No, this isn't Bo, the newest Obama resident in the White House! But she could have been! This is gorgeous Pepper, who is up for adoption from a rescue right nearby: The K9Lifesavers http://www.k9lifesavers.org/

I'm hoping Pepper and her fellow Portuguese Water Dogs up for adoption will be all the rage and someone will just have to have the newest, coolest dog breed! She's around 3, which means she's through the stressful puppy times and would happily settle in!

Now, Bo has a nice big fenced yard, even though he's just moved into a big city! Lots of us without are not permitted to adopt any dogs, even if we have experience and a track record of keeping dogs from birth to "rainbow bridge" as elderly seniors in an urban environment. So lots of dogs just never can make it out of foster care/shelters just because of that one requirement, no matter how wonderful his prospective humans would be.

But here's hoping for Bo to have a happy and long life, and Pepper too! I love to support dog rescues, and especially seniors (see blog post below this!) And here's hoping the PWDs in rescue benefit from the publicity!

I'm American Animal Artist, Robin Zebley. To read my whole blog about animals and art, just click on the banner at the top. To keep updated when I write a new article or show artwork, just click on "following my blog" to your right. My pet portrait website is robinzebley.com and my woodcut prints and other work are for sale at etsy...just click on the link at the top right of this page. Thanks for visiting!

Otto - the "boxer - bull mastiff" who turned into a pitbull

Well, what do you think, breedwise? We had recently lost Chester, our beagle/basset hound, and wanted some company for Gus, our little "mutt terrier". Gus loved big dogs, ignored little ones her size, so we set out to adopt a bigger dog. Although we had healthy, happy dogs for years, we couldn't adopt! We lived in a rowhouse and most rescues required a fenced in yard. I have very strong feelings about city dogs and what I see as a lethal requirement that only folks with fenced in yards can adopt a dog in need. But that's another story. We found Otto in an ad in the paper at a pet store that specialized in mixed breeds. He was a "boxer bull mastiff" Well...here's how he turned out. When he was a puppy and people said he was a pitbull, I'd say "He's NOT a pitbull! He's a boxer/bull mastiff!"...but obviously, after 9 years, I've accepted him as he is!!! He's the best! He thinks the world was created to make friends with. I just hope whoever bought his brothers and sisters didn't reject them when they realized the unscrupulous pet store sold them a breed that needs very good parenting.

I'm pet portrait artist Robin Zebley. My site is robinzebley.com If you'd like to see more of this blog, just click on the banner at the top. To get updates, click on "follow my blog" to your right. Thanks for visiting, and I'd appreciate if you'd forward my links to others you know might be interested! Robin