A few years ago I looked around my house at the mass destruction of the year's Christmas gifts (read: dog toys) and thought, "Well, that was a waste of money." Then I looked closer. I watched Annie and Murray, my dogs at the time, as they mangled and slobbered and ripped apart and loved on their gifts. I could see how happy they were as they went about their work and noticed they each had their own technique. And that's how The Lifecycle of a Dog Toy project began.
I had no idea how much people would love it. I have received photos from people all over the world of their dog's toy shredding adventures. It's awesome and funny and a little gross and something I think we all need right now.
Since it's looking like we'll be quarantining again this winter, I'm rebooting this weird little project and inviting you to participate. We'll be raising some much needed funds for a local pet food pantry while we're at it—because: giving back feels good.
Here's how it will work:
- I will photograph the toys and send them out to each participant.
- The dogs go to town on them, you collect all the parts and mail them back.
- I photograph the forensics and create your dog's before + after toy portrait.
- You get a unique print of your dog's artistry in the mail. Approximate size: 6x9.5
ROUNDS 1 & 2 HAVE SOLD OUT. Thanks everyone – We raised $800 for the Pet Food Pantry!
It is important to remember the following when participating in this project:
- Do not allow your dog to destroy unsupervised! Pieces of stuffing, string and fabric can cause major problems when ingested.
- It's up to you to decide when the toy is ready for it's "after" picture—some dogs need more time to make their mark. The filthier the better, IMO.
- The turnaround time for prints after the toy has been returned will be 3-4 weeks.
- This is a collaborative project—have some fun with it! :)
Round Two Toys - SOLD OUT
Round One Toys - SOLD OUT
