Theresa Van Ert

MONA “LISA” (her human parent): This ageless beauty is fortunate to be adopted by a young woman who did not care she was in her prime at age 15. She loves and cares for Mona even if her days will not be as long as a young kitten. The sad reality is the fate of the older pets are often left on their own in a shelter when their original owners for whatever hardship, have to surrender them. Ageism is not just a sad story for us humans, but it can be for the sweet animals who need comfort as much as we do in the final years of life. I surrounded her with ‘Forget Me Nots’ blooms and the red rose of love which are her new human parents’ favorite flowers. Mona is a lucky girl to be spending her final years in the warmth of love in her new home.

MOON RIVER SIBBLINGS: “Moon River, wider than a mile: I'm crossing you in style someday. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker: Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way. Two drifters, off to see the world: There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbow's end: Waitin' 'round the bend…” Composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer; then famously sung by Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. These two kittens share the bond of brother and sisterly love who are and will remain by each other’s side sharing dreams and adventures throughout their lives with their human mom.

BOUNTY BENDER: For keeping the mice away from his home in Chehalis, Washington. This shark-finned rascal cuties' favorite past-time is to roam the property where he lives to keep mice away from his adopted parents' home. When not hunting, you can find him lounging on his cat bed and soaking up all the love and appreciation from his human caretakers. You will always find a trail of paw prints on any car surrounding his hunting grounds as an affirmation that he is fulfilling his duty of the mouse bounty hunter.

VINNIE VALENTINO: If ever there was the greatest lover of a cat this guy would be it. He exudes old Hollywood glam with every photo taken, appealing to all the masses just like the late gorgeous Rock Hudson. If Vinnie could create a Bolly or Holly, it would be called “Kittenwood” and would be just a formidable as the other two. He shares his hugs with his sister Missy and adopted human parents with wrapping his paws around them as he cuddles close for protection of those he cares for.

JASPER & JASMINE (Birch Bay Beauties): If you have recently adopted a cat that is an indoor/outdoor pet you have or will very soon experience the love of a “gift” from your feline friend. Might be a field mouse, snake, rabbit or various leftover parts of such creatures spread out over the yard or in your home. These two beauties were lucky to live next to a wild field space at the end of small quiet dead-end road. They gifted my sister and niece with acts of a hunters’ love… often. Because they are sharing their acts of bravery, the only thing to do is say thank you and discard when they are not looking. Along with being incredible hunters, these two cared for and protected their human parents. Always hugging and staying by their sides as they slept or when not feeling well. They lived a safe life of freedom in a small beach town near the Canadian border and will always be remembered and loved forever.

JEFF & AUNT B (-WARE): Of Jeff that is… There are plenty of siblings out there that would argue that the saying ‘Family is Thicker than Blood’ is just not true, and these two kittens are proof. Jeff, as adorable and hilarious as he can be, becomes the devil himself when around his sister Aunt B, taunting her like some brothers do. Aunt B with all her wisdom and maturity of an old soul obviously cannot be bothered by his silly behavior. She knows who she is and stays strong with the love of her human parents.

RYLIE (AKA Noodle): Rylie picked up the name Noodle because he goes limp like a noodle when you pick him up. Noods being the newest member of his human family. They joke that he is just a little boy stuck in a dogs’ body. He is a true class clown who keeps them all laughing at his antics. He spends his days chasing butterflies and playing fetch with himself but also alerting everyone in the house what’s happening in the neighborhood. He has a VERY big underbite which makes his tongue stick out a little bit all the time. He keeps his human parents’ young by taking them on three walks a day and weekly adventures to the beach.

WAYLON MOON: When Waylon was a tiny puppy, he would only stop crying when his human parent played music by Waylon Jennings, so he became Waylon Moon. Way has a very tough boy exterior that he shows the rest of the world but at home he is a couch potato and lover. Way spends the majority of his days sleeping on ridiculously comfortable beds and crying when his blanket falls off when it’s cold. He truly spends most of his life sleeping or suntanning outside and when he is up, he loves to hunt lizards and run around the desert.

HONORABLE HARPER: Harper was adopted by her human parents while a student at Gonzaga University. If the university had not already another established mascot dog, Harper would have been the perfect choice. She befriended everyone she knew and was considered a well-loved and honorable student herself recognized on campus. After graduation she joined her soon to be married human parents to live the rest of her life in Portland, OR. Parks were her roaming playgrounds and she never left home without her favorite hedgehog toy. In her final hours she was visited by friends and family at the park of her parents’ wedding. It was a beautiful send off for such a beloved pet who will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

BOATING BODIE: Bodie is a rescue that started life in a border town in Texas. He was offered up for free on Facebook, and luckily a dog lover rescued him from a pretty horrible situation. She was not able to keep him and he ended up being flown to Seattle to a rescue organization. Ultimately his human parents found and adopted him. He was very wary of them at first, and it took a long time to trust them. Everything still is pretty much on his terms, but slowly trust is being gained. He has a very playful, goofy side when relaxed, and loads of personality. He has brought tons of joy to his human parents’ and they just want him to have a great life with fun adventures like kayaking. His human parents like to say "He's small but he's scrappy."

JAYLAH & JINJI (“Lady and the Tramp”): Jaylah and Jinji are two rescue kitties who live just north of the US border in Canada. Two more differently-natured cats you will ever meet. They are the yin-and-yang of kitties. Jaylah is a quiet, reserved Ragdoll girl, whose almost silent meows sound like they come from long ago and far away. Her catwalk would look elegant on any runway. Jinji is a four-years-younger former street boy, picked up as an escapee from a cat hoarding house. He plays rough-and-tumble, and his vocalizations sound like those of a small Velociraptor on the hunt. He is a furry wrecking ball who prowls the house with the swagger of a street punk. Both cats love their human family. Jaylah is a nose kisser. Jinji is a hugger. Each is hilarious, in their own way. Because Jaylah is scared of Jinji, this portrait is pretty much the only way to get a picture of them together!”

VINNIE & MISSY (The ZEN Siblings): Vinnie and Missy’s original human parent had terminal cancer and was looking for someone special to adopt the brother and sister together. My sister and niece drove from Redding, CA to Salem, OR to meet this lovely woman and her one-year-old shy kittens. When they returned home, the human parent of the kittens immediately emailed my sister that she would love for her to care for them. Missy and Vinnie are inseparable and always cuddling and loving on each other. They no longer are shy and hug and love their new human parents’ as well. My sister says that she feels closer to these two Zen kitties than any other cats she has adopted.

BABZ ON THE BEACH: Babz is a savvy and social city girl who lives in the sometimes “gender fluid” West End of Vancouver near the popular beach area and hotel (Hotel Sylvia and English Bay Beach) where she loves to play. Her human mom says Babz is quite “fluid” herself, not entirely committed to her designated female gender. Babz has her very own quirky sense of style and humor, and like many West End residents, enjoys a variety of delicious foods. She is very devoted to her mom.

THE DUKE OF ALL TIME: My dad was a fan of John Wayne, “The Duke” so it was only appropriate that one of my earliest known family dogs was named Duke. Serendipitous that John Wayne got this nickname “little Duke” as a child from local fireman because he never went anywhere without his large pet Airedale Terrier, “Duke.” Our Duke was a very loyal and watchful dog, my dad’s dog who looked out for us kids along-side my mom’s dog, Lassie. Like my dad who grew up on a farm in Neligh Nebraska, loved Johnny Cash, and is a very hard worker, Duke followed in his footsteps. Lassie on the other hand, like my mom who grew up in LA, and who loved fashion, ice skating and listened to Ella Fitzgerald was an elegant and smart lady dog. Both were always by my side as I struggled along as a toddler with a cast up to my thigh from being kicked by a pony (petting it in the wrong place!). Lassie’s painting will be coming soon.

FOR THE LOVE OF OPAL: My dad and his wife were the human parents of Opal, who was the daughter of Pearl. She and Pearl grew up on small Arabian horse ranch in Northern California which was surrounded by horses, barn cats, chickens, another herding dog and the occasional cow. They had a large green yard with gardens as well as a pasture and acres to roam. When Opal passed away and I wanted to portray her in her new life in a field of green and colorful flowers, a place of happiness for her human parents who gave her a good life filled with love.

SASSY SABER: My other sister describes Saber as a sweet, well-tempered loyal pet who always had something to say. She loved to debate, not just bark for bark’s sake, but to carry on a convincing conversation in her own dog language about why she should have what she wanted and when she wanted it. Her favorite spot to do this was right outside my sister’s bedroom glass door that led to Sabers dog house. My sister had her writing desk there and Saber would often sit by that glass door trying to convince her that if she just would let her in, she promises not to disturb her while she worked. It was Saber’s routine and my sister’s fondest memory of her past friend so I wanted to paint this lasting story for her.

SUMMER STRUTTING: I grew up on a small “farm” in suburbia Redding, CA. We had fruit and nut trees, a large vegetable garden, chickens, rabbits and the occasional farm animal (that us kids would always give adoring names which annoyed my); along with our favorite cat and dog friends that my mom would rescue. But it was the rooster and ‘Tom-Turkeys' that I remember well as they were relentlessly protective over their hens. It often felt like a courageous feat of survival to gather the eggs from these proud protectors! They were the gorgeous keepers of their realm and respect was well deserved and given, as their strut was impressive.

POLISHED POLISH ARABS: Arabian horses are famous for loyalty to their keepers as well as beauty, stamina and endurance. My dad and his wife bred and raised these beautiful creatures during their retirement years. And although it was as much a business, the affection for them was also very personal. Isabella was the perfect example; never trained for riding, she was a beautiful bay who used to follow my dad around like a loyal pup feigning for his attention. She was gorgeous to watch run through the pasture with all the pride of an Arabian. My favorite was Ezekiel (Ziek) who had a gate that was smooth and solid. He and Lilly were the two remaining towards the end growing old together. When he passed, Lilly was adopted into a retirement pasture for aging horses where she lived her remaining days in a peaceful paradise with other horses.

SPRING BEGINNINGS

RESILIENCE