Since I’m always on the hunt for celebrity dog news, I’ve been running across the work of one person more than I can count. His name, Christopher Ameruoso and he’s known not just for being a damn good photographer but for being the go-to photographer when it comes to celebrities and their pets.

It prompted me to want to know more about him and the peculiar looking dog he’s always seen holding. I reached out to Chris and was honored he’d give little old me and my blog an opportunity to put him in the spotlight. He even gave me his phone number so we could chat (which probably wasn’t a wise idea Chris, I have your number on speed dial now).

What you’ll read below is the biggest thing that’s happened to CDW since we began. I am humbled and honored because I truly love his work. He was down-to-earth and a real sweetheart!

CDW: How did you get started in this business? Obviously you’re a superb photographer but where did the great niche of taking pictures of celebrities and their dogs come from?

I started photographing celebrities and their pets about eight years ago. It all started with Janeane Garofalo. I saw her walking her dog on Sunset blvd and I thought how great would it be to put together a book with beautiful black and white photos of celebrities at home with their loved ones. I talked with Janeane and she agreed to shoot with me. After that it was history. To date I have photographed just about every hot celebrity in Hollywood with their pets.

CDW: You’ve been doing this for a long time in such an unpredictable industry. You put celebrities and their pets on the map! Not only do you have the books you’ve published but you’re the photographer for the Stars and their Pets column in In Touch Weekly, you’re the photographer for Modern Dog magazine and you started as the photographer for Hollywood Dog magazine too. How do you feel about being the pioneer for all of this?

My work is responsible for the success of many of the pet magazines that are out there now. I have even sparked the idea for new magazines that have popped up in the last couple of years. The only problem with some of the pet magazines that are out now that feature celebrities is, they’re all about greed and have no pride in what they put out. That is the reason why I started Paw Print the Coolest Little Pet magazine. I feel honored to have put some magazines on the map but I feel that you’re only as good as what you put out there.

CDW: Share more about Paw Print magazine:

Paw Print is a pet magazine that celebrates celebrities with their pets as well the more serious issues that we have in the animal world. With the reputation I have in the industry as well as a creative and educational input for what people enjoy, Paw Print has become the #1 pet magazine out. In addition, there is my one hour special that has run on Animal Planet for the last 3 years that has branched into PAW Print TV that is on the www.pawprintmag.com website. Feel free to use them on your site.

CDW: I’m all over the video’s, I can’t wait to post about them, thanks! Now onto Stella Blue…what breed is she, how did you acquire her, what is it you love about her?

Stella Blue is the love of my life. She is a hairless Chinese Crested that came into my life about nine years ago. I was at a point in my life that had a need for a loving pet. Stella was the lucky girl to arrive. I did get Stella from a breeder. I do not believe in getting pets from breeders anymore because of all the homeless pets that need rescuing. I was not educated on the subject until Stella came into my life but my dear friend Chris DeRose founder and president of Last Chance for Animals explained to me about puppy mills and breeders. I now can say that I’m a great spokesperson for homeless pets. This is another reason why I got so involved in working with celebrities and their pets. They help get the message out that we need to share with the world. I would not have changed the way I received Stella Blue for anything because she has changed my life but I do know more now.

CDW: Where does she sleep, what are her quirks?

Stella has slept by my side in bed for the last nine years. I have been away from her in a total of 7days. She sleeps by my head on the left side of the bed. She is a very sound sleeper and is a very quiet dog. She never barks, as a matter of fact I never heard her bark in nine years.

CDW: Wow! I wish I could say the same about our neighbor’s dog. Are you strictly a dog man or do you have cats too? Any other pets?

I did have a bird for 15 years who passed away about a year ago. That was devastating for me. His name was Peewee he was a mini parrot and had the personality of a 5 year old boy. That little boy has been with me since I moved from New York to Los Angeles. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him or miss him.

CDW: You’ve taken pics of hundreds of celebrities and their dogs, do you have a favorite shoot or one that stands out where the dog (or celebrity) just didn’t cooperate?

Each one of my shoots has a memory. After shooting hundreds of celebrities they all have their own personal touch. If I was to sit and talk about each shoot I can remember something about each one. The best part of my job is that I get to witness the love and bond that these people share with the animals they have. Each shoot is very personal to me and I have not had one bad experience at all.

CDW: What’s in the works for you and the celebrity dog world next? Can you give us an inside scoop of who might be showing up in In Touch Weekly with their pooch soon?

Besides my brand new magazine Paw Print. I have many deals in the works. The success of the magazine has opened up a whole new world for me. This year is going to be very exciting. My In Touch page has been going strong for about 4 years. There are endless celebrities that I will be featuring in the upcoming issues.

CDW: One last thing Chris, If Stella could talk, what do you think she’d say about her life?

I think what Stella might say is, ‘Dad I don’t want to walk please pick me up. Dad you’re the best to me and I will always be there for you.’ It’s always hard to sit with your pet and try and figure out what is going on in the heads. Sometimes you just look at them and say ’speak, please tell me what you are thinking!’

Thanks again to Chris for the interview. Be sure you look for the April issue featuring Cesar Millan on the cover. If you haven’t subscribed to Paw Print magazine, you should, the subscription is FREE, all you pay is shipping! Go here to subscribe.