Perhaps you don’t know, but I love cats. As in, it’s somewhat embarrassing how much I love cats. I have two, and the first I adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi. I would have done the same for the second but she appeared under my balcony, taking the adoption process into her own hands (or paws). With that said, when an assignment comes up involving the HSSM I’m usually the one jumping at it.

Last week I had the opportunity to do a feature on their resident vet for the Sun Herald’s Coast Character series.

Being an ace multi-tasker, Dr. Jennifer Morris conducted the interview while performing one of the many surgeries for the day.

Favorite line: “I’m really goodActually I think my Facebook description is Chief Unnecessary Organ Remover at the Humane Society. That’s basically what I do. I remove unnecessary parts.”

You can watch the video here.

Louis Whittle, 79, has been shining shoes for decades. These days, he hopes for a handful of customers to supplement his income. For the most part he waits, sitting beside his shoe shine chair, waving at the numerous business peoples that have become friends over the years.

Derek Terry was just 26 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was something he never expected at his age and by the time pain forced him to the ER the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs and liver. He immediately started aggressive chemotherapy, which left him tired and exhausted.

Children from Pascagoula Parks and Recreation summer program cheer and wave American flags as the USS America departs on Friday, July 11, 2014, at Point Park in Pascagoula. The ship, which was heading to its home port of San Diego, was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.

The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum readies itself for its grand opening. After nine years, the museum returned to the Coast after the original building was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. The building was designed to look like a ship in a bottle.

Mourners gathered at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for five-year-old Ja-Naya Thompson’s funeral on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Ja-Naya was found murdered after being reported missing. The community came together to remember and pay tribute to the little girl.

Moss Point resident Peyton Turner, 13, fishes off the pier near the visitors center at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs.

Tony Anthony and his alpacas fall in line for feeding time on Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Perkinston. He and his wife, Maryanne, have nine alpacas on their self sustaining farm. Other than their fleece, they also harvest their manure as a natural fertilizer for their organic gardens.

Community members gather for “Support Day in the Park for Ja-Naya Thompson” as neighborhood children play in the splash pad behind the pavilion on Sunday, June 20, 2014, at West Side Park in Gulfport. The five-year-olds death sent shock waves through the community.

D’Iberville High’s Michael McCoy powers through a squat lift while being spotted by Micah Booker during football summer workout training on Monday, July 7, 2014.

My good friend asked me to photograph her beautiful wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a gorgeous venue and she did a fantastic job with the planning. A fancy smores bar and gourmet donut truck? What’s not to love? Here’s some of my favorite shots.

Also, the dog was adorable.