116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Fun fundraiser
Dogs Forever brings back its hilarious Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits fundraiser
Jennifer Hamdorf looks carefully at a submitted photograph to find a feature that stands out — like ears that stick out or crazy fur — before she begins drawing a one-of-a-kind pet portrait.
“I’ll try to exaggerate some of those features and try my best to make it look like the pet while also being a silly drawing,” Hamdorf said. “I’m definitely just having fun with it. I do enjoy art though, but don’t consider myself a professional artist. It’s just for fun.”
Last year, she created five portraits for the fundraiser Dogs Forever Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits, most using pencil with colored pencil accents. Knowing that the finished portrait is supposed to be silly challenges her perfectionist tendencies, she said.
“It’s a really fun way to kind of just raise awareness about Dogs Forever. It’s a ‘poorly drawn’ pet portrait because it’s just silly and fun and gets our name out there in a different way … This was kind of a more fun way to bring light and awareness.”
Crystal Ellis got the idea for the portrait fundraiser from an animal rescue in the West and sought information on how to organize it.
“We tried it out last year … and had a lot of fun,” she said.
At a glance
WHAT: Poorly Drawn Pet Portrait Fundraiser
WHO: Dogs Forever, 809 Rockford Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids.
WHEN: Thru May 8
COST: $15 donation to Dogs Forever (add $10 for each additional pet)
DETAILS: Submit a photo of your pet(s) on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DogsForeverSP/events or email to fundraising@dogsforever.org. Click on the Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits Mother’s Day Fundraiser, then click on the Discussion tab. Follow the instructions for payment in the post and upload your pet(s) photo in the comments section below. The portrait will be ready to download in about two days.
WEBSITE: dogsforever.org
PHONE: (319) 320-5522
The medium is always the artist’s choice. Some created art digitally, others drew stick figures. One artist did so well that the recipient commissioned them to create additional portraits. About 15 “artists” produced more than 70 portraits last year. The final tally? $1,375.
The group hopes to raise even more, and they’re well on their way: 37 entries were submitted on May 1, the first day of the fundraiser, which runs through May 8.
Ellis may be among the artists creating portraits this year.
“I was (an artist) last year and I think I gave people nightmares,” she said, laughing.
ALL-VOLUNTEER
Creating portraits is just one of the ways Hamdorf volunteers with the organization: she’s been a dog walker but now volunteers mainly behind the scenes, organizing volunteers for events and writing thank-you notes.
Dogs Forever Safe Place was founded in 2012 by Nancy and Mike Crist as Cedar Rapids’ only no-kill dog adoption guarantee shelter. The Crists are no longer involved, the name has been shortened to Dogs Forever, and the shelter has been moved to 809 Rockford Rd. SW, but other than that, the shelter is operated the same way it always has been.
There is no paid staff, and the organization is run by a volunteer board and volunteer committees. More than 100 shelter guardians and dog walkers walk and play with shelter dogs three times a day — 270 shifts per month.
Some dogs cared for by Dogs Forever were owner surrendered, such as when an elderly dog owner dies, or a family moves into a home that doesn’t allow pets. Others are strays that initially go to Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control but aren’t reunited with their owners within the allotted period. And then there are those with extensive medical needs that would otherwise be euthanized if Dogs Forever didn’t step in.
Dogs stay in the shelter until an appropriate match with an adoptive pet parent within two hours of Cedar Rapids. Other dogs are placed in approved foster homes until they are adopted.
“We’re trying to expand our foster home base … we pay for everything …,” Ellis said.
Last year, about 100 dogs were adopted. Sometimes, “foster fails” happen when a foster parent requests to permanently adopt their temporary house guest. That’s what happened with Ellis’ Doberman Joey.
FUNDING
Fundraising is a constant task for the fundraising committee, and Ellis is the fundraising committee lead. Rescuing dogs, particularly those no other shelter will take, can be costly. For example, treating one dog for heartworms costs $3,000 to $4,000. Ellis estimated that Dogs Forever spends well over $100,000 yearly on medical treatment.
Some of the funding comes from grants. Two women on the fundraising committee volunteer to apply for grants, which may be specific, such as covering the cost of heartworm treatment or surgery. Another source has been the Miccio Foundation, which has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to support Iowa animals since 2001.
Much of the money is raised through adoption fees, cash donations, redeemable cans and bottle donations, or the many fundraisers. There’s a Barks ‘n Bubbles Spring Car Wash on June 2 and the Annual Pup Cup Drive-Thru Fundraiser on Aug. 25.
The biggest fundraiser is the Annual Holidog Bazaar, scheduled for Dec. 7 at Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE. With raffle baskets, pet-themed decor, a bake sale, Holidog mini photo sessions and more, the event is expected to raise between $6,000 and $8,000 for Dogs Forever.
“We do have opportunities for people that can’t commit to the committee, but they just want to help with events. That’s something we’re always looking for,” Ellis said.
Meanwhile, she’ll be encouraging this year’s portrait artists.
“You could do pencil, digital, crayon, colored marker, you know, whatever you want. Just look at the picture and do whatever makes your heart happy,” Ellis said.
“We’re just doing it to have fun and make people laugh.”
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