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"Goin' for a Ride (Molly)," 6x8, commissioned pet portrait, mixed breed (chow), private collection (thank you!).

I was especially moved by the letter that came with my client's stack of reference materials. She outlined the details of Molly's life - found wandering on a golf course, and moved from one household to another, ultimately landing in theirs at 9 months of age. The only child in a military family, Molly moved many times, leaving multiple friends in her wake, and eager to make new ones. When she passed away last year at the age of 10, she was mourned literally all over the country. She was special and wonderful to so very many.

And Molly's spirit continues impacting lives.

Because, with the purchase of Molly's portrait, monies raised for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary officially topped $1000!! Overall, the Painting a Dog a Day project has raised $1653 for animal welfare - that's a lot of kibble!!

I am so thrilled that you, my readers, have supported my endeavor to this level. And the amounts will continue to accrue, as I am booked out through November 2008, with many of those portraits allocated to support a particular organization.

So thank you to Molly, and to all the other equally special and wonderful dogs and cats who's paintings are part of this group.

How does the Painting a Dog a Day project raise money for animal welfare?

Well, each month during Animal Welfare Week (the first full week of each month), I profile animals from a particular shelter or rescue. 20% of the sales from those paintings are returned to the host shelter/rescue.

Furthermore, during that month the shelter or rescue is profiled, if you book a commission of an animal that came from that shelter or rescue, and mention this at the time we schedule your portrait, I will donate 20% of the proceeds from your purchase back to your animals' host.

Before I get deluged with requests to support various shelters or rescues, I want to mention that at this point I am focusing on Michigan based shelters and rescues. AND, those shelters or rescues need to be referred to me - I do a little research on their efforts, and check with various adoptees and families before agreeing to partner. (This does not mean that there are not many, many worthy causes out there that are deserving of support. I encourage you to find a means to help out these types of groups in your area - volunteering, fostering, donating toys/blankets/food - there are many ways to help out.)

I also have a standing relationship with Paws With a Cause - any PAWS service dogs portraits I paint qualify for that return donation.

And, as a thank you to Best Friends Magazine readers for their overwhelming support of the Painting a Dog a Day project, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary became a standing partner as well.

I am so blessed to be able to do what I love, give back to my community through the Animal Welfare support, and to give you, my readers, slivers of entertainment, and perhaps even a small memento of your beloved pet. Who'da ever thunk things would have turned out like this? (certainly NOT my 2nd grade teacher, who could not stand that I raced through my classwork in order to add a drawing or embellishment to the bottom of each page).

Thanks, as always, for looking.
And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family!
See you tomorrow,
Kim



Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings

http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.

Founding member of the Canine Art Guild
http://www.canineartguild.com/
the gateway to canine art on the web

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