Emotional support animals (ESAs) are more than a mere pet; they are companions that enhance the quality of life for people diagnosed with mental health challenges. Not everyone gets the importance of having an ESA but for some, the ESA’s presence is critical to their ability to function normally. A pet becomes an ESA when a human needs them.
Tippi is my fourth ESA. I really struggled during the pandemic. I realized that I needed help to survive intact; I needed a small dog with soft fur that I could cuddle endlessly! As we started our routine of daily walks and I began experiencing the world through her eyes, my angst was calmed and I was able to enjoy bits of life again. It’s always a good day when I’m treated like a celebrity by Tippi.
Prints are available for some of the images, others are available upon request.
Below are double page spreads from the book. For more images of Miss Tippi, click here. The books is currently available in paperback and e-book format on Amazon.
When I began to create art again, I started with my favorite subject. I have plenty of pictures of Tippi so it was hard to narrow down which ones to work with so I just dug in. I decided to try watercolor pencils on these and I love the way they look.
As I was deciding how to present them, quotes about dogs began showing up on my social media feed. I began collecting quotes and the book became a book for adults as well as children. I hope you find joy in the images and gain inspiration from the quotes.
