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Artist’s work to aid nation’s homeless pets
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A charity event featuring a Scottsdale artist is aimed at helping four-legged friends across the nation find good homes.
PetSmart Charities, Inc., the non-profit arm of Phoenix-based animal product retailer PetSmart, is launching its annual “Just a Buck, Change Their Luck,” charity campaign next week.
Artist Mitch Henderson, known for his colorful animal portraiture, was selected in a nationwide search to create the art work for this year’s campaign’s merchandise, said Kim Noetzel, a spokeswoman for PetSmart Charities.
The two-week campaign will run at all PetSmart locations nationwide and in Canada and online at www.PetSmart.com, from Aug. 9- 26.
Proceeds from the merchandise, which features multi-colored “pop art” style artwork of dogs and cats on items ranging from T-shirts to mouse pads (priced from $5 to $15) will benefit organizations that help animals in need and are dedicated to animal adoption, pet retention and animal education programs, according to PetSmart Charities. The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.9 million in the U.S. and $150,000 in Canada, reported PetSmart Charities.
“The artists (we choose) are usually very involved with animal welfare and paint/design artwork based on shelter pets. Ultimately Mitch was chosen because we were familiar with his work and because we know he is so very passionate about the cause,” said Noetzel, adding its important to select an artist who shares PetSmart Charities’ commitment to saving animals’ lives and promoting the adoption of shelter pets.
Henderson, who is represented by the Wilde-Meyer Gallery in Scottsdale, said he was thrilled to be chosen to be part of the charitable campaign.
“I was really excited to find out my art will be in every PetSmart store in the U.S. and Canada. And this is such a great cause,’” said Henderson, who favors dogs, cats, cows and horses as his subject matter of choice.
Noetzel said that new this year is a free online pet photo contest that will accompany the charity campaign. The winning dog and cat, she said, will be featured on next year’s campaign merchandise.
Entry forms can be found on www.petsmartcharities.org.
Local organizations that have benefited from PetSmart Charities’ “Just A Buck, Change Their Luck,” campaign in the past have included the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix, the Arizona Feline Network in Scottsdale and the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue in Gilbert, Noetzel said.
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