My dog, Zoe, has three schipperke friends that she regularly sees at the park. Shadow, Dusty and Cricket's mom, Marlene Nakamoto, is a writer at HMSA. She wrote a story, "My Cooking Has Gone to the Dogs," which appeared in this summer's "Island Scene."

Nakamoto started cooking for her dogs when one of them came down with a possible food allergy. She lists recipes that make her "furkids" healthy and happy. You can view the recipes online at www.islandscene.com/Article.aspx?id=3695.

Cooking for your pets is a great idea, but please get your veterinarian's approval first. Foods such as as garlic, onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate are toxic to your pet.

Home cooking ensures that your pet is eating only fresh, healthy ingredients without fillers and byproducts and you don't have to worry when pet food is recalled.

Good home-cooking obviously has worked wonders for Nakamoto's pets. Wherever they go, Cricket, Dusty and Shadow definitely command attention. Can you imagine seeing three schipperkes at once? It's such a rare treat. Everything is black: their long shiny fur, their eyes and their nails. Their foxlike faces and fluffy coats make them look like stuffed animals.

Initially, I couldn't tell them apart except for the initials on their harnesses: "C," "D" and "S." After seeing them regularly, I've noticed that Cricket is the fluffiest and biggest. Shadow is the smallest and Dusty is the medium-sized one.

Cricket, Dusty and Shadow haven't let their fame go to their heads. They're still sweet, outgoing and good-natured dogs that enjoy their daily outings with their mom and dad.

TAKING THE PHOTO

The photo that appears in Island Scene is a masterpiece. How did photographer Brad Goda get all three to sit so nicely?

Once the location, lighting and set up was ready, he took 15 minutes photographing the trio.

"It was the owners' job to get them sitting together. The real secret is as little distraction as possible: no one but the owner having eye-to-eye contact, and at the right moment, I make odd sounds to make them look my way," he said.

The picture is a composite of two photographs. Goda first got two of the dogs in a perfect shot and then had to shoot the remaining dog separately. Then he "Photoshopped" the two photos together. Can you tell which dog was digitally added? I can't.

Goda says, "The best animal pictures are candid shots. For all other posed shots, the animal has to be trained." He recommends giving the pets time to practice the pose.

If you're interested in having a professional photo of your pet, contact Goda at bradgoda@lava.net or 955-6933.

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.