With an ear so damaged it had to be removed, Van Gogh was found bloodied in a drainpipe. However, due to his past and fear of other animals, not many showed interest in adopting him.
Van Gogh was originally a baiting dog in the US, where he got his namesake and lost an ear. However, he was fortunately adopted by a loving family after it became apparent that he had potential as an artist.
Immediately upon seeing a photo of an injured, bleeding pit bull mix on social media, Jaclyn Gartner founder and president of the nonprofit Happily Furever After Rescue in Bethel, Connecticut decided she wanted to help him.
Gartner started her rescue in 2020 to save dogs from shelters, particularly those that are frequently overlooked like pit bulls. Therefore, Van Gogh was perfect for her.
Gartner, 34 told TODAY, “As soon as I saw his picture online, I fell in love with him. He had such a big smile and just seemed so sweet.” Gartner continued, “I spoke to the shelter about him and they said he hadn’t gotten any interest.”
“He was so friendly right from the start,” she said, wagging his tail and rubbing up against everybody.
Gartner discovered from the dog’s neighbors that Van Gogh was once a stray before people took him to use as bait in brutal dogfights. It is possible that they abandoned him outdoors when they no longer needed him.
Van Gogh was found with extensive injuries, including damage to his ear that required surgery. However, because of his background and fear of other animals, finding him a home proved difficult.
Gartner’s solution was writing his name. She decided that, as a gift for potential adopters, she would find a way for the dog to re-create Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.”
After smearing paint on a canvas and sealing it in a bag with peanut butter, Van Gogh’s first painting was created as he licked the peanut-buttered canvas clean.
“He was having so much fun,” said Gartner. “I just had to put his work out there for others to see.”
Gartner decided to hold a gallery exhibition of Van Gogh’s paintings with the hopes that potential adopters would be impressed by his talent. Unfortunately, only two people showed up. But after she voiced her disappointment on social media, everything changed—for the better!
As word spread of Van Gogh’s work, people started buying pieces and commissioning new ones. Eventually, the dog also met his adoptive parent Jessica Starowitz.
Now, Van Gogh lives comfortably in his forever home. “He’s incredibly loving, considering everything he’s been through,” his adopter, Jessica Starowitz told TODAY.
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