Previous Animal Updates: May 25, 2009
Sponsorship just got better looking!
Sponsorship is Home for Life's bread-and-butter donation program, providing a regular stream of funds that we need in order to feed and care for our residents. At $25 a month or $300 a year, it takes eight sponsors to fully cover the cost of caring for one animal.
In addition to the knowledge that they're contributing directly to an animal's well being, sponsors receive regular updates about the events in their sponsored pet's life, along with photos. Until recently, the photos were taken by Home for Life staff, who have plenty of other duties to attend to, and who rarely come to us with a background in photography.
Starting this April, sponsors are receiving photos taken by professional photographers who volunteer their time in support of our sponsorship program. Each shoot is a two-day commitment, so we're grateful to these photographers for providing our sponsors with photos worthy of display in home or office. Each photographer has a unique style, so sponsors will be treated to a variety of artistic interpretations of their subject.
Who wouldn't want to receive this quintessential bunny portrait, featuring HFL resident Snowball?
April's batch of photos was taken by Butch McCartney of Photography by McCartney in Woodbury, Minnesota. Originally a photojournalist, Butch and his wife Kelsy now operate a full-time photography business that specializes in weddings, graduation portraits, and dog shows.
Butch captures the trademark attitude of Bee Bee, elderly queen of the small dog apartment.
Butch's portraits of Home for Life's residents seem to capture the energy of the moment. Looking at them, one wonders what is about to happen.
To see more of Butch's Home for Life photos, visit his Home for Life gallery.
Check back in the coming months to see more portraits, including some by Sara Beth Photography and Darin Back Photography. Perhaps you'll find an animal that you'd like to sponsor.
Right now, about 50% of Home for Life's animals have at least one sponsor, and 25% are fully sponsored (having eight sponsors). The animals profiled on our website represent just a portion of the 125 dogs, 150 cats, one elderly pony, a paraplegic goat, one sulcata tortoise, about 10 rabbits, and 10 parrots who call our sanctuary their home. Below is just a sampling of the animals who still await full sponsorship:
| Cats | Dogs |
| Peaches Periwinkle Pharaoh Phillip and Diego Pierre Pipp |
Sammy Sheila Shorty Skippy and Hattie Spirit Stella |
For more information about sponsorship, see our Sponsorship page.
Join artist Stephen Huneck in lending a helping hand
The official Lend a Helping Hand print by Stephen Huneck
Stephen Huneck, Home for Life's "artist in residence," and his wife Gwen have launched an innovative new program to help Home for Life's animals. Their Lend a Helping Hand program recognizes that even in this time of economic upheaval, we cannot forget about the welfare of the animals that surround us.
To participate in program, you can purchase anything on the Stephen Huneck Gallery website and designate Home for Life® as the organization you'd like to help. The Hunecks will donate 50% of your purchases of Fine Art Giclee Prints and Original Woodcuts and 10% of your purchases of other products to Home for Life®.
As part of the program, Stephen and Gwen also donated the original woodcut print titled Home Sweet Home for the auction held at our annual Fall Gala this September. See right column for more information about this and other upcoming events.
About Stephen Huneck
Stephen has carved out a niche in the art world as a sculptor
with a playful twist. His woodcuts, prints, and other artworks feature mainly
dogs and the occasional human or cat. He has also written seven books inspired
by his black Lab, Sally.
After a serious illness and miraculous recovery, Stephen had a vision to build a Dog Chapel, "a place where people can go and celebrate the spiritual bond they have with their dogs. It is the largest artwork of my life and my most personal."
Stephen Huneck's home and studio are in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Nearby is Dog Mountain where the Dog Chapel is located.