I’ve been completely enamored with Prince Charlie Sawyer ever since I first laid eyes on him late last year. Charlie’s human, Canadian actor Natasha Negovanlis, posted adorable snaps of him on her Instagram account and I was smitten. Several months later, with passport and camera in hand, I boarded a plane to Toronto to photograph them. Natasha and I met on a particularly chilly spring afternoon and chatted about life with her lovable Georgian rescue.
“I only had one other foster dog with Save Our Scruff before fostering Charlie. Previously, I had volunteered for another organization that rescues dogs exclusively from Québec. Sadly, the province of Québec still has kill shelters and puppy mills, so it’s not uncommon for rescues to come from there, as well as South America and Southern states like Georgia, where Charlie is from. But Charlie was actually my fourth foster dog, and the sixth dog I had cared for overall.”
“I always had the hope that one day I would have a foster who would end up my own, but I also figured that if that didn’t work out, I would look to adopt when I was ready. Adopting was always the plan. Charlie was admittedly a bit of an unexpected adoption, however. I had actually interviewed a number of families to adopt him, but after trying and failing several times to find the perfect fit for him, something told me, “This is my dog.” I think it’s because a lot of people have difficulty with terrier personalities (and I’m not going to lie – he was definitely a lunatic for the first two weeks I had him) but terriers are my favorite scruffs!”
“We just understand each other. And with a little patience, time, and training, he quickly became the loveliest little guy, and is truly one of the happiest, friendliest dogs I have ever known. I also think in some ways, it was just kismet because I actually had a toy dog that looked like him when I was growing up, and even had Charlie picked out as a name for my hypothetical future child. And now I have one… only furrier!”
“I wasn’t told very much about Charlie’s background, except that he was a stray dog from rural Georgia who was adopted from a pound and returned after a month for being “too active” which, I think, is code for… he was young and had puppy energy. A lot of people tend to be lazy and often don’t realize how much work dogs can be. I don’t know who or why someone would ever return him, because he is the sweetest boy, but I am sure glad they did because otherwise I wouldn’t have my little prince.”
“There are times when I half-expect him to take flight, because his tail never stops wagging. He also LOVES meeting new people. Whenever I take him to the dog park, he prances around and greets all the other owners before making friends with other dogs. And if he is ever in an elevator with you, you best prepare to be covered in paw prints because he is a jumper and a kisser and I frankly don’t have the heart to train that out of him.”
“Charlie enjoys doing parkour on anything and everything he can jump onto, chasing butterflies, and chewing on his best friend Manson’s face. He is quite curious and can be very independent when we are out exploring nature, or even at home as well. He’s quite the explorer and loves sniffing out new adventures (Unless it involves water or getting wet because he really is my son!). He also enjoys a good snuggle, but he has to be in the mood for it. Otherwise, he usually buries himself in blankets and creates a little den for himself. I like that he is the perfect balance between affectionate, and not overly needy though. We just compliment each other so well.”
“This spunky little ball of fluff has monumentally impacted my life for the better, and is worth every penny spent on lint rollers! He introduced me to my favourite human (yes, our dogs' names are Charlie and Manson, and no, it was not planned) and he gives me a great sense of purpose and joy, even on my darkest days.”
Q: What advice would you give to people who are considering adopting a rescue, but may be unsure?
“I think the most important thing for people to remember is that rescues come with baggage (I mean, really, who doesn't?) and like any dog, they require patience and a certain amount of stability.”
"So it's important to wait until you feel you are financially secure and responsible enough to be a good caregiver. But personally, I just don’t support breeders, and I guess I’ve just never been a pure bred kind of gal. Maybe it's because I’m a bit of a scrappy mutt myself... or because rescues will always show how grateful they are for your love."
“Save Our Scruff is a non-profit organization located in Toronto dedicated to rescuing dogs and finding them safe and suitable permanent homes through adoption, advocacy and education. By working with committed volunteers, foster homes, veterinarians, and trainers, they are able to rescue dogs and provide them with loving temporary care while finding them well-matched, carefully screened forever homes.”
Sending eternal thanks to Natasha Negovanlis and Prince Charlie Sawyer for sharing a slice of their lives for this project!