Over the years, I’ve found it hard to not notice that we generally like to categorize, to classify and to group all we can into nice, pretty packages. There’s a level of comfort that’s gained when implementing such control, helping to rationalize and normalize an incredible amount of variables. So it should come as no surprise when I say that I too asked the following question, “Is Ann a cat person or a dog person?”

No, you’re not crazy. I did say these exact same words earlier in the project during Day 22, but my inclusion of the feline species in this project has swayed some to already assume Ann is a “cat” person. Unfortunately though, I’m about to shatter that conception.

So let’s answer the question once and for all. Is Ann a cat person or a dog person? Ann is both. I have illustrated, ad nauseum, how much Ann adores animals. Dogs and cats seem to be the go-to for her since they are the only two species you can really have in your home without having to deal with too much nonsense from the outside world. If permitted, I would guarantee that she’d have pigs, sheep, goats, basically Noah’s Arch in her home. But as she’ll put it, “dogs and cats will do nicely for now.”

Outside of Ann’s four cats, I walked into her apartment to also find a Rottweiler named Butch and a pit-bull name Chloe.  Butch was older and to be honest, scared the crap out of me when I first saw him.  It’s funny to look back on it all now as the dog was a sweetheart; clearly the problem was with me. Big dogs can be off-putting and in some cases they’ve acquired some bad press along the way, but Ann was the first to show me that what you think you know, having learned from another, means squat. The only things that matter are those you know firsthand.

Chloe was the same deal and it took me a whole ten minutes to see just how precious she was. To say she was loyal almost feels like an insult as this dog truly redefined the word for us all. She was a character and her rituals matched that of an old woman set in her ways. I’ve always like to say Chloe was an “old soul” and I do believe Ann would agree.

Unfortunately Chloe and Butch had to find a new home once our first daughter was born. Both dogs were very much Alpha in nature and Ann, being Ann, may love her animals, but the moment they pose even a snail’s hair of a threat to her children, they have got to go.

Since those days, we’ve had a couple of pound puppies grace our stage, but ultimately our visit to the Human Society in Atlanta back in 2007 would change our family dynamics forever.

Daisy is a black lab, mutt mix and has been with us since she was a few weeks old. She is Ann’s pride and joy. Daisy is one of Ann’s daughters and will remain that way until Ann takes her last breath.

So in honor of every chew toy, I present this dog. Every time I see a dog now, I can see the depth of her heart. In her arms, I can see no greater place and most importantly, I see her, just as unconditionally as I did when I first laid eyes on her… almost eighteen years ago.

 

Medium: Watercolors
Size: 6 x 4 (inches)
Materials: 90lb Cold Press Paper
Frame: Mini Wooden Shadow Box with Glass (4 5/8"W x 6 5/8"T x 1.25"D)
Completed: Monday, October 27, 2014

Artist: Adam Kiger
Represented By: Park View Gallery
Artist's Website: www.adamkiger.com

 

Who is Ann and what is 31 flavors of love?!