06/12/2026
Many of you know Frito. If you’ve been a client of Penny Layne Photography over the years, chances are you’ve seen him pop up in photos, model for a mini session, or make an appearance in our family portraits. He has been part of our family and my business story since we adopted him from NHS seven years ago.
Yesterday evening, our world was turned upside down when we found Frito unresponsive at home. We rushed him to the emergency veterinarian, where he was diagnosed with Stage 3 congestive heart failure, an enlarged heart, and fluid surrounding his lungs. He was hospitalized overnight, and during his stay suffered a second episode that nearly required intubation.
Today, we are waiting for answers, hoping for stability, and preparing for a referral to a local veterinary cardiologist. At this point, we don’t know when he’ll be able to come home.
To say we are devastated would be an understatement.
Frito is only 6 years old. He’s still young, still playful, still the cat who follows us from room to room and insists on being involved in absolutely everything. He has grown up alongside our children and is deeply loved by every member of our family. He has comforted tears, supervised homework, photobombed countless sessions, and claimed every sunny spot in the house as his own.
Our kids absolutely adore him. Watching them process the possibility of losing a beloved family member far sooner than we ever imagined has been heartbreaking.
As many pet owners know, emergency veterinary care comes with significant expenses. His emergency hospitalization alone was $2,300, and we are now facing cardiology consultations, additional diagnostics, medications, and ongoing treatment costs.
I rarely ask for help, but if you’ve been considering booking a family session, I would be incredibly grateful for your support right now.
📸 June Family& pets Mini Session Special – $275
• 8 digital images included
• In-home or on-location or in studio
• Pets welcome (and encouraged!)
• Sessions must be scheduled during the months of June/July
12 spots available, cannot be used for prior or already booked sessions
Every session booked will help us provide Frito with the medical care he needs while also allowing us to continue doing what we love—capturing the moments and connections that matter most.
If you’ve ever thought about updating your family photos, celebrating your pets, or simply documenting this season of life, now would mean more than you know.
Most of all, we ask for your prayers, positive thoughts, and well wishes for our sweet boy. We are taking things one hour at a time and hoping with everything we have that he can come home to us soon.
Thank you for supporting our family, our business, and our beloved Frito. ❤️
Swipe through to see some of our favorite photos of Frito over the years—from the tiny newborn kitten we brought home, to modeling in Valentine’s mini sessions, to proudly appearing in our family portraits. Like any photographer’s pet, he has spent his life in front of the camera and has never been shy about stealing the spotlight. These images capture just a small piece of the joy, love, and laughter he has brought to our family over the past seven years. We hope there will be many more memories—and photos—to come. 🐾❤️
