lesli devito paintings

DAY 25 – DOG-A-DAY – MEET “BELLE” THE SHICHON

MANY COUPLES

HAVE FOUR LEGGED “FIRST BABIES”

MEET “BELLE”… “The First baby”

“We got Belle 8 years ago this month and she was our first baby 🙂 We went to a breeder who was local to us “just to look” and as soon as we laid eyes on her we were in love. She came home with us that day. We thought she was the sweetest little bundle of fur, so we gave her a “princess” name – Belle. As she grew, we realized she definitely was all things sweet, but she was also all things sassy 🙂 She can be impossibly stubborn but she is also incredibly loyal. Our two girls love Belle to pieces and she loves them back (although sometimes she does hide under the couch to escape them, haha!). She’s also known to be a bit of an escape artist, so our neighbors have gotten to know her too (oops). She’s an adventurer, and explorer, and she wants to be everyone’s friend. We love her so much

“Our family will be making an overseas move to the Philippines for missions work in the next year, and the saddest part is that Belle won’t be able to come with us. It breaks our hearts, but we are determined to find her the kindest, most loving home we can before we must leave. We have wanted to get a portrait done of her so we can always remember how much joy she brought to our little family.”

BELLE AND THE BABY (NOW 5 1/2 YEARS)

I am so happy to have been able to paint this portrait of Belle”.

BELLE ON THE SOFA. Bean loves to sleep on the top of the cushions like this!!!! Love the blanket!!! Also like our house!

BELLE is a very special dog who is loved very much. I can’t imagine how hard it will be for the family to leave her behind and I hope she finds a new home and continues to get lots of loving snuggles.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT SHICHON

1.If you are looking for a “teddy bear” dog, the Bichon Frise Shih Tzu mix, also called a Shichon or Zuchon, may be just the one for you.

2. Because of the very nature of a mixed breed — diseases prone to afflict the pure breed pass mixed breeds by — your Shichon will usually enjoy robust health.

3. The Shichon is the type of dog that will follow you around the house from room to room.

4. Fractures are definitely a possibility when dropped even from a low height onto a hard floor. Be careful with the little ones!

5. The Bichon Frise Shih Tzu cross is getting to be increasingly popular. And, with good reason. It is a relatively low maintenance dog which is an ideal companion for somebody living alone.

3 MORE DOGS!! WOW WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND A MONTH!!!

When I look back over these photos, I can remember each dog…each face and each story. I still want to make it to 100 some day…and perhaps what I might do is continue to post pics and stories…on Instagram!!

Funny, I also can remember what music I was listening to while I painted each dog .. or TV show I was binge watching while I painted… Lets see, WHILE I PAINTED In February I watched

“MOZART IN THE JUNGLE”

one of my faves!! and

all 7 seasons of “THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW”.

HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY!