A self-proclaimed “crazy dog lady” has raised more than $15,000 for a Michigan shelter and found forever homes for many long-term couch-based animals.
NEWAYGO, Mich. — Most artists draw inside the lines. Newaygo's girlfriend Lisa Portenga has created her own line.
“It started when my oldest daughter got married in 2006. She wanted a medieval wedding, and I think that's where my creativity started to flow,” says Lisa. Told.
Her usual medium is discarded items that are no longer needed.
“Junk,” she laughed. “I make a lot of steampunk-like things using old clocks, gears, and cogs.”
No wonder her muse would suffer the same fate.
“I'm very passionate about rescue. I'm very, very passionate about that,” she said. “I want to be a foster parent. We've been foster parents before, but her husband says I can't be a foster parent.”
In front of a gray wall, on a gray sofa, in a gray sweater, Lisa sits in her office, bringing the world of color to life.
“It all started with Hearts of Hope and their group of 12 puppies. They called them the Brew Crew,” she recalled.
Lisa used an app on her iPad to hand-draw a portrait of her pet. Being an artistic person, she thought it would be a creative outlet for her. She used one of her new puppies as a guide.
“I posted it and they were like, 'Oh my gosh, this is so cute.' Can you do the other 11?' Then I said, 'I'm going to do a fundraiser with cartoon pets. I started thinking, 'Maybe I can do it.'
The next stage of life brings relaxation.
“I'm retired. It's becoming a full-time job,” she said.
Instead, the purpose is to set the stage for Lisa. In just six months, she has raised more than $15,000 for shelters across the state.
“I'm booked through June,” she said, placing her iPad on her lap. “I still have a life to live, and I'm still doing the things I want to do. But most of the time I'm just sitting here drawing.”
She is working with a Michigan shelter on a week-long fundraiser. When she orders a pet portrait for $20, half is donated to Lisa and the other half is donated to the shelter of her choice to benefit.
Lisa has also drawn cartoons of long-term animals at each of the shelters she has worked with. Adorable new versions of their photos help attract attention and often lead to adoption.
Lisa has drawn over 2,000 cartoons, from dogs in suits to geckos, the famous New Era farm sloth, hairless guinea pigs to horses, and even a simple portrait of a dog's butt. , I've drawn everything.
“She thought it was so cute and I was like, 'Okay!'” Lisa laughed.
Lisa is on the couch, a few miles away at Pound Buddies, changing her life forever.
“She contacted us and offered to do this to raise money for the shelter,” said executive director Lana Carson. “It cost $675. So we experimented on 57 dogs, six cats, and one guinea pig.”
“Bless her creative heart,” Lana said. “It automatically brought a smile to my face.”
In a job that can sometimes be dark, people like Lisa are a light.
“When other people come in and they're really anxious and excited to help, it not only helps the shelter, but it gives us so much motivation and excitement,” Lana said. said.
“Sometimes we see the worst in a few people, but we often see the best in others,” Rana said.
It's not hard to find the best parts of Lisa when she spends her retirement poring over her portraits.
“There are other things humans can do, like foster and adopt, and this is what I can do,” Lisa said.
In her gray office, she paints a world of color outside the lines.
“The happy ending makes it all worth it,” she smiled.
Get your dog cartoon and support Michigan shelters for just $20 by ordering from Lisa's Facebook page “Cartoon Your Pet” or by ordering from Lisa's website.
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