Each year, a Pennsylvania couple arrange a calendar photo shoot for their Newfoundland dogs: no less than nine big, shaggy, gentle characters.
Their hardworking owners are Mackenzie Makatche and T.J. Czapp, both 31, from Delaware County. Makatche is studying speech-language pathology in graduation school and Czapp is an ER trauma nurse; both have busy schedules but manage to always make sure their prized pets get to live their best lives.
Makatche began having humorous snaps taken of her Newfoundlands as a way to honor her beloved mom, who sadly passed away due to stage 4 colon cancer. The couple, who are now engaged, started making the calendars the following year; the sales helping with some of the dog ownership costs that Makatche’s mother had previously been covering—and the expense can be substantial.
“After my mom passed away, the holidays were pretty depressing, but she had always loved seeing the group photos so it motivated me to try to make each one better than the last,” Makatche told The Epoch Times.
“The photo shoots started very small—I think they were just wearing bows from their recent grooming appointment. Eventually, I decided I wanted to do Christmas cards, and it sort of grew from there.”
Overall, the dogs are very cooperative. The shoots are planned to take place in comfortable weather, and the crew has time to burn off some energy beforehand.
“We’ve taken so many photos in front of our garage,” Makatche said, “that they now start lining up on their own.”
The ‘crew’ grew over the span of several years, mostly as the product of Makatche and her mom’s love for the breed and dogs in general.
In ascending order of age, there’s Betty—the 1-year-old baby of the family; Duncan, 4; Belle, 6; Oliver, 7; Aisling, 7; Storm, 8; Skyy, 8; Murphy, 11; and Guinness, who at 12 is the eldest.
“Guinness is very easy going and loves children more than anything,” Makatche said. “Her favorite thing is butt scratches.”
Makatche grew up with Huckleberry: “the sweetest, most easy-going dog ever.”
Huckleberry passed away at the age of 13, and for years the family found it hard to consider getting another Newfoundland, but having fallen in love with the breed, they eventually brought Guinness home. After that, came all the others—except little Betty, who Makatche’s mom did not get to meet.
Her mom dreamed of having a group of therapy dogs. and she and Makatche planned to start from scratch with Belle. Shortly after they made the decision, though, her mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Quitting her job to become a full-time caregiver, Makatche would assist her mom in a wheelchair, and they did training classes together. Two years later, and a month before her mom passed, they added Duncan.
“Working with him and the rest of the crew is what kept me going as I worked through my grief,” she said.
These adorable Newfoundland dogs are a bunch of large personalities and bring the couple joy every day. They also require a lot of work and organization: training, grooming, sticking to routines, and keeping up with supplies.
“Taking care of them is a full-time job,” Makatche said, “and managing their needs on top of being a graduate student is even more difficult. Newfoundlands are a wonderful breed, but please make sure you’re doing your own research before you consider adding one to your family.”
Makatche is currently working on making her mom’s idea of starting a nonprofit therapy-dog organization a reality, combining her late mom’s dream with her own goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. She envisages enlisting the crew as therapy dogs down the line, working in schools or private practice.
For Makatche, the crew are the physical representation of their remaining bond; her mom would be incredibly proud.
“They were the driving force that got me out of bed and kept me going through the grief after she died,” the daughter said. “As long as I can keep up with their needs and continue to give them the lives they deserve, I would do anything to always have a ‘crew’ for as long as I live.”
And will The Newf Crew be attending her upcoming wedding, resplendent in topcoat and tails?
“I wish I could say so,” Makatche said, smilingly, “but after much deliberation we determined it would be better to keep them home and on their routine.
“For one, it would be very expensive to transport them all and have people care for them all day. Also, I would be much too stressed, wanting to make sure they were all happy and taken care of, that I wouldn’t enjoy myself. If they are home with a sitter, I know they will be stress-free.”
