2023

“This is a digital drawing of the recently deceased mountain lion P-22. P-22 – who was euthanized on December 17, 2022, after being hit by a car – has played an important role in raising awareness on animal rights issues across Southern California. P-22 was born in the Santa Monica mountains in 2010, but crossed two highways to move to Griffith Park in Los Angeles, where he was forced to survive within an 8 square mile range (compared to the 150 required by other male cats) and would never find a mate. His situation quickly grew famous, and people grew more aware of how humans had damaged Southern California’s ecosystems. As a result of P-22’s life stuck in Griffith Park, people are taking serious measures to make sure no mountain lion will ever be forced into a situation as forlorn as his. A bridge is being built between two parts of the Santa Monica Mountain range to help expand mountain lion territories and genetic diversity, which have decreased because human development has separated parts of the mountains. P-22’s time in Griffith Park has helped to raise awareness on California’s environmental problems and bring justice to animals across Southern California, and I hope this piece can show that and help us in remembering his life.”

“Something that always gives me hope for the future is my cat, Mickey. He was rescued off the streets of Malibu, California and then brought to a shelter East of Los Angeles. He was part of a “trap, neuter, release” program and half of his left ear had been clipped as proof. Suffice to say he had a hard time trusting people and to make things worse, he was partnered with a cranky cat in a cage at the shelter, so he never really had a safe space of his own. On December 27, 2021, he was adopted by a woman who had him for less than 24 hours before returning him, stating that he went crazy at her house and then hid. All cat experts and experienced owners can tell you that cats need to be introduced to new environments bit by bit, and most cats, particularly former street cats, take anywhere from hours to a year to stop hiding. Mickey was given a free run of his new home in the first hour. Fast forward, and my mom and I meet him at the shelter during a volunteer shift a day later. We came back two more times and on the second visit, we adopted him, and the rest is history. His new adoption anniversary is December 30th. Now named after the comic book character, Opus the penguin, he is loving life, becoming more confident around people, and bonding with his new big sister. Opus went through so much hardship, separated from his mother months before most kittens, with a hectic adoption story, and a dangerous life on the streets. But today, he has a loving home, and is bouncing back with a little TLC and catnip. If he can stay resilient and end up happier than ever before, then so can I, and so can anyone.”