annabelle walter

Growing up on a ranch, animals were part of the fabric of life. Our three dogs, hound Colonel, Australian Silky Terrier Boomer, mutt Daisy (above), and I would pile into my father's pickup, and we'd be off to the barn to feed the horses, cattle, and chickens. Cats were always family members, many arriving as ferals, but eventually taking their rightful place on a lap or bed. There was always a distinct possibility that my parents would leave for a dinner party and return with a stray. 

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Fast forward 20 years, I was living in a casa colonica in Chianti, Italy. There we inherited from the previous tenants a dozen farm cats, many of which would accompany me and my dog from the States, Tia, on hikes in the vineyards and appear out of thin air when they heard me whistle, signaling supper was on in their giant, communal bowl. There was even a one-eyed hedgehog named Ernesto that passed by from time to time to drink milk (blowing bubbles from his conical nose), not to mention more intimidating wild animals, like wild boar and--yipe!--poisonous vipere snakes. 

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After many years as a marketer of wine, hotels, restaurants, and fashion, my time has recently been devoted to animals, with rescue organizations and volunteering at the local shelter walking the dogs, fostering, drafting bios, creating social media content, and photography. Through this work, I've discovered a passion for drawing out the unique personalities of my favorite subjects, and a knack for capturing the moment. 

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I live in the Napa Valley with my significant other, Rich, who co-parents our rescue Great Pyrenees Hugo, and boss-kitty Tula, big sis to 50+ fosters over the years. 

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