Mr. Pip Dropping Off Check To The Red Door Animal Shelter

As you may remember, March lst our grand prize winner for the doggie photo contest was Wyatt. Wyatt asked to share his prize money with his bud Mr. Pip. Wyatt is a prince of a pup!

On March 13th, Mr. Pip delivered his check to The Red Door Animal Shelter and wanted to share the photos with us!

A photo of the outside of the shelter and one of Mr. Pip (who was concerned he needed a grooming, but looks swell to me!) and the check.

Thanks for sending the photos! Visit Mr. Pip on his blog and Wyatt on his blog if you are in the mood for some doggie adventures to make you smile!

Remember I always love to see your dog photos! E-mail them to me and I will post them here to share with all my dog lovin' friends!

Dog Portrait Artist Matt Tames And The Sketchbook Project

Pet Portraits for a Cause

By Matt Tames of little BIG Pet Portraits

As an artist and an animal lover, I’ve always tried to find ways to help animals with my artwork. For example, I would donate my animal paintings to different rescue organizations for their fundraising auctions, and donating to the Humane Society for all the sales on my website.

But I wanted to think of a way to do something more for animals in need of loving homes. So I started my blog, little BIG Pet Portraits, where I feature an adoptable pet of the week. I find a needy pet from a shelter or rescue organization, and I use their photos to paint a pet portrait, which I feature on my blog along with their story and information on how to adopt.

Adopting a dog or cat in need is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and you will receive unconditional love in return. When you adopt from a shelter, you save the lives of two animals, the new friend you adopt and another homeless pet off the streets that now has comfortable, safe shelter in that space you helped to free up. Adoptable pets are not to be pitied, they have so much dignity and love to share, and often, incredible stories of triumph. So I don’t paint them looking sad and homeless, I try to paint them in their best light, usually in whatever environment or activity I think they would be happiest. For example, I’ll paint a herding dog on a farm or a Scottish Terrier in the Highlands.

Last year around this time, I painted an Irish Setter in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and to raise awareness about setter rescue. It was a scary time for animal rescue workers in Mississippi, because eight Irish Setters were running free in the woods after their owner had died and they were left to fend for themselves in a large rural, unfenced area. Scared and hungry, they were lost in the wooded and overgrown area and the rescuers finally collected all of them after leaving food out for a few weeks. They were glad to be found, but all suffered from anemia, heartworm and flea infestation. They received great care in loving foster homes, and six of them have already been placed in their forever homes. One of their adopters even found my website and contacted me about purchasing the print I did. It’s very rewarding when I hear from the dogs’ adoptive family or foster family; it makes me so glad I started this project.

I recently took on the challenge of illustrating fifty shelter dogs and cats for the Sketchbook Project, a traveling art exhibit that is completing a nine-city tour in 2011. I chose pets from each of those cities and the surrounding areas and featured their stories and adoption information alongside original watercolor pet portraits.

Please visit our blog to see more artwork and current pets for adoption, or “like” us on Facebook. And if you are looking for a new pet, definitely consider adopting from a shelter. You will gain a grateful family member and best friend for life!
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Ed. Note: To see if the Sketchbook Project will be on view close to you check their link of places and dates.

And The Winner Is.....Wyatt!

The comments have been counted and the winner of our dog photo contest is Wyatt! See his original photo and post http://writerwithdogs.blogspot.com/2010/12/contest-entry-3-wyatt.html.


Wyatt is totally pawsome!


What does this winner have to say about all this? When notified earlier today, Wyatt, in his winning crown, had a favor to ask!

"Can I split my prize with Mr. Pip? Could you send him $150 for his cause and $150 for mine?"


Mr. Pip and Wyatt are buddies and Wyatt loves Mr. Pip's cause "Red Door Shelter" as much as he loves his own "Project Pooch". So, there you have it, the $300 prize money will be split between these two pawsome friends.


Competition was stiff, but all the dogs left comments for each other! Wyatt left this comment for Mr. Pip when his photo was added to the mix of contestants.


"Oh, I have some competition now! You should be resting up for the big race, Pip!! I'm going to go comment for you, cuz we are both pawesome!!"


Wyatt came in with 85 comments and Mr. Pip with 65.

Pip was all smiles when he heard about his friend Wyatt's generosity!


"Oh my gosh, that is so wonderful Wyatt. Thanks so much!"


And thanks to everyone who entered their favorite dog into this contest! Every dog is a winner because they are surrounded by love every day! The money from this contest will help two shelters help other dogs find their forever homes.


Want to have some fun? Go back and look at all those sweet dog faces and read the comments! The dogs were voting for each other, looking after their friends, as good friends do.


Thank you all, and thank you Wyatt, for reminding us of the meaning of true friendship!


Visit Wyatt on his blog and then check out Project Pooch. Learn more about Mr. Pip at his blog and read about Red Door Shelter!


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This dog photo contest was part of the online magazine "Writer With Dogs: Where Dogs Meet Art." The magazine was a one-time event that had its premier December 2010. You can link to it at any time and download the PDF and print it for a keepsake. The spirit of the magazine will continue on the pages of this blog, as dog rescue groups are honored. If you have a favorite dog shelter, rescue dog story or something else doggie you'd like to share with us, please contact me at bb-bjd@comcast.net. Sign up to follow this blog and keep up with all the news!