Life with Chihuahuas takes over my art…
When my husband and I moved to Kentucky we signed up to foster dogs with several local rescue groups…we have fostered 9 dogs in about a years time. Throughout the year several Chihuahua’s came to our home…all of whom were precious and two of whom we adopted. Neither of us had previous experience with Chihuahuas…now both my husband and I are enamored with this breed.
The girls we adopted, Lucy and Luna, were shelter mates. We know nothing about their lives prior to landing in a Kentucky shelter. Luna is very old…she has some fairly serious health issues but is still sprite and we couldn’t love her more. Despite her physical challenges Luna still boss
es all the other dogs around. Lucy is very young, she stole my husbands heart and somehow manages to be both the sassiest dog we have ever met yet also the sweetest.
Shortly after we adopted Lucy and Luna I started doing some reading on the breed…it was then I realized how at risk the Chihuahua breed is in shelters. I was aware that they are at high risk in places like California but I had no idea they have the second highest kill rate in shelters nationally, behind only pit bulls…heart breaking and senseless. I had a lot of time this fall to do some sketching while I was dabbling in the world of doing art shows…Luna came with me to most of my shows. My Chihuahua girls dominated my sketches…I finally turned two of the sketches in to paintings and I am looking forward to finishing more them. I am having a lot of fun turning the combination of sassy and sweetness of the Chihuahua personality into paintings.
Both of these originals will hang at the Central Kentucky Veterinary Center in Georgetown, KY until they sell. I will have prints and cards available by the middle of next week.
Rescue On!
Nancy
If you are crazy about all things pet and pet rescue follow my Facebook Page and Pinterest Page. If you need pet rescue art or pet sympathy cards check out my ETSY shop.
Nancy, it is interesting you found that out about chihuahuas. It makes me sad to think any breed is targeted as not adoptable. It seems any time you put a dog in a cage for a long period of time, many will start acting aggressively when they are approached. In fact, it is funny, but I was at the shelter several weeks ago and a chihuahua was in the first cage on the adoptable side. She actually acted like she wanted to bite us in the beginning. We tested all the other dogs and when I came back to her and knelt by her cage, she was no longer frightened and we were able to easily get her out. She was absolutely precious.
And I love your new art!
Thanks Jan! I am so grateful for the work you do at the shelter! I hope all is well with you and your family! Take care during this big snow storm!