Did you know that pet portraits can go a long way in helping rescued animals find homes? We previously shared how a Pennsylvania nonprofit and local artists helped significantly boost adoptions at rescues by painting cats and dogs. Now, they’re getting another big boost from Pennsylvania middle schoolers!
Rescued Pets Get a Crown in Student Pet Portraits
The Stray Cat Relief Fund shared their delight at being part of the project with middle schoolers from George A. McCall School. The school has been praised for building bridges with the community along with many outstanding partnerships.
Through an animal advocacy project, the students:
- Select a rescued animal up for adoption to draw and paint.
- Give the animal a crown, highlighting the importance of adopting animals
After being chosen for the project, the rescue shared that their “hearts swelled.“
“This is so heartwarming, and we are blown away that we were selected. Also, the love and care the students put into their illustrations of these cats is so beautiful. They are very talented and we are so honored,” the Stray Cat Relief Fund wrote.
Below, you can see the pawesome results of the project, capturing the likeness of each kitty searching for a home. Given this kind of creative focus, each cat gets a much-needed boost. As a result, the likelihood they will find a home will shoot up. For example, the local artists found their portraits helped dogs find homes by as much as 70%!
Top left: Sati, who painted Dino and Clifford, Bottom left: Mi Lan, who painted Leaf
Top left: Yawei, who painted Spencer, Bottom left: Seth , who painted Little Man
More Ameowzing Portraits
Another nonprofit, Lucky Lives Cat Rescue, shared the result when a student donated a painting of Melody the cat.
“Thank you so much, Sophia, for thinking of Lucky Lives and for this TALENTED depiction of our sweet Melody, who was recently adopted and is loving life now in her forever home. What an amazing and creative assignment! We love it! And THANK YOU, Ms. Erica M., for shedding light about rescue animals onto our youth and including us in the fun!”
Sophia’s painting of Melody the cat
Below, check out the inspurrational results shared by PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society). Already, families have adopted many of the pets!
“Special thanks to art teacher Erica Mandell, M.A., for her leadership and creative vision, to the McCall School, and to the brilliant students who captured PAWS’ animals so beautifully.”
In each portrait, you get a sense of both the cat and the artists’ unique and comical qualities.
As you can see below, some cats were the muse (mews?) for multiple students!
After seeing these, it makes you wonder what would happen if every shelter cat had a spotlight like this! What a great idea which has already proven effective in helping save lives for pets. Thanks to the students of George A. McCall School for doing an outstanding job to raise awareness for shelter pets in your community.
Purrhaps, sharing stories like these can inspire more schools around the country to create art that saves animals.
