Obama the mutt
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When Barack Obama announced that the next pooch to piddle on the White House lawn would be a rescue, he referred to the kennel critters as “mutts like me.”
With millions of animals trying to claw their way out of our nation’s shelters to a better life, the likening of a historic president to desperate animals will no doubt drive adoptions when it’s needed most.
Apparently, the president-elect’s announcement also drove Pia Salk, an animal advocate who works with adopt-a-pet.com, to take action.
She contacted Shepard Fairey, the artist responsible for the iconic “Hope” portrait of Obama. According to a statement by Fairey on obeygiant.com, Salk wanted to see if there was a way to use his art to save shelter animals. Fairey was happy to do it:
... I’m a big believer in speaking up for all who suffer injustice, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or in this case, species! And I’m all for adopting from the shelter. My wife and I share our home with 2 pooches, George and Weezie, who is a rescue.
Using a childhood dog for inspiration (a mutt named Honey), Fairey created a limited edition run of 400 signed-and-numbered silk-screen prints. All proceeds will go to saving shelter animals through adopt-a-pet.com.
Hopefully, between Obama’s announcement and the efforts of solid citizens like Salk and Fairey, more of us will be inspired to adopt from a shelter.
Because every mutt has presidential verve.
--Graham McCann
Image credit: adoptapet.com