With compassion as the driver, we will choose to hire shelter directors and staff who are committed to adopting life saving strategies, in place of the existing, archaic and inhumane methods. LM: Do you know what is being done (If anything) now to change the brutality? MB: There are over three hundred million people living in America, and we need to educate the public to adopt, spay/ neuter and choose not to breed or buy animals. These elements are critically important but changing behavior takes time. In the meantime, millions of shelter animals will die, unless we start with focusing at the shelter level (as this is the only place where the killing is taking place) and we must stipulate that shelters institute the “eleven step” no-kill equation, as initiated and developed by Nathan Winograd, of the “No-Kill Advocacy Center.” This process has helped shelters go from killing over 80% of the animals they take in, to saving over 90%. There are so many shelters who have implemented this program with great success and are inspiring a shift in sheltering methods across our great nation. The no-kill train has left the station and is showing us the “right behavior, the right way”. Without the support and selfless work of shelter workers, rescue groups, volunteers, fosters and transporters, the animals would be alone and without hope. We give thanks and praise to all of these “stewards of compassion.” LM: What are your long term goals for the project and for yourself? MB: Our focus is to apply the use of art for social change and use creativity to be the driving force behind fundraising for the animals and the critical need to educate the next generation in being advocates and leaders for compassionate change. Kids are the “unwrapped gifts of our future,” and we believe that it is critically important to put meaningful art back into schools to allow children the process of self discovery and to ignite a desire to become informed about the atrocities in society and to use their creativity to bring them into the light. Art, when created for social change, engages kids at a depth that is crucial for cultivating collective happiness and social cohesion. It catalyzes them into creating and promoting solutions for sustainable development. This approach will arm tomorrow’s leaders with the necessary skills to unite our differences and promote intercultural dialogue, with no-one left behind... including our animal friends. LM: What would you say in culmination of your project? MB: Ultimately , we envision the 5500 portraits of shelter dogs in a working/interactive museum, where kids will come to create for an animal cause or other social injustices they are passionate about, turn their art into a product and build social campaigns to raise money and awareness for change. I have spent all of my retirement savings to help the animals , and will need the resources and compassion of a few philanthropists to help us achieve this goal, as we are just two, and cannot do
it alone. Personally, my life, is no longer about me, it’s about contribution. LM: Wow. You blow me away with your goodness. I am so loving and agreeing with your line of thinking and your
beautiful sacrifice for the animals. “What can each of us do to help?”
MB: In addition to getting involved with fostering animals,transporting them, or helping shelters and rescue groups and choosing to adopt your own animals, think about other ways that you can use your talents to be a voice for them. Perhaps you can write articles, create videos or take pictures of animals in need of adoption. Maybe you know others in influential media positions , marketing
experts, or friends who have extra funds to give to animal causes. Always choose to do “something.” LM: Beautifully put! Any closing thoughts? MB: We welcome and ask you to support our charity in any way, be it shopping on our website for beautiful dog prints, night lights, original woodcut t-shirts or having me paint a portrait of your own pet, donating or sharing our charities mission on your social media platforms or asking your friends to get engaged too. LM: Mark, Thank you so much for this wonderful project. It inspires everyone who loves dogs and wants to make a difference in this world to follow their passion and do something positive they believe in. Thank you for “An Art of Dog”. It is an expression of your love and caring for the animals that we all get to enjoy. Most importantly, it is a forever memorial and gift for the animals.
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