Pop goes the ferret

And the dog and cat too, as local artists use their talents to help animals -- wild and domestic -- hurt by Gulf hurricanes.It was in the spirit of giving that Judy Fleenor responded to the devastation left behind by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In the images broadcast from the areas ravaged by the hurricanes, what touched Fleenor was the site of the animals that were left behind.

“It was heartbreaking to watch all the victims who lost everything at the hand of these storms,” said Fleenor, a lifelong Huntington Beach resident. “Many people [were] forced to leave their pets stranded and alone, making the tragedy of these disasters even more devastating.

“The image of dogs wandering the flooded neighborhoods alone, or locked behind gates in uninhabited houses, pulled greatly at my heart.”

So Fleenor, a watercolor painter with more than 20 years experience in graphic and fine art, went to work, collaborating with Kinda Hibrawi, a classically trained painter.

The two created a print, “The Animals Katrina Left Behind,” to help raise awareness and funds for the animal victims of the tragedies. It is available at Fleenor and Hibrawi’s website, Mypopart.com, for $20 unframed and $55 framed. The full sale price will be donated to charity.

Fleenor and Hibrawi selected three animals to represent the animals left behind: A dog and cat represent domestic animals, and a ferret represents wildlife that perished or was displaced during the hurricanes.

Customers who purchase a print have the choice of donating the proceeds to one of the following organizations: the Humane Society of the United States, United Animal National, Noah’s Wish, Best Friends Animal Society, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and local shelters that took in animals after the hurricanes.

The print is offered in a limited edition of 2,000. Each is 10 by 20 inches, printed on museumquality watercolor paper, and hand-signed and numbered by the artists with a certificate of authenticity. Proceeds will assist in providing food and medical care, helping find homes for abandoned animals, or reuniting them with their families.

“Everyone has something to offer in tragic times,” Fleenor said. “Some people volunteer their time, donate food and clothing, others through financial means. There were so many amazing stories of generosity, with people opening their homes to the victims. It was very heartfelt.

“As artists, we wanted to use our talent to help. I thought if I could create a commemorative work of art, it could be used to raise money as well as a tribute to all the animals that perished in this disaster.”

Katrina prints have been donated to help local shelters raise funds through charity events.

Animal shelters in Seal Beach and Dana Point, as well as the Modjeska Ranch Rescue, are a few shelters that have raised money from the sale of the prints.

“I purchased one of the prints, and Judy just did a fantastic job with what she created,” said Barbara Wunderle, a volunteer at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center. “She donated two Katrina prints to our shelter, one for our fashion show and the other, to our Wag-n-Walk dog walk event in October.

“She does awesome work, and what she is doing to try to help out is terrific. She’s helped us raise a lot of money.”

Fleenor, who has an 8-year-old golden retriever named Zoey, and a 22-year-old cat named Ubu, said that help is still needed for the thousands of pets rescued from the hurricanes.

“My dog goes everywhere I go and sleeps under my desk while I’m working,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine leaving them behind in a disaster and would be divested if I was forced to do so. My heart went out to those that were put in that tragic situation.

“Animals bring great comfort to us in times when we are down and never ask anything in return, so how could we not reach out to them in their time of need?”

Fleenor said the goal is to raise $500,000 through sales of the prints.

She said that approximately 125 prints have been sold through the website, local adoption events and dog walkathons.

In addition, more than 50 prints have been donated as a thank-you gift to volunteers who went to Louisiana to help rescue the abandoned animals.

“It is hard to put a dollar value on what we have accomplished,” she said. “We are only two people trying to make a difference.”

20051229is6mpvncWENDI KAMINSKI / INDEPENDENT(LA)Judy Fleenor, right, holds the print she created with Kinda Hibrawi, left, to benefit the animal victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.