Forever Homes
We all have them.
I'm talking about stories. Not just any stories but stories of how our wonderful pet's entered our lives and the impact they've made on us.
Belle is ours.
There are some things in life that just can't be explained. When our sweet feline Polly passed we sought to fill that hole in our hearts with another adoption. The Cleveland APL has been our resource of choice for our adoptions. This adoption, however, would prove to be enigmatic and momentous.
Now Polly was actually my wife's sweet little girl, finding another to follow her would be hard. At the shelter there were so many beautiful choices. Deciding on "the one" would be heartwarming and heartbreaking. The need was so great for adoption. But fate would step in and make the decision for us.
After making the rounds of a few rooms we entered the "recent arrivals" room. There in an enclosure was a little ball of white fur. My wife looked in and ask the volunteer to see the occupant. "Oh, that's Belle, she just got here" the volunteer said as she opened the door.
That was it! Belle jumped out of the enclosure into my wife's arms. We were shocked.
Belle was a reincarnation of Polly. The resemblance was amazing. Well, we had found the one, or did we find one another?
It was a wonderful moment for us and for Belle. She was going "home". But as I walked by the other enclosures and met the gaze of so many others looking for a home I resolved then to some day, in some way help those in need.
When I moved from hobbyist to a pet portrait professional, that resolve became more. It became my mission to bring hope to the homeless by connecting people with potential pets through my Finding Forever Homes Imitative. Through my art, advocacy and personal involvement with organizations and individuals that focus on the well-being of animals I now help animals in need find good homes.
Some of the organizations I work with and support include: The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL), Friendship Animal Protective League, Elyria, Ohio, and the Friends of Felines Rescue Center in Defiance, Ohio. Click the link for more information on each of these fine org
I invite you to do what you can too. Please adopt, foster or donate, it doesn’t take much to make a difference.