Witness :2012 Painting Project by Leigh Jackson

Mala - A1068216

2012-02-29T18:50:00.003-08:00

Mala - A1068216. Female. Approximately 2 years old

Spent more than 6 weeks at shelter, they never put her up for adoption.
Killed February 2011

OC Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace Beautiful Mala

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

Painting available for purchase here

Bella - A1174730

2012-02-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Bella - A1174730. Female. Approximately 1 years old

Killed February 2011

East Valley Animal Care & Control, Los Angeles, CA

Rest in Peace Smiling Girl

Photo Reference from Janelle Nelson

Painting available for purchase here

A1075597

2012-02-13T08:45:00.001-08:00

A1075597. Male. Approximately 1 years old

Killed February 2011

OC Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

Painting available for purchase here

A1075661

2012-02-04T17:04:00.005-08:00

A1075661. Female. Approximately 2 years old

Killed February 2011

OC Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

~~Painting available for purchase here~~ Painting has sold - thank you !

Pawesome

2012-01-31T14:13:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to Pawesome for a great blog post about my Witness Project ! Totally pawesome !

A4229505

2012-01-24T21:39:00.001-08:00

A4220505. Male. Approximately 1.5 years old

Killed January 2011

Carson Shelter, Gardena, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

Painting available for purchase here

A1066992

2012-01-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

A1066992. Male. Approximately 9 years old

Killed January 2011

OC Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org
Painting available for purchase here

A4227827

2012-01-06T16:10:00.002-08:00

A4227827. Male. Approximately 4 years old

Killed January 2011

Carson Shelter, Gardena, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

Painting available for purchase here

A1067428

2012-01-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

A1067428. Male. Approximately 5 months

Killed January 2011

Orange County Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

~~Painting available for purchase here~~ SOLD . thank you !

Witness: 2012 Painting Project by Leigh Jackson

2012-01-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

My name is Leigh Jackson. As a dog portrait artist, I usually paint dogs who are greatly loved. I wish all dogs were so treasured. However, there are millions of dogs waiting at shelters for a family who would love them enough to have me paint their portrait.

The majority of dogs languishing in shelters are labeled as pit bull type dogs. Brought to the shelter due to breeding, abandonment, and/or abuse, they face extreme discrimination based upon appearance, not behavior.

Although pit bulls score better than 121 other breeds on temperament tests, propaganda has branded them as vicious, dangerous dogs. Breed specific discrimination laws are enacted, people are afraid to adopt them, and insurance policies do not allow for them.

Until all dogs are treated as individuals, the myths and politics surrounding pit bulls result in shelters having to kill happy, healthy, and perfectly adoptable dogs.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Weisel wrote about the power of bearing witness to history. "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness," he wrote. " To forget would be not only be dangerous but offensive: to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time ."

I choose to bear witness for the all pit bulls who did not make it out of the shelters. They are more than a number or a statistic. I paint their portraits to put a face on this shame. I will be painting at least one portrait a week for the year.

These portraits are based on photographs taken in 2011 by Josh Liddy and Janelle Nielson. These are not all the pit bulls euthanized in 2011. This is not a scientific study or exclusive to the shelters mentioned. These dogs and their portraits represent the millions killed every year at all shelters.

It is emotionally challenging to create these paintings. It is not easy to look at their faces, but I ask you please do not look away. Bear witness. Remember these dogs.