Animal shelter makes ugly pet portraits to raise donations

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OWNER WILLING TO GIVE HIM THE LIFE HE DESERVES. CONGRATULATIO NS! A FUNDRAISER AT A LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER IS TURNING BAD ART INTO BIG SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE PETS. CHARLOTTE, HOW CAN YOU CAN TURN YOUR PET INTO AN “UGLY PORTRAIT”? ORGANIZERS WILL BE DOING THESE PORTRAITS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH… TO RAISE DONATIONS FOR THE SHELTER. AT THE WINDHAM COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY IN BRATTLEBORO… A LOCAL SHELTER IS MAKING YOUR PET INTO AN UGLY PORTRAIT… ON PURPOSE. THE FUNDRAISER INVITES PEOPLE TO SEND IN A PHOTO OF THEIR PET, WHICH IS THEN DRAWN áBADLY, BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. VIOLET ZARRIELLO STARTED THE PORTRAITS AT THE SHELTER. SHE SAYS áONE CRITERIA TO BE AN ARTIST HERE… PORTRAITS COST 20 DOLLARS, WITH 100 PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS GOING BACK TO SHELTER PETS. AND SO FAR, THE REACTION HAS BEEN STRONG. OF THE EMAIL: violet @windhamcountyhum ane.org AND TO GET YOUR OWN PORTRAIT… YOU JUST HAVE TO SEND A PICTURE OF YOUR PET IN WITH THEIR NAME… AND THEY WILL SEND YOU THE DRAWING BACK áDIGITALLY OVER EMAIL. ORGANIZERS SAY THAT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE FUN, LAUGH AT THE ARTWORK, AND HELP ANIMALS WHO ARE IN NEED

Bad art for a good cause: Animal shelter makes ugly pet portraits to raise donations

An “ugly portrait” may not sound like the best gift at first, but a local animal shelter is challenging that idea by turning bad art into big support for vulnerable pets.

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Updated: 4:54 AM MST Jan 24, 2026

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An “ugly portrait” may not sound like the best gift at first, but a Vermont animal shelter is turning bad art into big support for vulnerable pets.The Windham County Humane Society will be offering these portraits throughout January to raise donations for the shelter. The fundraiser invites people to send in a photo of their pet to inspire a bad drawing, done by staff.”You’re just like, I’m going to do my best, and then it ends up coming out hilarious. And even without the artistic talent, you can see the essence of the animal in the photo,” said Violet Zarriello, the marketing manager at Windham County Humane Society. “I’m always most pleased when that comes through in my terrible drawing.” She said there’s only one criterion to be an artist here. “You can’t be good at art. You can’t actually be good at drawing. It has to be authentically folks whose drawing is not their strong suit. They’re funnier that way,” Zarriello said. Portraits cost $20, with 100% of the proceeds going back to shelter pets. So far, the reaction has been strong.”The very first one we did was actually for one of our board members. He was like, ‘This is perfect. I love how it exaggerates her superhero look. That’s Chloe,'” she said. To get your own portrait, you just have to send a picture of your pet with their name to Violet Zarriello, and they will send you the drawing back digitally over email. Organizers said that the goal is to have fun, laugh at the artwork and help animals who are in need. You can purchase one through the end of the month.

An “ugly portrait” may not sound like the best gift at first, but a Vermont animal shelter is turning bad art into big support for vulnerable pets.

The Windham County Humane Society will be offering these portraits throughout January to raise donations for the shelter.

The fundraiser invites people to send in a photo of their pet to inspire a bad drawing, done by staff.

“You’re just like, I’m going to do my best, and then it ends up coming out hilarious. And even without the artistic talent, you can see the essence of the animal in the photo,” said Violet Zarriello, the marketing manager at Windham County Humane Society. “I’m always most pleased when that comes through in my terrible drawing.”

She said there’s only one criterion to be an artist here.

“You can’t be good at art. You can’t actually be good at drawing. It has to be authentically folks whose drawing is not their strong suit. They’re funnier that way,” Zarriello said.

Portraits cost $20, with 100% of the proceeds going back to shelter pets. So far, the reaction has been strong.

“The very first one we did was actually for one of our board members. He was like, ‘This is perfect. I love how it exaggerates her superhero look. That’s Chloe,'” she said.

To get your own portrait, you just have to send a picture of your pet with their name to Violet Zarriello, and they will send you the drawing back digitally over email.

Organizers said that the goal is to have fun, laugh at the artwork and help animals who are in need. You can purchase one through the end of the month.



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