The Pandemic Pet Project Hits 800!

It all started back in April when a friend asked me to draw his family pets. They were stuck at home and the kids were bouncing off the walls. When I sent them the drawings, they posted them on Facebook and before I knew it, more and more friends were asking me to draw their cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and even one blind raccoon. 

I thought I'll distract myself with this fun project until this virus goes away. If it lasts a few weeks, I will get to make a few people happy along the way. Little did I know that the pandemic wouldn't stop or even slow down, so I kept drawing. 

A few of my friends offered to pay me for the drawings, so that's when I got the idea of using the art to raise money for pet rescue organizations. I've always believed in "pay it forward" with all of my philanthropy and I rarely just hand the money over. I love doing fundraisers and using my art to raise money because obviously as a writer (and under-employed at this point) I don't have the funds to support all of the things I want to do.  

Then, the Bay Area News Group contacted me one day and I was interviewed for an article that appeared in the San Jose Mercury News and The East Bay Times. During the two days after the article came out, 250+ people sent me photos of their pets to draw. 

I stressed out for a day or so, but then bought some new pens and pencils, a bunch of colorful envelopes, and a ton of stamps. I drew the 250 pets in 125 days and then ABC News did a piece on the Pandemic Pet Project, resulting in another deluge of pet photos. 

https://abc7news.com/animal-shelters-art-for-good-donations-fundraiser/6376795/

What have I created here? What is the end game? 

Yesterday, I drew my 800th pet by doing four every day since mid-April. My plan is to draw as long as I keep getting photos of pets with the idea of wrapping it up when I hit the big 1,000! 

So, if you know someone who wants a piece of original art and is willing to make a small donation to the pet rescue organization of their choice, there is still time. Also, if you received your art, please don't forget to take a photo of my drawing and the Post-It for our social media. And if you haven't donated yet please do so--it really means a lot. 

Thanks for participating in my crazy art project and remember this--"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali