog every day for unconditional love and attention.

One day the dog was very sick, so many neighbors came together to help the dog, Zach! Unfortunately, Ken didn’t have enough money to take Zach to the vet clinic, so well-meaning neighbor Carol Burt helped him out by sharing a post online in the hope that Ken would find help.

Thankfully, the founder of a rescue group that helps dogs in need, Elaine Seamans of the At-Choo Foundation, responded to the plea and took the dog to a veterinary clinic where they found that Zack was unfortunately on the verge of death as he had a 6/6 heart murmur, severe arthritis, and glaucoma!

Sadly the dog died leaving his elderly owner grieving! Ken tried to get through this pandemic, but unfortunately, it was too hard for him as he passed away due to a heart attack shortly after Zack’s death. How disconsolate!

The post So Emotional! 80-Year-Old Man Dies After Losing His Beloved Dog For 16 Years appeared first on Now Wakeup.

But a boy and his new puppy have an especially strong bond, as they share something remarkable in common.

Marvel is a golden retriever pup who was born with a unique difference: she was born without her right front leg.

While many people wouldn’t want a differently-abled pet like her, Marvel’s breeder knew there would be someone special who would see the beauty in her, perhaps someone who was going through the same thing.

“We wanted her to go into a home with someone who had a limb difference,” Barb Felt of the Rolling Oaks Goldens told WCCO.

It turned out that there was someone nearby who was the perfect candidate to adopt Marvel.

Paxton Williams, a 7-year-old boy from Waconia, Minnesota, was born premature and had a leg infection. Three years ago, doctors amputated his foot and replaced it with a prosthesis so he could walk more easily.

“We wanted him to go into a home with someone who had a limb difference,” Barb Felt of the Rolling Oaks Goldens told WCCO.

It turned out that there was someone nearby who was the perfect candidate to adopt Marvel.

Paxton Williams, a 7-year-old boy from Waconia, Minnesota, was born premature and had a leg infection. Three years ago, doctors amputated his foot and replaced it with a prosthesis so he could walk more easily.

“We wanted him to go into a home with someone who had a limb difference,” Barb Felt of the Rolling Oaks Goldens told WCCO.

Paxton and Marvel are missing limbs, but more importantly, neither of them let it slow them down.

The two often run and play together; their footsteps may look a little different, but they seem like they don’t have a care in the world.

And having a puppy like him has helped Paxton come to terms with his own differences.

He “gives him the opportunity to tell the kids, ‘Oh, he’s missing a leg, he’s just like me,’ and it also gives him that voice to stand up for himself,” his mother Stephanie said.

What a lovely friendship. It is so touching that these two have found each other and have formed such a great bond.

It’s amazing how a good dog can change a child’s life. Share this amazing story!

The post Boy With Amputated Leg Becomes Best Friends With Puppy Who’s Missing A Paw appeared first on Now Wakeup.

About a week ago, the nonprofit Animal Charity of Ohio received information about a small family of dogs in need of help. Jane MacMurchy, the organization’s director of operations, and an animal protection officer, arrived at the reported address and found a horrific scene.

In the place, there was a dog with her two puppies, who lived in terrible conditions. It was quite obvious that the owners did not care about the animals and that the little canine family had learned to depend on each other.

Jane told The Dodo :

“They lived in terrible conditions. They were in the middle of 6 to 8 inches of debris in a makeshift pen, and [the pups] weren’t fully socialized.”

Puppy comforts his sister at the shelter

The owners of the 5-month-old puppies and the 7-year-old dog handed them over to rescuers who quickly took them to the shelter. Peaches and Layla, and their mother Lady, were now safe, and although a medical checkup determined they were fine, the pups lacked confidence.

They didn’t know what to do when Mom wasn’t there, but the most moving thing was when Jane saw Peaches and Layla hug each other for comfort.

It seemed that both puppies were worried about their future and thought that maybe something bad was going to happen to them at the shelter.

Jane commented:

“We were doing the shots and welfare check, mom finished first, when we walked her to our intake area, the puppies, without mom, clung to each other because they were so scared.”

They made it clear that they did not want to be separated, so the small family lives together in the shelter, where they quickly learned that they were safe.

However, each day they give the dogs time to relax and get some TLC from a member of staff. In this way they hope that the puppies begin to trust people, but they know that it will be a very slow process.

Jane added:

“They do much better when their mother is around, so we work with the three of them together, as well as individually, but they are learning to be confident on their own.”

After a few days in the shelter, Lady already feels safe and eager to meet new people, she even loves going for walks. On the other hand, her puppies are still going through the socialization process, as it will take a little longer for her to adjust.

Jane added:

“Lady is a little love that wags her tail, she is happy to receive affection. The puppies aren’t quite ready yet, but they accept love and affection.”

Both move and are happy when they are together, in addition, they lean on each other to gain more confidence. They are extremely dependent, so when Peaches and Layla are ready for adoption, they will surely go into a home together, receiving the love and care of a loving forever family.

If you are interested in adopting Lady or Peaches and Layla, you can complete an application on the Animal Charity of Ohio website .

The post The shelter puppy comforts his sister with a hug after being rescued appeared first on Now Wakeup.

This 2-year-old pit bull was wandering the streets and urgently needed help, she was alone and pregnant. Fortunately, animal control officers rescued her and tried to find out where she came from. Now she has surprised everyone with some wonderful maternity photos.

Mama Pickles’ family was located, but they said they didn’t want her back and so they decided to hand her over to the shelter. The poor dog needed more specialized help than what they could provide there, so the organization Pits & Giggles Rescue decided to take her in.

Pits & Giggles Rescue specializes in helping pregnant and lactating female dogs and their puppies.

Rescued pit bull shines in maternity photoshoot

Mama Pickles was very excited to meet her new friends from the rescue center and although she could barely move because of her huge belly, she couldn’t help but seek everyone’s attention and kisses.

Pits & Giggles Rescue volunteer Lauren Casteen Skykes told The Dodo :

“Mama Pickles is all tail wagging and soft kisses, and she needs to be under your feet and in your space at all times!”

Lauren also owns Enchanted Hills Photography and spends her time doing photo studios with Pits & Giggles Rescue puppies to grab people’s attention and help them find homes.

When Lauren saw Mama Pickles for the first time, she knew she would be the perfect candidate for a maternity photo shoot, and the results were incredible. Everyone was delighted to see what a diva she was. She posed like no other dog.

Lauren said:

“She was ALL potbellied and a bit clumsy so posing wasn’t hard, but getting her to hold still long enough to take a picture of her was no easy feat!”

Mama Pickles was receiving as much love and attention as she deserves, and when the photo session was over, everyone was waiting for the arrival of the babies. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long, the following weekend Mama Pickles gave birth to eight adorable and healthy puppies.

The dog was given the necessary space to be with her puppies and rest. After that, she made a new photo studio for the happy family. There Mama Pickles looked much more proud to pose.

She is an amazing mother and takes care of her babies every second. In a few months, they will all be ready to find forever homes, but in the meantime, they are enjoying her company.

Lauren said:

“This girl was clearly used repeatedly for breeding and we are excited to make sure this is her last litter.”

The post Sweet rescued pit bull shines in her own maternity photoshoot appeared first on Now Wakeup.

A pastel-pink pup named Piglet was born with special needs in a house that was inhabited by 37 other dogs, and he was cared for and lovingly cared for by people with good hearts. Now the pink puppy is happy and a great example of life.

Piglet is a Dachshund and Chihuahua mix, and it is very peculiar that he is pink, also linked to this he has congenital problems with his ears and eyes, which is why he is blind and deaf.

Although it is not easy to take care of a puppy with these conditions, Melissa Shapiro, a veterinarian from Connecticut, is doing her best to help Piglet, her plans initially were to provide him with a foster home, but it did not take long for the puppy to be stolen his heart completely and decided to make him a member of his family formally.

Pink puppy inspires children to deal with their differences

Melissa Shapiro said:

“It was quite a difficult decision to make. He requires a lot of work. It’s a full-time job, taking care of a handicapped baby. But it’s so cute and we couldn’t deliver it at the time.”

Piglet now lives with 6 other puppies, it took him time to adapt to living there, even Melissa says that the first month he could not leave the house because Piglet was very anxious.

From the beginning this puppy has been destined to do great things, he is an inspiration for many, especially for children.

With the support of a third-grade teacher in Plainville, Massachusetts, Piglet helps little ones overcome differences and challenges in their lives.

The puppy is part of the classes as a model to face every day, the students admire him, they even sent his family beautiful hand-drawn cards with messages to Piglet.

On the other hand, the story of Piglet aims to encourage the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, as well as inspiring others to adopt companion animals with special needs.

Other classrooms in Alabama, Connecticut, Japan, and Australia are now promoters of the Piglet Mindset Outreach program.

Through social media ads and products, Melissa has raised funds in excess of $30,000, which have been donated to special needs dog rescue centers and other non-profit organizations.

Melissa hopes to start her own non-profit organization in order to help more rescue centers.

Although the woman knows that people are afraid to adopt animals with these conditions because of the work involved in their care, she is proud that the story of her adorable pink puppy has inspired other people to adopt.

Piglet currently has a profile on Instagram where he has more than 123,000 followers. He is a very brave puppy and is happy to meet new people, you can follow him to learn more about his life.

The post Pink deaf and the blind puppy is inspiring children on how to deal with differences appeared first on Now Wakeup.

Gorgi is a street dog who never imagined that going to the police station would change his life and the lives of everyone who knows him now. Gorgi won everyone’s hearts and now he is a guard dog.

It all started one afternoon when Gorgi presented himself to the Puerto Rico police at the command center in the city of Bayamón. The officers who were there were surprised by how nice the homeless dog was, even though there were indications that he had a difficult past.

Sgt. Tony Montesinos told The Dodo :

“He was in poor condition, malnourished a,nd with apparent signs of abuse. He approached scared and went in search of affection and protection. We gave him food and water that night and after eating he stayed with us for a while and left».

The homeless dog becomes guard dog

But Gorgi came back again, and this time to stay.

The next day he was back; Seeing how insistent the dog was in wanting to be near them, and how they enjoyed every moment of his company, the officers decided to rescue Gorgi from the streets.

They even pooled their money to take him in for a vet checkup.

Considering that Gorgi thought that this place was already his home, and the policemen his friends, they decided that it made sense for the dog to get a job as an officer, so now he “works” as a guard dog for the station.

He has his outfit complete with a badge and vest. Although the position of the dog is mostly honorary.

More than anything else, Gorgi’s role is that of a trusted companion and comforting friend to officers who spend their day in the line of duty.

Montesino said:

“Tensions are reduced.”

In fact, Gorgi was recently included in a study to show that having a dog in the office reduces stress at work. His colleagues, of course, claimed that he did it.

It’s clear that Gorgi really enjoys his new job, but perhaps the most important thing for him, given his lonely past, is finally being part of a family that is there for him no matter what.

Montesinos added:

“Everyone loves him. He will have everything he needs for as long as he lives.”

The post Homeless Dog Walks Into Police Station And Finds His Forever Family appeared first on Now Wakeup.

Trucker Matthew B couldn’t help but cry when he found his beloved cat Ashes again after months of searching.

Matthew and Ashes have been on the road together ever since their paths crossed. The man shares an incredible bond with his 3-year-old gray uncle as they travel across the country together in the comfort of their 18-wheeler.

Ashes were his co-worker and they had never been apart, until last July when they were passing through Springfield, Ohio, and the cat accidentally escaped from the truck while it was parked. Something had startled him and he quickly ran into the bushes.

Trucker reunites with his lost cat

Matthew was devastated and searched every nook and cranny for his best friend.

He drove around the area countless times but to no avail, he was so heartbroken that he had to get back on the road, but he knew he had to get back.

Over the following months, Matthew rearranged his routes several times so that he could return to the same location in search of Ashes. He kept coming back, hoping that was the day he would find it.

One day, Kimberly T. and her friend arrived at the same stop on their way to New York. Just before she got back into her vehicle, something caught her eye. A very skinny and hungry cat came out of a bush looking for attention.

Kimberley said:

“I was trying not to put my paws on the ground, it was so cold.”

Since no one showed up to claim the cat, she picked it up and took it to her car to warm it up. The cat showed signs of having been on the streets for some time. He needed a lot of attention and a vet check.

Kimberly took him with her to New York, as she knew of a place that could help this little boy.

They took him to Lollypop Farm, an animal welfare organization in Fairport, where they welcomed him with open arms.

A spokesperson for the organization said:

“What Kimberly didn’t know was that this cat was not just any cat, but an experienced traveler. Our admissions team immediately scanned for a microchip, as they do with all incoming pets. Not only did he own one, but he had an owner who had registered it to a Texas address that was more than 1,465 miles away.”

They dialed the number found in the registration information and crossed their fingers that the owner would pick up, which he did. Matthew, who was in Arkansas at the time, was in complete disbelief.

He told the Lollypop Farm staff :

“I had been thinking about Ashes every day.”

Matthew immediately rearranged his route schedule and headed for New York. While Ashes waited until the reunion date, he received the necessary veterinary care and regained some weight.

A week and a half after Ashes arrived, Matthew’s 18-wheeler pulled up outside the shelter.

Ashes immediately recognized his human father and went straight to him.

Shelter staff told Love Meow :

“Ashes recognized him, and was immediately affectionate.”

Matthew broke down in tears as he gently rubbed his head against Ashes and hugged him tightly.

Matthew said:

“It’s my Christmas miracle. It’s that microchip; without him, I never would have gotten it back. The women who found him saved his life, but the microchip brought him home.”

Kimberly and her friend also came to witness this heartwarming reunion. They fell in love with Ashes during their journey home and were overwhelmed with happiness to finally see him back where she belonged.

Lollypop Farm staff said:

“Ashes and Matthew had a close relationship before it was lost, and Matthew says he’s even closer now. Ashes seem so happy to be back with him and she is acting more loving than ever. We couldn’t be happier to have this adventurous cat back on the right track.”

The post The truck driver breaks down in tears when reunited with his cat after months of searching appeared first on Now Wakeup.

While driving in her car on a freezing night in Ontario, Canada, a kind-hearted person saw something that made her stop. Curled up on a snowy road, a homeless dog was shivering, but she wasn’t alone.

Although she could have found a safer place to spend the cold night, she did not only think of herself.

When this person got a little closer, he noticed that the friendly little dog was snuggled up with five orphaned kittens, which she was hugging to keep them warm in those low temperatures.

The homeless dog curled up with kittens in the snow

Realizing this, he took them to the Pet and Wildlife Rescue shelter. The dog and the kittens formed an incredible bond.

A spokesperson for the shelter told The Dodo :

“It’s really moving! It had been a very cold night, so these kittens would have had a hard time surviving.”

The kittens are now safe thanks to this homeless dog, but they require treatment for fleas and parasites. Meanwhile, the sweet little dog insists on monitoring her progress by visiting them regularly, like a proud and devoted mother.

It is not yet known where the dog and kittens originally came from, or if they knew each other before that night. But staff at the Pet and Wildlife Rescue are hoping someone will come forward to claim them, if not they will be put up for adoption.

Thanks to this brave little dog, a sad ending for the kittens was transformed into a happy one.

Shelter staff finally said:

“Our staff sees many difficult situations on a daily basis and stories like this make every headache worth it.”

The post Homeless dog found curled up in snow warming abandoned kittens appeared first on Now Wakeup.

Bonnie is a very sweet dog from Romania who lost her snout, part of her front left leg, hand er tail, and was left wandering the streets for a long time. The dog without a nose could not find a family that would give her a new opportunity until the right people appeared for her.

It is not known exactly what happened to Bonnie, but it is most likely that someone without a heart was responsible for so much damage.

She was nearly euthanized after being rescued and brought to the UK by the Beacon Animal Rescue Center in Canterbury due to her critical condition.

Noseless dog finds family after being rejected

Kate Comfort, 29, saw the dog’s photo on the organization’s Facebook page and it was love at first sight; she couldn’t help her interest in Bonnie after seeing her big eyes and ears.

According to Metro, Kate said:

“At first I had trouble trying to convince my husband as we had three dogs but no one wanted Bonnie so I told him I would take her in until we could find the perfect home.”

For Kate, the fact that no one wanted to adopt Bonnie was a big push to do it herself. The woman admitted that she was alarmed by the dog’s appearance, but little by little she got used to it.

Kate and her husband Ross started fundraising for a prosthetic leg, but the wound on her stump reopened and the couple realized they were considering surgery on Bonnie for ‘purely cosmetic’ reasons, so they made the decision to remove the stump.

For them now the only thing that matters is that Bonnie is well and surrounded by love, because she is perfectly imperfect and they love her just the way she is.

Although there are very cruel people who even yell things at her in the street or try to attack her, for most Bonnie is a very special dog who deserves to be treated with great respect and more because she is an example of life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brave Bon (Bonnie the Brave) (@bravebonbon)

On Instagram, she has more than 20,000 followers who love to see her photos. The idea of ​​creating an Instagram for Bonnie arose from her attempt to raise money for her surgery, but although it was not carried out, little by little her followers began to increase.

It’s amazing that despite all the suffering Bonnie went through, she still trusts people and is so sweet.

Kate said:

“Animals are forgiving creatures; They never cease to amaze me with how tolerant and forgiving they are when subjected to cruelty and abuse. I prefer animals to humans, I wish we were more like them, so maybe I’ll surround myself with animals, instead of people.”

Without a doubt, for Kate, meeting Bonnie has been one of the best things that has happened in her life and she is very happy to be able to give her the family she deserves.

You can follow Bonnie on Instagram.

The post Dog rejected for his appearance for years finds a family that loves him as he is appeared first on Now Wakeup.