When Meadow’s cage opened, she jumped out and sped around the living room, claws audibly gripping the carpet as she turned the corners. Suddenly she hopped high into the air, spun around, landed facing the opposite direction, and zigzagged across the floor before flopping onto her side for a rest. Digital camera in hand, her guardian snapped photos of the whole scene to use in what would later become an adorable digital photo collage of the bunnies.

Companion animals are an important part of the family, with many people framing photos of their pets and some carrying pictures of their furry friends in their wallets. When you adopt a new family pet, regardless of species, remember to include them in your scrapbook albums. Just like your children, they deserve a photo collage and can often be more photogenic than human children!

Creating a photo collage specifically about our animal companions can be a wonderful way to capture, share and remember their unique personalities. Whether you live with dogs, cats, house rabbits or birds, follow these tips to create a digital photo collage full of treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

As you contemplate subjects for your pet’s first photo collage, consider the following, and be sure your camera is charged and ready for action!

Firsts. Whenever you adopt a new companion animal, be sure to photograph the event and document the animal’s story before she came to live with you, and take lots of photos of her first day in your home.

Babies grow up so fast … especially those of the furry variety! Capture these precious days by snapping lots of pictures before it’s too late. Just like a new baby, a puppy or kitten’s first year can be documented. First bark, first bone, first treat, first solid food, first housebreaking success. Preserve special events, such as the first walk, first trip to the vet, birthdays, vacations and trips to the park.

You! Don’t forget to get some pictures of you and your pet together. Sometimes we get so busy behind the camera lens that we forget how nice it will be to have some good shots of us with our furry family member.

Daily life. Preserve the everyday happenings involving your dog or cat that put a smile on your face … or theirs!

Favorites. Consider your animal’s favorite toys, favorite place or favorite foods, and photograph him enjoying those things.

Interspecies relationships. Document your pet’s relationship with family members – both human and animal. A photo of the cat and dog together can make a great candidate for a photo collage.

When your pet has died. A photo collage of your missed pet can be even more meaningful. Before your memories of him fade, capture them in a photo collage. Choose a layout about the things you miss in particular and journal to reflect on and record the pet's life to memorialize him. A digital photo collage can be a cathartic way to celebrate your pet's life and capture those special memories forever.

Keep these tips in mind when you embark on the creation of your pet’s first photo collage:

1. Focus your photo collage. Decide how many you want. Some people create a separate photo collage for each phase of their pet’s life. Ornaments featuring a small collage frame and photo collage of your pet can also make nice holiday gifts.
2. Gather the photographs you’ve taken of your pets and make a list of the kinds of pictures you might like to feature in each photo collage.
3. Get on the Internet for ideas. With the advent of collage maker programs, you can try out different types of backgrounds, designs, formats and embellishments before you commit to one style of collage frame for your photo collage.
4. Get scrapping. Put all the photos you’ve chosen in one file for each collage, and start your first page by opening the layout or collage frame you wish and then dragging and dropping your first photo into it.
5. Leave a place to journal. After you’ve put together the page, write a little to describe your pet, the image, your feelings about the pet or the inspiration for the page.

You’ll soon find there’s no end to the products available for scrapbooking cat and dog lovers. Congratulations on beginning a project you’ll likely cherish for years to come.