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Pet Rescue Art: A New Pawffiti Artist is born…

Pet Rescue Art…important messages from the pets we love…

Halacey finalnds down… the sassiest dog I have ever met is our Lhasa mix; Lacey Mae.  They say that the dogs that challenge us the most are the dogs we love the most…I can say from experience that this is true.  Lacey was a challenge literally from the moment I met her…and we love every bit of her.  Now that my shop is up and running steady I (in theory) have time to expand this year and Lacey Mae is going to step up to the plate and become my newest Pawffiti Artist.  Through her I 232323232-fp6326;-nu=328;-446-279-WSNRCG=34-488828832;nu0mrjplan to do some Pawffiti Art that is considerably more snarky than I have done in the past.

Lacey’s persona evolved over a series sketches that occurred on Saturday nights. My husband’s favorite thing to do on Saturday nights is watch UFC matches.  He likes me to watch with him. So just like he does, when I drag him to the opera, I sit and enjoy UFC with him.  I usually bring either a sketch pad or some yarn and a crochet hook.  It was on a few of these Saturday fight nights that Lacey’s character evolved.232323232-fp633;3-nu=328;-446-279-WSNRCG=3477-864-732;nu0mrjsketch 1

Lacey came to live with us shortly after Bret and I got married in 2008.  For some odd reason…we decided we wanted to open our home to a small breed dog…because two labs and rottweiler weren’t enough for us I guess.  We met Lacey through a friend who thought that perhaps we could give this “troubled little dog” a chance.232323232-fp63254-nu=328;-446-279-WSNRCG=33427-5;-632;nu0mrj

We drove about an hour to meet her. We loaded up our three big dogs to do a meet and greet with Lacey.  She did great with our dogs…particularly since she is just a fraction of their size.  However, she pretty much just ran in circles around my husband and I and growled at us.  When I tried to greet her…at what I thought was a safe distance…she charged, jumped up and bit my nose….HARD.  Oddly enough…we took her home anyway.  Not because we bonded with her, obviously, but sketch 2because she clicked so well with our big dogs and frankly…she was out of options.

Lacey had been surrendered by her owners for “chronic biting”.  She seemed to have no use for humans other than to charge, growl and chomp on them.

When we first brought her home…she spent a good portion of the day following me around the house charging me, growling and biting and my legs and hands.  If the door was open…she was gone…it was like Chariots of Fire running down the street to get away.  My poor husband chased her one morning in nothing but his PJ bottoms (no shoes)…into the woods…over fences..through our neighbors backyards…he caught her eventually…he wasn’t very happy with her that day.doo rags and leashes 035

Lacey is smart…and despite her growly ways…all she wanted was some attention.  She very quickly figured out that she would get plenty of attention when she was calm and gentle…when she wasn’t calm and gentle…she was ignored.  It didn’t take her long at all to win us over and show us her charming and affectionate side.lacey shops

Lacey will always be a sassy dog with boundaries that need to be respected.  She has personal space issues (so does mommy)…and she will snap at someone if they push her too far.  But we know her limits and she knows our rules…she has become an irreplaceable member of our family.232323232-fp539;--nu=328;-446-279-WSNRCG=36633886-932;nu0mrj

I am not a dog trainer that believes that every dog with problematic behavior can (or should) be saved.  There are unfortunately some dogs who are just simply a danger to humans and other dogs anfinal sketchd it is in everyone’s best interest for them to either live life out in a sanctuary (there are very few that can do this) or be humanely euthanized…it sucks (believe me it sucks) but it is sometimes the most humane outcome.  Lacey however, despite being labeled a “chronic biter”, was not one of those dogs.

She has become the princess of the household…sleeping in the middle each night…riding the Harley with mom and dad…and she has become the dog we take everywhere.  She runs errands with mom…she goes on vacation with both of us.  She doesn’t mind dressing up (really…she doesn’t) and has a large wardrobe so she can gussy up for every occasion.  She also doesn’t take any crap and has a growly opinion about just about everything…hence she is going to be my newest artist.  She has always had a lot to say.  I am so excited to see what happens as Lacey unfolds on canvas…I hope you will follow her progress!232323232-fp63238-vq=328;-446-279-WSNRCG=33427;923932;vq0mrj

Rescue On!

Nancy

 

 

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Pet Rescue Art: Rescue Moms Should Rule The World

Pet Rescue Art…Pawffiti

Pet Rescue Art, Pit bull painting, Pit bull art, pit bull rescue art, dog mom gift
Pawffiti…Rescue Moms Should Rule the World

Hippie Pittie was at it again…what do you think?  She is 11×14 and available at my ETSY shop.

Rescue On!
Nancy

 

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Pet Rescue Art: Dog Fighting Sucks…time for Kentucky to move out of the dark ages!

Pet Rescue Art:  Dog Fighting Sucks…what is wrong with Kentucky?

main 2I live just 20 minutes north of Lexington, KY.  Lexington is the horse capital of the world.  In my county and several of the counties surrounding us…horses are a focal point of community life.  The barns built for horses here are nicer than most folks houses.  There is a retirement home for race horses a few minutes from my house…some of these horses have earned upwards of $90 million dollars in their life time.  The horse is sacred here.

For the most part everyone I meet here is also a dog lover.  Just about everyone has a dog or two.  Hunting dogs are everywhere here…for the most part the hunting dogs live productive lives as working dogs here…the bond between the hunter and his dog something to respect.  The local humane societies are well supported…and there are numerous smaller fringe rescue groups as well.  But there is also a dark underworld for animals here that few folks want to talk about.

10404860_380184835476840_5050119956143225513_nKentucky has the worst laws in the nation for protecting animals…dead last…they are in fact a disgrace.  Because of the pathetic laws the abuse and neglect of animals (especially dogs) goes on publicly and is never punished.  Sure, folks can (and will) call and report the abuse they see…but there is often little the authorities can do…dogs are left to suffer out in the open for everyone to see.  There are no laws here to fit the crimes of cruelty to animals here…it is a sad, sad state of affairs.

Kentucky is also the ONLY state in the nation that does not consider raising dogs for the purpose of fighting a felony…literally the only state in the nation!  Why is it so important to classify raising dogs for fighting as a felony you might ask?  Because this is the only way to stop dog fighting.  It is very rare that the authorities will catch dog fights “in theater”…their world is too secretive.  The only way to stop dog fighting, that every other state in the union has already figured out, is to bust the creeps for raising fighting dogs in the first place.  In Kentucky…raising fighting dogs goes on right out in the open.  Kentucky is in fact a safe haven for dog fighting.

We also must not be naive about the world of dog fighting…its not just about cruelty to animals…its about drugs and violence against humans too.  These are dark hearted people with no regard for life…not a dog’s life…not my life…not your your life.

The Louisville Humane Society recently stated that 80% of the dogs they in take are pit bulls or pit mixes…80%….and most of them come in with wounds and scars reminiscent of dog fighting.  We also have another problem here in Kentucky…dog fighters need bait…animals that they can use to teach their fighting dogs to kill…we therefore have an epidemic of stolen family dogs.  It’s sickening…but if your dog goes missing here…we want to hope for the best but we are in fact forced to at least entertain the idea that the very worst of fates has befallen our dogs.

There is a group here; Kentucky Coalition to End Dog Fighting, that has been tirelessly working to get laws passed to make raising fighting dogs a felony.  But alas…there are legislators standing in the way…many of them.  They “kill the bills” to protect the dogs by adding abortion amendments, ag gag amendments and other amendments that have nothing to do with dog fighting.  Its disgusting but these politicians are elected (over and over) and have been getting away with this for years.  There is still a chance that a bill will pass this month where anti-dog fighting language will itself be an amendment…we can hope and pray that it passes.  If it doesn’t I hope for public outrage against these legislators standing in the way…but I doubt it.

I have no desire to opine about corrupt politicians and their role in the suffering of animals here in Kentucky..most thinking people know that the role of “career politician” has simply become a euphemism for corruption…removing all “career politicians” with term limits is the only answer to cleansing our corrupt government.

I do think it is worth reflecting on the state of a society that passively stands by in the face of cruelty.  Basic kindness to animals should be easy…and it should be a key measure by which we judge our communities.  Abominations such as dog fighting (any kind of animal fighting) are a blight…a dark spiritual sickness that every single civilized person should be unwilling to tolerate in any form.  Here though…there is an entire segment of society accepts things like dog fighting and cock fighting as part of their “culture”.  Whenever there is actually a raid of a dog fighting ring or cock fighting ring here there is a hardcore group of people that are outraged by the intrusion of government on this pillar of their history and culture…literally they identify things like cock fighting as “part of their culture and heritage”.

This is a picture my husband took in eastern, Kentucky (click on it and enlarge it). roosters If you don’t know what you are looking it…the barrels are for fighting roosters.  Roosters are tied to these barrels (which are their homes) until they are taken to the ring to fight.  This picture was taken “in town”…it wasn’t hidden from civil society…these fighting roosters were being raised right out in the open for all to see…everyone driving by knows what the fate of these roosters will be…and nothing can be done for them.

Where I personally struggle the most with issues like cruelty to animals is NOT in pondering “how could they?”…”how could anyone be so cruel?”…I don’t wonder that at all…I know exactly how individual people can be so cruel…they are spiritually sick…in many cases spiritually bankrupt.

What I do struggle with is how can everyone else stand by and do nothing…how can we have a such a high level of “dis-interest” in ending cruel practices going on in our own communities…Most of us would never consider engaging in the world of dog fighting or cock fighting ..but at least in Kentucky…the voting population repeated elects legislators who refuse to put a legal end to it.  This is a dark blemish on our society…we (Kentuckians) must end it…we (Kentuckians) cannot stand by in disgust and judgment rather we must be the voices for these animals.  We have to do something about it…the animals can not put an end to dog fighting…but we can.

It appears there is one last chance for Kentuckians to speak up and encourage our legislators to finally do the right thing and stop dog fighting.  There is a bill that has passed the Senate…was amended in the house and now must pass the Senate with the amendments again.  It is SB143 and it has the anti-dog fighting provision as an amendment.  Will you make the phone call?  Call your state senator (800-372-7181)…call the Senate leadership…ask them to support SB143 and to take a stand against dog fighting.  If you don’t know who your Senator is…click on the link here Kentucky Coalition to End Dog Fighting…and they have details and links to find your Senators and details about the bill.   Like their page on Facebook if you want to follow this more closely…the phone calls matter THIS WEEK!!!!!  I will be making the phone calls this week…will you?

Rescue On!

Nancy

 

 

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Pet Rescue Art…for the love of Vera

Pet Rescue Art…the stories that steal our hearts…

cover 4Allow me to introduce you to Vera.  Vera is a pittie girl who was rescued by a group called Muttley Crue Rescue in Ohio.  A few weeks ago I was contacted by Muttley Cure looking for a painting for their Mardi Paws event in Cleveland, OH next month.  I found Vera’s story on their website and fell in love with her…I just had to paint her.  Prior to her rescue by Muttley Crue some horrid person poured hot oil on her body and left her to die.    But look at her now…isn’t she lovely! 9173974   I think everything about her just says “joy”.  I am always amazed at how fast dogs and cats can recover both physically and emotionally after they have suffered at the hands of creepy humans.

The statement on Vera’s painting was a theme that Muttley Cure used on their website.  I will be shipping off Vera’s painting for auction as soon as I have it photographed.  I hope the painting raises a bunch of dough as Vera also has a heart condition and will need an expensive surgery. 368787_orig I will be making prints of Vera’s painting which I will put up for sale at my ETSY shop.  I will donate a portion of the sale of each print to Muttley Crue.  It will be a few weeks before the prints are available.

My paintings are my way of doing a little something more for dogs and cats who are still waiting for their forever home while still allowing me to be present at home for my house full of rescued pets…each painting I do is completed in a studio full of cats and dogs.  Check out my Art Gallery to see more Pet Rescue paintings I have done.

Odds are I will never meet Vera but it was an honor to paint her!

Rescue On!

Nancy

 

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Pet Rescue Art: what tugs at my heart…

Real Men Don’t Chain Dogs!

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This painting has been a long time in coming…it has been on my mind since Turnip (our foster) entered our home. Seeing dogs living on chains is new for me…and it is so hard…no impossible for me to understand. When I see a dog on a chain…I DON’T think…”how could someone do this?”…because I know how one person can do this…they are spiritually sick. What I DO ask myself is…”how can an entire community stand by and let this happen to so many dogs…”

Kindness to animals is (and should always be) easy for us as a civil society. It is one of many important characteristics by which the spiritual health of our communities can and should be evaluated. I paint because I want to share the things that tug at my heart…the number of dogs living in distress in my own community weighs heavily on my heart…so here is my painting…what do you think?

The painting is for sale…it is up on my ETSY shop…as with all my paintings I donate a percentage of my sales to rescue groups.

turnip 2Here is the picture of Turnip when he was rescued by SOAR.  Here is a picture of Turnip today…20141225_085734

Rescue On!
Nancy

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Got Rescue?

Pawffiti…important messages from the pets we love through art…

My husband and I recently made an out of state move (MN to KY)… while I couldn’t be happier that I have said goodbye to MN winters forever… moving is really a miserable process.  Last week I had about enough of the unpacking of boxes and cleaning as any person could take. I decided the work could wait and I took to my paints and finished up some really fun pieces that will posted to my ETSY store throughout this week.

What do you think of this one? This is a 20×20 acrylic Pawffiti inspired by my Sparky.
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side view

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left side

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Got Rescue? Messages in Pawffiti from the dogs we love…

Acrylic Pet Rescue Art

This is a new Pawffiti painting…it is 8×10 on mounted canvas…what do you think?

I am proud of my Rescue's aren't you?
I am proud of my Rescue’s aren’t you?
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No Kill…Join the Revolution

A few days ago I posted a news story in Medina OH about a local shelter destroying its gas chamber and going “No Kill”.  I was so inspired by the story that a new painting was born…what do you think?

Inspired by a news story regarding another shelter becoming a No Kill shelter!
Inspired by a news story regarding another shelter becoming a No Kill shelter!
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Real men are kind to animals

Original Painting – Real men are kind to animals

real men 002What do you think of this painting?

This is one of my original paintings.  It is pastels on velvet paper.  I usually add something dimensional to my paintings.  In this case it is a bad boy spike collar on the dog (see angled picture below).

real men 003  Copyright Nancy Halverson