When Emotions Take Over...

Being involved in Animal Welfare takes a huge emotional toll on both the humans as well as the animals that we are working with. We develop hundreds of relationships each year, with each one ending differently. We experience the joy of seeing new kittens adopted into their homes. We cry as our older fosters finally find the perfect family. Our hearts break with a sick or abused dog is brought into our organizations only to lose his/her battle with recovery. 

I knew that taking on the role of designer for Puppy Mill Awareness Day Austin last year would be a huge emotional undertaking. Not only are we putting together a fantastic event to raise awareness about Puppy Mills, but as the designer, I am working with many families that have adopted Puppy Mill and Abuse Survivors. I am taking these stories (You can read them here), and photos to share with the world. I am learning about the horrors of Puppy Mills and looking into my own past experiences rescuing animals from these facilities as well as spending time interviewing others that have been on site when these horrible animal factories are raided. 

Sampson, Puppy Mill Survivor. 

While I might be described as 'extremely emotional' by my friends and family, when it comes to rescue work there is an important line between my emotions and the ability to put those emotions aside and focus on the end result for the animal/animals in need. 

Recently I was approached by a rescue organization (to remain nameless) that needed some additional funds for an animal that they were working to rescue. I am not the type of business owner or Animal Advocate that will just send off a donation to anyone. I do my research. I know where the donations will be going. I understand what the organizations purpose is. I learn about the particular circumstances.

Unfortunately after doing some research on this particular dog, it turned out that the rescue was working with a local breeder that had a 'few puppies that did not get sold and she was going to dump them at the shelter.' (That was a quote from the email with the rescue organization.) The breeder had agreed to sell the puppies to the rescue for a reduced fee (discount puppies!) and the rescue would in turn find them new homes. 

Now, I will say that I think this particular rescue organization does many, many great things. This, however, does not fall into that category of 'great things'. 

I spoke with the organization coordinator, I let her know my feelings on the issue. As always, I approach each situation with as much class as I possibly can. (I have learned from past mistakes that the way in which organizations/individuals are approached makes a huge difference in the intended outcome.) Sadly, the organization considered their options and chose to support this breeder and purchase the puppies from her at the discounted rate.

In situations like this, I think it is so important for rescue organizations to put aside their emotions and think about the long-term solutions. This particular organization spent hundreds of dollars on these 3 puppies. Hundreds! In any rescue organization, hundreds of dollars can make the difference in saving more animals. This rescue organization not only chose to spend the money on purchasing these pups, but they in turn offered financial support to the woman that was breeding these puppies. 

What is she going to do with her money? Do you believe that she is going to spend it getting Veterinary care for her dogs? Absolutely not. She stated herself that she cares so little that she plans to 'dump the remaining pups at the shelter', why would any true rescue organization want to support someone that cares so little about her puppies? The answer to that question is very simple. The rescue organization made a decision based on emotions when they saw these cute little pups. 

Yes, I agree that the puppies are 100x better off in a foster home. I believe that the puppies are 100x more likely to find the perfect home through the rescue organization vs being placed into a kennel at the shelter and hoping for the best. I agree with the logic for these particular 3 puppies. I am happy for them that they will now be given the chance at life with a family that will love them. 

What the rescue did not take into consideration (or worse, they did consider) is that this breeder is going to continue the cycle. She will continue to breed and breed and breed. This rescue did not offer her an outlet to the situation. They did not offer to find a low-cost Spay/Neuter service for her. They did not offer a resolution. They purchased puppies and are now marketing them as 'rescues'.  

I love puppies! I adore their little feet and the way they exhaust themselves until they cannot even stand anymore. I love the way they cuddle when they sleep and how they trip over their clumsy little selves. BUT... When it comes to animal advocacy, it is so important to look to the final result. If we want to end irresponsible breeding, we stop the cycle. We stop supporting the irresponsible breeders. We advocate to our friends and family... their their friends and family and so on and so on to adopt from reputable rescue organizations. We encourage the public to check out their shelters or look for pets on petfinder.com. There are countless ways to end irresponsible breeding.. but purchasing discount puppies is certainly not one of them. 

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

Purchase your very own 'Adopt, Don't Shop' Necklace from The Pet Studio!

Bath Time for the Pups!

Does your dog love or hate baths? I have one that loves them and one that hates them.... so Bath Day at my house is always a funny experience... which is what inspired me to run our fantastic Bath-Time Contest this month! 

Not only did I get a variety of contestants, ranging from Guinea Pigs to Mastiffs, but this contest was the absolute least drama-filled contest that I have ever run! I mean that in the best way! Not only did we have no major issues, the contestants all had fun voting for each other and sharing their votes with their friends!


For example, our first place winner, Juno the Pit Bull, runs her own Facebook page shared many of the other contestants and made sure that they felt included as well! I think this was reflected in the astounding number of votes that Juno received... higher than any other contestant I have had join one of these contests... 1026 Votes!! Wow!


In honor of her friendliness and joining in to a great competition. I am going to upgrade the winning painting from an 8in x 10in to a 12in x 12in piece! Congratulations Juno!

Juno, 1st Place Winner in the Bath Time Contest!

Then, in second place, we had the amazing Champ! Champ and Girl (you might remember Girl from her contest winning previously!) promote an anti-bullying campaign called Bullies against Bullying! Champ came into second place with an incredible 890 votes!


Our second place prize was originally a $50 gift certificate towards a custom painting, however since we had such a great contest, I am going to be offering second place a $65 gift certificate towards a Custom Painting instead! Congratulations Champ!

Champ, 2nd Place winner in the Bath Time Contest.
Girl, winner in the Best Smile Contest in 2011.

In 3rd Place we have Gretel! With some great competition, Gretel was gracious and friendly and brought in a whopping 595 votes for herself! 

Gretel's prize was originally a $20 gift certificate towards a Custom Piece, however, I have decided to upgrade that to a $40 gift certificate towards a Custom Painting! Congratulations Gretel!!

Gretel, 3rd Place winner in the Bath Time Contest!

These three contestants worked so hard to get their crazy number of votes! But, there were many others in the contest that were absolutely adorable! I am going to be awarding everyone that entered their pets with a $30 Gift Certificate towards their very own Custom Pet Painting by The Pet Studio!


I also wanted to award some prizes of my own for my very favorite pictures that came in! I fell in love with a few contestants and while I try to stay impartial during the contest... after the contest, I am going to share my very own favorites! Each of my own favorites will be receiving a $35 Gift Certificate as a Consolation Prize as well as my own Thank You for participating! 

Jacobi.............................................................Flirt

Sweetie..........................................................Phinneas

Frankie............................................................Garfield

Thank you all for participating! This was a fantastic contest and I hope to see you all join in on some future fun with The Pet Studio!


Please keep in mind that with each painting order, 10% of the profits will be donated to the rescue organization of your choice (with a few exceptions on rescue organizations). The Pet Studio is committed to making a difference in the lives of homeless animals and over the last 2 years, over $7000 has been raised to help pets in need! Thank you so much for your support, together we are supporting a great cause (and having lots of fun while doing it!)!


Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com


Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

Are you thinking of surrendering your pet to a shelter?

If you are considering surrendering your pet to a shelter, you understand that this can be a stressful and heartbreaking decision. Your pet is a member of your family and while you may feel that this is the best decision for your pet, please consider what shelter surrendering really is. 

A shelter is NOT a hotel for animals while they wait for a new home. 

© The Pet Studio | www.petstudioart.com 

Educate Yourself! There are several different types of Animal Shelters and Animal Rescue Groups. Every organization, while they will generally fall into one of these categories, will vary based on their own individual policies and procedures. Arm yourself with information before surrendering your pet... it truly could save their life if you must surrender them to a shelter or rescue organization.

Open Admission Shelter:An open admission shelter is usually a government run facility that accepts all animals regardless of their situation. Generally, these are the organizations which stray animals, animals impounded by animal control entities and all owner surrenders are taken to. While some of these shelters will claim to save all adoptable animals.. many of these open admission shelters tweak their numbers and what they deem 'adoptable'. The average shelter in the united states has between a 50% - 60% save rate. This means that by taking your pet to a shelter, you are only giving them a 50% chance at a new life... many shelters have a lower percentage.

A true 'No Kill' Shelter, according to the No Kill Advocacy Center is an open admission shelter that implements programs of the No Kill Equation to reach an overall save rate of 90% or higher. This includes all animals that are euthanized due to medical or behavioral reasons.

Before surrendering your pet to any shelter that claims to be No Kill, please explore both their true adoption percentages (if a shelter is claiming to save all adoptable animals but kills more than 50% of all animals entering that shelter... they are NOT a No Kill Shelter) as well as your personal options.

Limited Admission Shelter:

Limited admission shelters are often those shelters that call themselves 'No Kill'. However, due to their limited space or funding, these shelters are often only accepting animals on a very small scale, when they have the space or the resources to accommodate new animals. No Kill limited admission shelters often only take animals pulled from other open admission shelters and do no accept owner surrenders, or have a long waiting list of owner surrenders. No Kill Shelters are able to guarantee your pet at a chance for life (unless deemed medically or behaviorally un-adoptable) because they are able to turn away animals that they feel they cannot place into a new home.

Rescue Group:

Rescue Groups are typically all volunteer based organizations which rely on a network of Foster homes. These foster homes take in the animals from the Rescue Group's adoption program and care for them as if they are their own until the animal finds a forever home. Rescue Groups rely heavily on their fosters therefore are usually unable to take in more animals until another foster shows up. It is harder to surrender an animal to a rescue group, however many rescue groups are willing to post your pet on their website or bring them into their program if you, the former owner, are willing to care for the pet until a new home is found.

--Before surrendering your pet, please think about why you are considering surrendering him/her:

Are you moving?

This is probably the most common excuse for surrendering an animal. However, you don't necessarily have to give up your pet simply because you are moving! Finding pet friendly homes is actually a pretty simple process. First, try google.com and type in 'Pet Friendly Apartments in...(your city here)'. If you are unable to find a pet friendly place to live, check with local Realtor or apartment locating companies. Most apartment locating companies are completely free and can be a great help! Keep in mind that most landlords will accept well-behaved pets and responsible owners even if it is not stated on their website or advertisements. 

Allergies?

Most allergies are controllable. Please consult with your doctor before assuming that they are unable to be worked around. Most allergy medications can do wonders to keep your furry friends safe at home with you!

Expensive Veterinary Care?

If you are unable to afford veterinary care for your pet, consider a low-cost clinic. Most cities have low-cost clinics available. (In Austin we have Emancipet and Animal Trustees of Austin).  If your city does not have a low-cost option, try talking with your Veterinarian or other Veterinarians in the area about setting up a payment plan. 

Military Deployment?

If you are about to deploy with the military, contact National Organizations with have nationwide networks of pet foster programs to support our troops! Some boarding facilities will also offer significant discounts or free services for military pet owners needing long term boarding. 

• Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets
• Pet Foster Care
• NetPets Military Pets Foster Project

Feral Cats?

Feral (wild) cats that are surrendered to the shelter are usually not adoptable due to their temperament. Even tame, easy going cats can act out in a shelter environment from the fear of being in such a small space with unfamiliar faces. If you have a colony of feral cats living in your area, we suggest contacting your local Humane Society to see if they have a Trap/Neuter/Release program and working together to Spay/Neuter the cats in your colony to reduce their number.

Try to find a Home for Your Pet!

If you MUST give up your pet please consider re-homing your pet yourself. With no guarantee of being saved in a shelter, offering your pet a chance with a friend or adopter that you find yourself is not only a great option for your own peace of mind and your pet's safety.. but it offers our area shelters the chance to save another life that may not have that option.

Rehoming

Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date. Use the resources available to you. Some examples can be posting flyers, utilizing online tools such as Craigslist.com or Facebook.com, posting ads in your local newspapers. Be sure to screen potential adopters and ensure that your pet is going to a great home. Your pet is your responsibility and you owe him/her the chance at a great second life!

Rescue Organizations

Although many rescue organizations are filled to capacity, you can contact them about rehoming your pet. Rescue Groups can vary from group to group on things such as the number of animals they take into their program, however if you are willing to 'foster' your pet until he/she finds a home, most rescue organizations are happy to promote him/her on their website or at adoption events.

If all else fails and you must surrender an animal, please be sure that your pet's vaccinations are up to date and that you bring your pet's full medical history to help offset costs that the shelter might otherwise inherit. Not only is this the right thing to do for your pet, but by providing this information, you are offering any potential adopters more insight into the background of your pet, making him/her a little more likely to be adopted.

"You can Milk an Almond??"

One of the challenges that I am constantly running into as a Vegetarian is Soy. It seems to me that most manufacturers of Vegetarian Foods just adore this flavorless, waxy substance.. and well, I don't! So you can imagine a challenge when we decided to cut back on our Milk intake at my house (I am not 100% vegan -we do still eat milk, cheese, etc in my home- I am, however,  conscious about the animal products that we do consume).

Typically, Soy Milk is the most recommended in the Cow-Free/Vegetarian/Vegan lifestyle, but that just isn't an option for me. I do love most nut-based milks however. So this weekend, Chris (my husband) and I decided to experiment with making our own Almond Milk! (Not only did this save us some $$ by not going out for entertainment --making this was plenty entertaining!-- but it gave us some fun, quality time together, which is great for a newly-wed couple!)

Here is the Original Recipe that we followed (--our own tips and ideas are below--)

What you'll need:

• 1.5 cups of blanched Almonds. ($5.99 per pound)
• 4 cups of Purified Water ($.70 per Gallon)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (I used imitation Vanilla, it was just fine!)
• 1.5 tbsp Honey (Wildflower or Clover, your choice!)
• 1 Dash of Cinnamon
• 1 Blender
• Metal Strainer
• Cheesecloth ($3)
  *Prices from our grocery trip to HEB Plus in TX

Prep: 

• Soak the almonds in about 1-2 cups of water (not the water intended for the actual recipe) for about 4 hours. We used the already sliced Almonds, which probably did not need to be soaked quite as long.)

Okay, so your almonds are nice and soaked for the recommended 4 hour time period! Great! Let's get started on our Almond Milk!

1. Strain the water from your almonds and place your almonds in your blender.
2. Add 1.5 cups of water. (Less water in the beginning really gets the almonds to a nice smooth paste and helps get them initially chopped up while they are closer to the blades.)
3. Blend the Almonds and Water for about 2 minutes. If you have an amazing blender, 1 minute should be enough. You should have a nice paste-like substance in your blender once they are finished with this step.
4. Add your Cinnamon, Honey and Vanilla Extract and then the remaining 2.5 cups of water. Blend well for another 2-3 minutes. (If your blender lacks in power, I might stretch that to even 4 minutes).
5. Once blended, you will have a frothy, delicious looking milk. Don't drink it! You can certainly have a taste, but right now, your milk is full of grainy pieces of almond. The texture is not the most pleasant. So, pull out your strainer and cheesecloth and we'll finish up our milk!
6. Place your Cheesecloth (We used 2 layers of Cheesecloth) into your strainer. Slowly pour the mixture through the strainer/cloth into a pitcher. Once your mixture is drained, gently pick up your cloth and squeeze out the remaining liquid. Be sure to squeeze gently so only the liquid is extracted. 
7. Set the remaining 'Almond Meal' that is left in your cloth aside, you'll want to save that for a later recipe (see below!)
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 to ensure that you have strained the gritty Almond Meal from your milk. (Use a new Cheesecloth!)
9. Refrigerate your Milk and Enjoy! (This recipe holds well in the fridge for about 3-4 days.)

Some Variations/Suggestions that we came up with were:

• Not using much Cinnamon if any at all. The Cinnamon flavor was a little overwhelming for two people that aren't really cinnamon fans. 
• Use a little extra Honey. I love sweet drinks, and the honey is a much more natural sweetener, which makes this even healthier!
• Use this milk with Chai  or Earl Grey Teas! Yummm!

So not only is Almond Milk fun to make as well as Cruelty-Free (Dairy Cows are among the most mistreated animals in the Animal-Farming Industry -- Constantly kept pregnant and hooked up to machines so they are always producing milk --) but Almond Milk has a lot of great health benefits as well:

• Typically (depending on your own additives/flavorings) Almond milk is only around 60 calories per 8oz serving. 
• Almond Milk is extremely heart healthy and contains no cholesterol and a minimal amount of sodium!
• Great for those with Diabetes, as you are using less processed sugars and with the addition of honey, you really don't need to add many other sugars or flavoring.
• Your skin will look great after a few weeks of drinking Almond Milk! Almonds are full of Vitamin E, which helps balance out your skin's health!
• Almond Milk contains about 1% protein as well as Vitamin B which helps regulate and promote muscle growth!

Left Over Almond Meal

Oh right! Now for that side of Almond Meal that was left-over! Your Almond Meal should have a stiff, almost wet-sand like texture to it. (Pictured above)

There are so many fun ideas that I have for this. Let me note that I have not tried a single one, but I have plans to see what I can do with the Almond Meal tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes!

My ideas:

• Mix it in to Oatmeal! Mmm! 
• Mix it in to Pancake mix... then once the pancakes are ready, add a few of the blanched almonds on top. Delicious!
• Make puppy treats out of it! (This is most likely what I will try since I usually sleep through breakfast! --plus it would be a fun, future blog post!)

For those that drink lots of Cow's Milk, Almond Milk does take a little getting used to, but once you start drinking it, you won't want to go back to the usual. Almond Milk is also a great conversation piece! You'll be asked a hundred times over, "You can Milk Almonds?".... to which I like to reply with several fun and witty answers! :-) Make your own game out of it!

I should also note, for the record, Jazz (see 'The Coffee War' post) does approve of the Almond Milk! He was offered a small glass for himself! :-)

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

The Coffee War...

I like my morning coffee over ice. Unfortunately, so does my cat, Jazz....

Jazz having his morning coffee...

Every morning for the past 6 years, as I make my coffee, this little ball of black fluff joins me... and attempts to make my coffee his. And, for the last 6 years, I have spent the first hour of my day working to protect my coffee from his little black paw, which is dipped in for a taste every time I turn around...

You might ask why I haven't tried cups with lids before... well, I have! He is a smart little one and can pop them right off! 

Why don't I keep my cup out of reach? I try that too! Do you know a cat that isn't stubborn? Maybe we can make a trade, because this little guy is one determined coffee fanatic!

I set my coffee on a table for a moment... he's there!

If I leave the room.. you'd better believe that he was watching and takes that opportunity to enjoy some caffeine. 

When I turn away from my desk to catch a portion of a TV show... Guess who's there when I turn back around?

While it is really cute to watch him dip his paw into a cup and adorably lick the coffee off, it has gotten old and personally.. I would like to be enjoying my coffee as much as he is! 

It wasn't until last month that I finally won this 6 year long war... as a wedding gift, a friend bought a set of tumblers with lids. Well, I have tried lids before, so I didn't think they were anything special... that is until I realized that the lids screwed onto the cup so he couldn't knock them off! What a concept!?! 

I honestly wasn't too hopeful when I first gave it a try... I know how determined my stubborn little guy can be. As he watched me make my coffee the next morning, I could see the anticipation building. "When will I get a taste?"

I set my cup on the table and walked away, knowing that in just a few short moments, the fate of my morning drink would be decided. As soon as I turned the corner, Jazz was at my cup. First, he tried a nose plunge. The confused look as he hit plastic vs a delicious taste of coffee was quite entertaining. Next, he went for the paw-dip. Again... nothing! He tried for several minutes, circling this cup, knowing that just behind that plastic, a delicious treat was waiting.... Then... he gave up! He looked up at me, gave a frustrated meow... and walked away....

I had won... the coffee war was over. 

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

_________________________________________________

Don't forget, The Pet Studio is currently taking Valentine's Day orders! Check out our huge selection of Necklace Designs (Most are only $10.00 each), T-Shirts and of course get your orders in for your very own Custom Pet Painting!! 

www.petstudioart.com

She's 'Just a Dog'... and You are 'Just a Person'...

Nothing irritates me more than the question, "Why are you doing so much for 'just a dog'?" -Stephanie Conrad, artist www.petstudioart.com 

Stephanie & 'Holly Madison'  |  www.whozurdoggie.com

To some people, rescue is confusing. They don't understand why we put so much effort into each dog that comes into our lives.  They see these loving four legged creatures as a nuisance, property or 'things' that are really unnecessary in the grand scheme of their lives. Personally, these people make me sad. Not only are they obviously heartless (who doesn't love a puppy or a kitten?!?) but they are missing out on what I consider one of the best pieces of my life.

So I say to those individuals:

"To you, she is 'just a dog'. She is never going to cure cancer. She is never going to be a super hero or save a baby from a burning building (although there are many other dogs that have done so...). She is never going to win a Grammy or star in the next hit film. She is never going to be more than 'just a dog'....... but that is perfect because being a dog is exactly what I expect from her.

She will slobber on my feet as soon as I walk through the door. She will destroy many toys and spread white cotton stuffing all over my living room. She will absolutely have an accident in the house and I'm sure I will step barefoot in that cold puddle on the floor before I see it. She will track mud all over my freshly mopped kitchen and leave pawprints all over my new white shirt. 

She will lick away my tears when I am sad and cuddle with me when I am sick. She will dedicate herself to me and shower me with adoring looks and wags so happy and fast that they knock her off her feet. She will rely on me to provide her with a loving home, full of kisses and hugs. She will know that she is loved and will never need to worry where her next meal will come from.  She will never worry that she is going to be left at a shelter when her family moves away or be chained to a tree for her whole life because her family doesn't want her to play in their garden. She will never worry that she will be neglected, abused or forgotten because to me, she is so much more than 'just a dog'... she is MY dog.

Chances are, YOU are not going to be the next Grammy winner or cure cancer. Chances are, you are going to be an average human being, which is exactly what I would expect from you. Being average doesn't make you unspecial... it just makes you... you. A person that deserves to be loved and treated with respect, just as my dog does.  To you, she is 'just a dog'... just as you are 'just a person'. 

So the next time you want to ask why I care so much about 'just a dog'... ask yourself why your loved ones care so much about 'just a person' like you."

_____________________________________________________

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

Claire, a Survival Story

Almost two months ago an amazing rescue in the Austin area, Big Dog Rescue took on a heartbreaking case involving Claire, a gorgeous white Great Dane. Claire was rescued from an abuse/neglect situation and upon being picked up by Bastrop County Animal Control, really didn't look like much of a dog. Weighing in at only 60 pounds and nearly hairless, Claire was in desperate need of medical care. 

Claire, day 1 in her new foster home.

After being taken to the Bastrop Shelter, Claire was evaluated and made such an impression on one of the staff members that they immediately picked up the phone and called Lorraine J. and Sarah T., who share the Vice-President position at Big Dog Rescue. It was quickly decided that Claire would come to BDR and move into the home of one of their fabulous Foster Parents!

Claire adjusted quickly to foster life and after receiving medical care for several issues, including 2 types of mange, horrible infections in both ears and severe malnutrition, Claire is on the road to a full recovery. She will still have a few medical issues to work with in the future, including Heartworms (a treatment plan is being set by her Veterinarian to ensure the health and safety of Claire), but all in all, a happy, healthy future is ahead for Claire!


Her foster mom, April has noted on her facebook page that Claire is a 'lap-dog' saying that, "It is one thing when a 70 pound Claire lays on top of you.... but when she is nearly 100 pounds, it gets to be a little painful! ...Time to show her that just her head on my lap will  be sufficient."

Claire in her Foster home, fitting right in with her foster family!

While Claire is looking forward to a future full of love and comfort, Big Dog Rescue is on a mission to ensure that her former owner does not have the chance to cause harm to any other animals. The Animal Control officer that found Claire was able to convince her former owner to surrender her, so Claire is no longer in any danger of landing back in the 'care' of her former owner. Unfortunately, Claire's former owner does still own animals and despite being arrested for Claire's obvious neglect, her current pets have not yet been taken from her. Claire's former owner's right to own animals will be up for discussion at her future court date. Big Dog Rescue is committed to raising awareness and continuing to fight for justice in Claire's honor.

© 'Claire'  |  8in x 10in painting by The Pet Studio

The Pet Studio is proud to support rescue organizations such as Big Dog Rescue, who are making an effort not only to dogs like Claire, but to No Kill Education all around our Austin community! This original painting of Claire is available for sale in my online store as well as a Necklace that is available for purchase! With each Necklace purchased, $4 will be donated to Big Dog Rescue to help continue their amazing rescue efforts! 

Order your "Claire" Necklace Here!

Stephanie Conrad
The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

_________________________________________________________________

Visit Claire's Facebook Page: 'Foster to Forever'

Visit Big Dog Rescue

Deaf Dogs Make Amazing Pets!

You thought sign language was just for humans and monkeys? Think again! 

In my years of rescue, I have been honored to know (and come to love) so many different animals with disabilities! Like snowflake, a rabbit with one eye or Indigo, a beautiful Pit Bull mix that sports a custom made wheelchair to help with his disabled back end. Among these many special needs animals, I have met and come to adore several deaf pets.

When I first met Charlie and Lucy, I was attending the first annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day in Austin, TX (of which I am now a committee member and official designer for this annual event). They were both sporting bandannas which let everyone around them know that they are both deaf and blind! I spoke with their mom at the event and over the last 2 years I have gotten to know this little family (even painting several pictures of these two beautiful pooches!) and I have to say that I fall more in love with them each time I see their cute little faces! (Even my husband now asks if they are coming to events so he can love all over them!)

Charlie came into his parents lives after a post on Facebook showed this little family of deaf and blind family desperately looking for a home. When Carol and John (Charlie & Lucy's parents) went to visit the little family, they fully intended to take home the shyest of the litter, which happened to be Charlie. Charlie's mother and 2 other pups from this little family were taken to Training by Tara's (a fabulous trainer in the Austin area) to be cared for. Charlie was right at home with Carol and John. 

© 'Charlie and Lucy'  |  16in x 20in painting by The Pet Studio

Lucy was rescued a short time later after her photo also showed up on Facebook. She was rescued from the same area as Charlie's little family, and is assumed to be a sibling from another litter to Charlie. As soon as it was noted that she may have a relationship to Charlie, Carol was on her way to pick up Lucy and bring her home to safety.

As a family with experience working with special needs pets, Carol and John adjusted quickly to these two pups and immediately began to work with them, creating a special training program specific to their needs. In addition to their human training, Charlie and Lucy are also teaching each other! When Lucy arrived, Charlie taught her how to play with toys, and that treats are delicious! He also stayed right by her side, making her feel at home and safe in their little pack. 

© "The Faces of Charlie"  |  18in x 24in by The Pet Studio

Charlie and Lucy are among a small group of extremely lucky animals. Unfortunately, animals with disabilities are often immediately killed in Animal Shelters across the country simply because they are looked upon as 'unadoptable'. 

Then there are groups like TN Safety Spotters, a non-profit charitable organization that specializes in deaf dog therapy! TN Safety Spotters focuses solely on Rescued Deaf Dalmatians, training them to work with children as reading education and therapy assistance dogs. This organization teaches dogs like Dora (who sadly passed away last year) sign language and travels around the country sharing their knowledge of deaf dogs and the amazing things that they can do! 

Born deaf, Dora was rescued as a tiny puppy and did not know any hand signals at all. When she passed away, at only 2 years old, she knew around 45 hand signals, ranging from a simple signal for 'Pay Attention" to more complicated signals like "Roll" and "Crawl Away". These signals not only helped Dora to focus on the world around her, but it helped in her educational therapy, teaching children fire safety and dog bite prevention!! Dora also spent time working with special needs children, showing them that she was just as capable of finding her own 'normal' as they are!

© 'Dora'  |  8in x 10in painting by The Pet Studio

Charlie, Lucy and Dora are all perfect exampled of how deaf dogs are just like dogs that have perfect hearing! Each dog is an individual, just like each person is an individual! We don't kill humans simply because we feel that they aren't worth saving because of their special needs, nor do we kill them simply because we feel there are too many humans running around.... Each animal deserves a chance to be loved by that perfect family! Our shelter system needs to embrace changes that give each animals that chance! By implementing programs proven successful by The No Kill Equation, each animals entering our country's shelter system would be given that opportunity!

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

________________________________________________

Related Stories:

Training by Tara's blog about Charlie's Rescue

In Loving Memory of Leo

Leo, known among the Animal Rescue community for his big smile and even bigger heart, passed away last week. Leo was not only special because of the joy that he brought his family, but because he was able to show the world that dogs with a 'bad reputation' really are just good dogs looking for love and guidance. 

© 'Leo' by The Pet Studio | 11in x 14in Canvas

Leo was one of the fifty dogs confiscated from the Michael Vick Dog Fighting Operation in 2007. Even though he had a rough start to his life, Leo didn't let that slow him down. As many people, including Large Animal Welfare Organizations, waited for these dogs to fail miserably in society, Leo (as well as most of the other Vick Dogs) went on to prove that dogs with a 'fighting history' or rough past are just as loving as any other dog, they just need the opportunity to thrive!

Picture taken by Our Pack, Inc

Dr. Leo did just that! He became a certified therapy dog, spending time with seniors and hospital patients. His foster mom and founder of Our Pack, Inc is quoted on the Our Pack website saying, "I've worked with hundreds of dogs. People are drawn to Leo. I've never had a dog that was so magnetic! He has such a tender heart." She calls him her Casanova!

Leo is the essence of the American Pit Bull Terrier.. loving, loyal and kind! He was eager to please and has brought joy to so many faces, mine included! Leo's story will be shared for generations, he has helped the world to see how wonderful a dog, regardless of breed or reputation, can be! 

______________________________________________________

As a Thank You for all that Our Pack, Inc does for the Rescued Animals in their care, The Pet Studio will be donating $2 from each sale of our 'Leo' Necklace to Our Pack, Inc until the end of the year! Order your Necklace in loving memory of Leo here.

Necklace Design 'Leo' © by The Pet Studio. 

Stephanie Conrad
The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!

A Heart of Gold.

A few weeks ago, one of my contacts at SoCal Bully Rescue emailed me with a very simple request.... to replace a gift certificate that one of her foster families lost during a house fire. After chatting with my SoCal Rescue friend, I heard the story of the fire, which was started due to a malfunctioning power strip. She went on to tell me about her wonderful Volunteer that not only lost her home during this fire, but she lost her pets as well.

Twenty minutes after leaving her home to run some errands, Val V., got the terrible phone call informing her that her home was in flames. She rushed home as quickly as possible, unfortunately the fire department informed her that the fire was an extremely hot fire and sadly her 3 personal dogs, Fifi, Tonka & Talula, her daughters Min Pin, her 2 cats and her 3 foster bulldogs did not survive.

When she arrived at her home, she asked the fire fighters to bring each of the pets out and she was able to say a last goodbye. It was determined that they all passed due to smoke inhalation. 

After hearing the story (and crying my eyes out then cuddling up with my own pets for a little bit), I let my rescue friend know that she didn't need to worry about the gift certificate. Instead, I spent the next couple of nights creating 3 special pieces in memory of Val's 3 Bulldogs, Tank and Talula and her French Bulldog, Fifi.

Val, who has been a foster parent for SoCal Bully Rescue for the past 5 years was described to me as a person with a 'heart of gold'. Val is known for taking in the senior and special needs pups, which is absolutely a blessing to any rescue organization, as these pups tend to be hardest to place with a foster family. Talula (profiled below) was the pup that introduced Val to the animal rescue world. Since then, she has been hooked, and while Val loves all pets, she is particularly attracted to those that need a little more love.

At home, Val is followed around by a Conga line of dogs, her friends playfully joke that they need a camera in her house to capture all of the silly moments between her and the dogs. Even through this tragedy, Val is jumping right back in to fostering, already bringing 2 new special needs foster bulldogs in to live with her (one with demodex mange & the other a puppy who has lost the use of his rear legs). While her fosters will never replace the babies that she lost, Val knows how important it is for these dogs to have a safe place to call home while they wait for their forever family.

A few days ago on Facebook, a friend took a quote and sent it to me from Val's facebook page, "I would be blessed to be able to care for all of the doggies waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for their humans and have all of my babies with me romping around... Now that would be heaven!"

Tonka

Tonka was very special boy.  When Valwas fostering him she quickly found out that something was not right with him, he was deaf.  Val worked with him and taught him hand commands and to trust her.

'Tonka' | 12in x 12in painting by The Pet Studio

Her son was in love with Tonka and they decided to adopt him.  Tonka and Val had a special bond that you could see when they were together, whenever she took him out everyone wanted to pet the big beautiful white bully.  He was sweet boy loved being kissed right in the face by his mama.   He was also almost 6 years old. He was the boy always sleeping on the couch. : )

Tonka taking a nap, one of Val's favorite pictures.

Talula
Talula was almost 6 years old, also calledLuLu Bear she was the apple of Val's eye.  Talula was Val's first adopted Bulldog from SoCal Bulldog Rescue. and the reason she started volunteering forSCBR.

'Talula' | 12in x 12in Painting by The Pet Studio

Talula was born with one eye and the breeder dumped her off at the animal shelter to be euthanized. SCBR thought she was the perfect fit for Val, the moment Val saw her she knew that was her girl. 

Talula posing in her pink for a photo.

When you went to Val's house you knew you would be greeted by Talula as soon as you walked in the door, she would right there pawing you for a scratch. She was a short, chubby girl who snorted around the house with her smile and her super friendly personality, you couldn't help falling in love with her.  Valtook her everywhere and like FiFi everyone fell in love with her, there was not a mean bone in her body, she was pure love.

Fifi

FiFi LeWink the French Bulldog (8yrs old)was surrendered with  3 bulldogs and  a Boston Terrier by a backyard breeder who decided he was going back to work instead of selling puppies.  FiFi was in deplorable condition, covered in dirt, it took severalbaths to figure out she was an all whitefrenchie. She had rotten teeth,  dirt in her intestines and was missing in eye because of a fight she had over food at the breeders house, she lived outside her entire life. Once at the vet for a spay, it was discovered she had a condition called Megacolon.

'Fifi LeWink' | 12in x 12in painting by The Pet Studio

With a lot of TLC, special food and supplements she blossomed to be a beautiful, healthy girl. FiFi was a superstar, everyone that met her wanted to take her home, at 15 pounds she could fit in someones purse.Val always joked that she had to do purse checks before people left her house.

Photo of Fifi.

FiFi was a sweet girl she was always near her mom, either following her or sitting on her lap.  She and Val had a special bond.

To donate to SoCal Bulldog Rescue in honor of Val and her pups, Click Here.

_________________________________________________

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

Follow The Pet Studio on Facebook!