As well as being on Twitter, l also have a Facebook account. Mostly l connect with old work colleagues, but also l follow a page "Urgent part 2". For those animal lovers amongst you, it's truly a mix of the best and worst l honestly consider humanity has to offer; the animals (mostly dogs, but also has been known to feature five week old kittens) are all on a 'death row' roll call in a shelter in the US due for euthanising the next day. The list is issued just hours before these animals are doomed, in a last, desperate attempt to save their lives.
Each list posts photographs of beautiful, wanting dogs & cats with no other crime than being abused, abandoned or dumped to die. Photographed in a little room with the slogan "adopt me" emblazed on the wall, the race is then on for the truly remarkable team of fosterers, non kill shelters etc to network through the night, to "pull" these tragic creatures before the carnage can begin, the next morning.
I mentioned at the start that the page showcased the hell so many animals have and will face in this place. To see the list is heartbreaking, gutwrenching...but to then see the frantic crossposting, sharing, donating and physical contacting that ensues by the caring, compassionate souls who are prepared to stay online right through the night if they have to, to shorten and eliminate, if they only can, the entire list before daybreak, reduces me to tears. Every time without fail. So much so, that l was inspired several weeks ago to paint one of these dogs.
His name: Adam
- and this is his portrait - as l work on it.
