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Reiji Kanemoto
StudioTanimoto, Inc., May 2004

Among the many hats I've worn, one that has been most rewarding is that of animal rescuer. Long gone are my days of stopping on a rush hour freeway to scoop a stinking, mangy mutt into my car. I will likely never again have, as I did in my pre-child days, superfluous income to spend on never-ending skin treatments for long-neglected and starved strays. However, I will (I think) live with at least one animal until my own body gives out. To do otherwise is simply unimaginable.

So I find myself in sync with the author of My Name Is Rufus: I Am a Photographer, a sweet, short, real-life tale about the love that can be between dog and human, told through photographs and simple narration by each of them.

Like so many other tugs on my heart, Rufus was abandoned by the first humans in his life. Photographer Reiji Kanemoto followed the path that so many rescuers take over and over, unwittingly at first -- from concern about a hard-luck story to endearment and, finally, succumbing to what feels like the inevitable assumption of loving responsibility.

Especially once I became mother to a human, I'm not exactly an aficionado of the pet-as-child craze that happens mostly in urban settings where family-free young professionals dwell. Reiji and Rufus record their meanderings among the Los Angeles doggie parks and cafes (yes, dog restaurants), a world that is largely inaccessible, if not entirely foreign, to the average pet lover. Still, it's a fun show, to see this world through a dog's eyes, shots snapped with a camera secured to Rufus' chest via custom-made harness.

In the end, we learn that Rufus has left this world. As someone who has assisted a few furry loved ones in that transition, I would've liked to see a bit more prelude to the book's final page. The human author alludes to the poignancy of escorting a friend through their final days, but I wanted a bit more, particularly on the transformation process that Reiji felt from their relationship. Getting to know and love Rufus lit the familiar flame that many of us rescuers find we cannot escape. The poor guy is hooked now, thankfully. Perhaps such deeply moving life experiences are sometimes better left simply put. Besides it's Rufus' story.

My Name Is Rufus: I Am a Photographer is a lovely little book, told with enough silliness and affection to appeal to pet lovers of all ages. For those less fortunate humans who've not yet had their hearts stolen by perpetually smiling, adoring faces of four-legged created, the gift of Rufus' story will make a soft pawprint on their soul.