My previous post featured Sophie, a Jack Russell Mix, and today she's the subject of a Whiskers & Tales post! Sophie was a rescue by her mom, Sarah, who is the Vice President of Big Dog Rescue Texas, an awesome non-profit organization founded in 2008. BDR is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming unwanted dogs of all sizes that have been abandoned and neglected. But they don't just rescue BIG dogs. There are so many dogs in need out there that they expanded to all dog sizes and breeds. I'm thankful for that because I found my Rosie, a chihuahua/Jack Russell mix, through BDR! I'll share Rosie's photos in another post :)

Big Dog Rescue aims to provide a loving foster home, quality food, medical attention, and behavioral training for each dog in our care. Best of all, they promote the spaying and neutering of animals, advocate
for the animals in need, and are against killing healthy, adoptable animals.

I asked Sarah to write about her little Sophie as well as about Big Dog Rescue because I want more people to know about BDR and other rescues that are out there, sometimes behind the scenes, providing unconditional love to so many neglected animals that suffer the inhumanity humanity often displays toward animals. Here's what Sarah has to say:

Our biggest struggle is finding great fosters that want to take a dog into their home, show them love and help find homes for them.  We don't receive any funds from the city or have any grants so our rescue is soley based off of adoptions and donations.  All dogs that are pulled into Big Dog Rescue have all of their medical care paid for when taken to an approved vet. 

Our website is www.bigdogrescuetexas.org which will show all adoptable dogs along with happy tails and links to our wish list, along with foster and adoption applicatons.  We can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BigDogRescueTexas.

We have a great group of fosters and we try to keep it a fun group.  We hope to expand to help more animals in the very near future.

Thank you SO MUCH, Sarah, for sharing your story and for all you do with Big Dog Rescue! I know there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who would say THANK YOU as well- not just to you but to all the fosters and adopters who have passed through and continue to help BDR.

Please consider visiting their website and donating, whether it's money or pet supplies. And find them on Facebook, give BDR a "Like" and help to "share" stories of pets who need forever homes.

And here's Sophie! 

I'll have to share Sophie's story with you in a future Whiskers & Tales post. Her mom, Sarah, plays a very big role in a great charity called Big Dog Rescue and has a story to tell! So stay tuned for Sophie's story. 

And a new funky box:  A 7x7" Beautiful, hand painted wooden box featuring a lovable terrier in glasses!The lid is a vibrant light purple color, while the bottom and inside lid of the box are a beautiful mustardy-yellow. Inside is hand painted in purple. The lid and bottom are hinged with two thin, metal hinges on the bag and a fastener on the front. The fasteners aren't perfect, but they add a little quirky to this very quirky pup in glasses! This pup portrait box will make you smile everytime you see him- on the corner of your desk, on the bookshelf, or the small table by the front door.  

Here's a new Whiskers and Tales story for you, this time featuring Raleigh, a chihuahua/rat terrier mix who is almost 3 years old, and according to his mom, Leah, the love of her life! -aside from her husband, Jake, I'm sure :)
When I contacted Leah about writing a little somethin' on Raleigh's portrait, she exclaimed that that very day she had featured something on her own blog, Splendor & Folly about the portrait! So here's what she had to say:

Thanks so much, Leah! Raleigh will soon be featured on some handmade note cards, so stay tuned :)

EDIT:  Now YOU can find joy in Raleigh's face with these cute note cards, a set of 5 blank cards with matching envelopes for only $6.50! Click the picture to purchase in my Etsy shop.

I've decided to launch a new series on the BGAW blog in which I invite the parents of the many pets (and also some people) to share words about their beloved furries I've been blessed to paint! Today I'm going to share with you some words from Roxie & Ernie's Mom, Carole! Here's what she has to say about her two Boston Terriers, whom I had the privilege of painting back in March.

The picture done by Micah was taken from a photograph I took with my phone. The chair is an antique Morris chair that my husband lovingly restored many years ago.  This is their favorite perch to look out the window and keep an eye on their backyard as well as monitor our comings and goings in the driveway.

We have had 5 Boston Terriers since we got married in 1986.  We are extremely fond of this intelligent and personable breed. We don’t have kids but these dogs are very much our babies and mean the world to us.   We are very proud of both Roxie and Ernie and have enjoyed sharing their beautiful portrait with friends and family." 

Thank you so much for sharing, Carole! 
And readers, stay tuned for more Whiskers & Tales stories!

Aren't they fun??!
Also, it's not too late to order something for Mother's Day! Think Stationery, Art Print or Tote Bag! And take advantage of the 10% Coupon!