The Leavenworth County Humane Society has coaxed several of its foster animals in the past year to create art.

Director Crystal Swann Blackdeer first got the idea while visiting an animal sanctuary in Utah.

“It was so much fun,” Blackdeer said.

She decided that if people would line up to have a pig create art, they likely would do the same with their own pets.

Blackdeer was right.

The paint project has been popular at local festivals and other events.

LCHS representatives or pet owners take 9×12 water color paper and squirt various paint on the blank paper. They then wrap it in plastic and then cover it with tarp.

Animals then walk — or plop down — on the paper to create unique art.

“We’re not claiming they need to go to art school,” Blackdeer joked. “Every animal can express itself differently. The important thing is creating a bond with your animal, doing something fun and making a memory.”

LCHS offered the painting booth a few weeks ago at the Leavenworth County Fair for the second straight year.

Blackdeer said volunteers had fun coaxing a pig at the fair to walk across the paint-covered paper in the pig’s pen.

A number of animals have participated in the last year: goats, dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, horses and bucket calves.

Framed artwork costs $25, which barely covers frame and paint costs.

All of the LCHS’ foster pets make their own artwork.

They create two pieces — one for the society to keep and one for the folks who eventually adopt them.

“It’s like a little memento,” Blackdeer said. “It’s almost like a birth certificate for the pet.

“‘This was something your pet did while he was with us.’ And people really like it.”

Taking in foster pets

Blackdeer will take artwork foster pets have made to be sold at festivals. She also puts a photo of animals that still need a home with their respective paintings.

Currently LCHS has six foster homes.

“We have foster homes that are just incredibly generous,” Blackdeer said. “Some of our foster homes have had pets more than a year.”

Foster care providers cover costs of food for the pets, while LCHS covers any medical costs. The organization also provides toys and other items for foster families.

Blackdeer said LCHS welcomes more foster homes. They can apply to be a foster family by emailing LvnCoHS@live.com. The organization does a home visit to determine which animals might be the right fit for each foster home.

LCHS works with the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office to identify when there are lost or missing animals. The office also works with LCHS on animal cases that involve owner neglect.

“I’m very encouraged by how forthright the sheriff’s department is in trying to make that work,” Blackdeer said.

Home of its own

Finding an actual home for LCHS has been a focus as of late.

LCHS had hoped to build a facility on 22 acres near U.S. Highway 24-40 south of Tonganoxie, but area residents voiced opposition and the plan was denied at the county level.

It now is looking at another prospective spot elsewhere in Leavenworth County that Blackdeer hopes will provide its first home.

The animal artwork currently is available exclusively at festivals LCHS attends, but once the organization has its own home, Blackdeer said there would be more opportunities.

“Once we get into a building, they can just come in and say ‘I want my dog to paint or my cat or my ferret or my bunny or my parrot or whatever,” Blackdeer said. “Because it’s just a fun thing to do.”