The Life of a Very Special Dog Kimberly Provost

The Life of a Very Special Dog Kimberly Provost - S. Burlington, VT

Being a Vermont pet portrait artist is an extremely gratifying and rewarding joy. Not only am I able to be artistically creative, but I can also learn about the pets I paint and hear their stories. Getting a glimpse inside the life of an animal helps me to capture their spirit and essence in art form, since most times, I will never see the animal face-to-face.

On one occasion, I was commissioned to paint a series of four Bernese Mountain dogs for South Burlington couple, Kyle and Starr Albee. In addition to the Albee’s reference photos of their dogs, I was fortunate to visit their home and take a series of my own photos and meet a few of their dogs in person. I was immediately struck by how very large and fluffy they were! They were outgoing and friendly and enjoyed attention. Their large, expressive eyes made them seem like old

A Portrait of Cassie by Kim Provost

Beautifully Detailed Pastel Paintings From Your Pet's Photos

souls, full of wisdom and understanding. I was smitten!

Kyle, Starr, and I took time to discuss which photos would make the best portraits. In the portrait line-up was the Albee’s sweet girl, Cassie, who sadly, had passed away. The Albee’s were Cassie’s third home and they adopted her at 18 months of age, and she lived another eleven or more years with them. Because she was so people-oriented, they felt she would make a great therapy dog. She was trained by volunteers at the Therapy Dogs of Vermont Association who trained and guided her to work in settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Cassie often visited people at The Converse Home, a private, nonprofit senior community in Burlington’s South end. “She was very gentle with everyone and was an expert at working the room, “Kyle explained. “As soon as one person stopped for a moment petting her, she would gently nudge them. If she was not immediately pet again, she would simply move on to the next. Whether visiting patients or seniors, or reading to school children, that’s where Cassie was most at home.”

Cassie brought a shining light to many as a therapy dog. She brought smiles to the staff members, and they would often have treats waiting for her at their desks. Winter 2023

Kyle explained, “Cassie was the sweetest girl. She was always joyful and ready to share her love. One could sit on the floor, and she would come right over and plop down with you. She was insatiable for attention and was very intuitive as to who was ready to give it to her, or who needed attention.” According to Kyle, his mother who is now 96 years of age, still speaks of Cassie. “Cassie had the gift to engage those with memory issues, especially, folks that would not communicate much with others. They looked forward to her bi-weekly visits,” Kyle said. “We found that if you are a dog person at three, you’re still a dog person at ninety-three!”

I often paint pet portraits for people to give as wedding, anniversary, birthday, and Christmas gifts, however, I also paint memorial portraits of pets so owners can keep their family member close to them always. Being able to look on the wall or mantle at your pet, daily, helps keep their memory alive. It’s nice to feel that they are still with you, in a sense, watching over and sharing your daily life. I asked the Albee’s why they decided to have Cassie’s portrait painted and they answered: “Cassie exuded an effervescent joy to all. We wanted to capture that for all time, wearing her official Therapy Dogs of Vermont bib.”

A special girl like Cassie certainly must be watching over the Albee’s. Kyle Cassie explains that In Snow

Cassie literally changed our lives. The circle of friends we have today are the result of lifelong friendships made through Therapy Dogs of Vermont. The experiences we shared with Cassie, providing pet therapy to those in hospitals and nursing homes, were some of the greatest blessings of our lives. Kim completely captured the essence of her personality, in her portrait. The sheer love that was in Cassie’s heart, right down to the twinkle in her eyes.

Out of their experiences with Cassie, and her big heart, the Albee’s founded PAWSVT.org to help shelter animals live better lives until they find their forever home. Their annual Claus for Paws fundraiser begins each year, the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas. Collection crates are placed in businesses and retail stores across Chittenden County and items such as cleaning supplies, toys, treats, and food may be donated. They also collect monetary donations throughout the year to continue their mission to help provide essential items to shelter and rescue animals.

As you can see, being a pet portrait artist is so much more than one might think. Sketching and painting is just a small part of what happens when I begin a portrait for a client. The experiences and opportunities to meet amazing people and their special pets is far more enriching than I had ever imagined it would be. I know it is the best part of what I do.