Van Gogh is a special rescue dog with a tragic backstory. Before being rescued, he had been used as a bait dog in a dog fighting ring and sustained severe injuries, leading to the loss of one of his ears. Happily Furever After Rescue in Connecticut took him in, where he was loved and cared for by the founder, Jaclyn Gartner.
Due to his history as a bait dog, it was difficult to get him adopted. To help him find a home, Gartner came up with an innovative idea – using his love of licking to create personalized paintings. She put a blank canvas covered in paint in a plastic bag with a tasty treat, like peanut butter or wet dog food, and had Van Gogh lick it off to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. He quickly created ten pieces of art.
Gartner held an art sale at the foster home, but unfortunately, only two people attended. Nevertheless, she didn’t give up and posted about the remaining paintings on the rescue’s Facebook page. Van Gogh’s story went viral, and people from around the world were interested in his artwork. Gartner held an online silent auction where people could bid on his paintings, with all proceeds going to the rescue.
Thanks to the exposure, Van Gogh is now in a foster-to-adopt situation, with the possibility of a forever home. Despite his past trauma, Van Gogh’s story has touched the hearts of many and has become a global sensation, all thanks to the creativity and determination of his foster mom, Jaclyn Gartner.