The Dog That Healed Me and the Portrait That Gave Back

In 2007, I rescued a severely abused husky named Isaiah — and in many ways, he rescued me right back.

Isaiah came to me deeply wounded, confused, and shut down. But through quiet affection, patience, and a safe home, he slowly began to trust again. Over time, he became not only affectionate but truly one of the best dogs I’ve ever known. That journey of healing — his and mine — changed my life.

Grateful beyond words, I wanted to give back. That’s when I connected with the passionate individuals running a husky rescue called Angels of the Snow. Their work was tireless and deeply compassionate. I joined the board for a short time and witnessed firsthand the heart it takes to care for animals in need.

To this day, when someone commissions a portrait from me, I want them to know: You're not just preserving a memory — you're honoring a life. You're helping keep that spirit of love and gratitude alive.

If you're someone who’s been changed by a pet — who’s shared a healing bond like I had with Isaiah — I would be honored to paint their portrait for you.

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Some portraits begin with a rescue, a moment of grace, or a life forever changed. This is the story of Isaiah — a husky whose journey from brokenness to healing inspired not just my art, but my mission to honor the deep bond between people and their pets. If you’ve ever loved a dog like family, I invite you to read on — and if you're looking to capture that love in a portrait, click here to learn more about commissioning your own custom painting."When I rescued my husky Isaiah, I had no idea he would change my life forever. In this post, I share the story of how his healing journey inspired me to give back through art — including painting pet portraits that honor the deep bond between people and their pets."

📰 This story was even featured in our local newspaper

Together as a team, we decided to honor the woman who led it all — the president of the rescue — with a special gift: a hand-painted pet portrait of her beloved dog, Angel, the stunning white husky who inspired the name of the rescue itself.

It wasn’t just a picture of a dog. It was a symbol of all the lives touched through rescue — including mine. It was also my way of saying thank you, not only to the president, but to every soul who dedicates their time to saving animals. That experience shaped the way I see my work as a pet portrait artist.

Painting Angel’s portrait was incredibly meaningful for me