Reporter
matthew.chin@guardian.co.tt
About two weeks ago, the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) teamed up with local visual artist Laura Ferreira to not only give members of the public original artwork but to also help expedite the adoption of foster dogs and cats by those willing to love and protect them.
The incentive to adopt from the current pool of 137 dogs and 22 cats housed at the TTSPCA Port-of-Spain Shelter includes a four-by-four oil portrait of the animal, mounted on an easel.
Ferreira, who is an animal lover herself, is a self-taught fine art portrait photographer and traditional portrait artist from T&T. She began painting portraits in 2012 and paints both people and animals, working with acrylics, oils, and charcoal.
“I wanted to bring a bit more attention to the TTSPCA ... it’s going to be a special we’re going to do every now and then because it takes time for me to create portraits. I think the three portraits are already taken up; the three dogs have already been adopted,” Ferreira said.
However, the reasons for the collaboration, as described by the Operations Manager of the TTSPCA and member of the Animal Welfare Network Sara Maynard are sombre, arising from what she observed as an increase in animal cruelty cases in the country and a decline in adoptions as well.
“We have seen an increase in deliberate animal cruelty. I have to say I have seen an increase in the last year and a half. People tend to take out (their frustrations) on the weaker members of society, which are the elderly, children, and animals. We have statistics; a lot of it before was cruelty through ignorance. But, (now), I am seeing deliberate beatings … ” Maynard lamented.
“It’s a slow period for adoption, we’re seeing less and less adoptions because people perhaps have less money available ... less time. What we’re seeing is a lot of animals being brought in,” Maynard said.
According to Ferreira, her portraits work as incentives, so people would feel more inclined to adopt them knowing that they would be accompanied by a painting.
“It’s like the next one to get adopted gets a (portrait); it’s a little four-by-four portrait that comes with an easel to put on the table somewhere. This is the first time we (TTSPCA and Ferreira) did this,” Ferreira said.
Recalling how she got in contact with the artist, Maynard shared that a friend of hers told her that Ferreira wanted to help promote animals for adoption through portraits.
“I’ve seen her work and it is excellent. So I reached out to Laura and I said, ‘I understand you’re willing to do this’ and she said, ‘Sure!’” Maynard said.
“I think it is a wonderful thing because you have this keepsake of this animal that you’ve taken out of the shelter, even when the animal passes you have (it).”
When Ferreira was asked if she would ever do an exhibition solely of pet portraiture, the idea was welcomed wholeheartedly.
“I would love to do that! I absolutely love painting animals. Five years ago, when I was just doing photography mostly and fashion stuff, I would’ve never thought, I’m a pet portrait person now,” Ferreira said.
“When you talk about the treatment of animals, that runs deep. When I see a man kick a dog at the side of the road, I start to think, What kind of life does this man have? Or what is the psychology behind that abuse?”
Moreover, to better educate members of the public on how to take care of their pets, Maynard revealed that their Port-of-Spain shelter will soon open an educational centre for children aged 12 to 16 years old later this year where they will be taught about animal welfare in a “different way” through videos and lectures.
“We recognise that it’s very important to teach the next generation. The Animal Welfare Network has a primary school programme, and the TTSPCA has Mucurapo West Secondary School students coming here, and then we have some schools that come in to do a week of work to understand the runnings of a shelter and working in an animal welfare environment,” Maynard said.
Praising the initiative, Ferreira considered the educational centre a great idea, saying it would help people develop their empathy towards not only animals but people as well.
“For me, it starts with animals, just like how it starts with “Don’t litter”. It’s the little things …” Ferreira said.