Graphite Pencil Portrait, 8×8 inches, Susan Donley, 2008

Fresh off the drawing table is Sebastian, an English Springer Spaniel, whose mom, Roberta Pierce, I met at the Bloom in Oakmont Fair in May. She commissioned a graphite portrait of this handsome boy just in time for Sebastian to be my “demo dog” at the Oakmont Street Sale in July. No, he didn’t sit for his portrait, but he did come by my booth that day to supervise and make sure I captured all his beautiful freckles!

After the portrait was finished, Roberta told me a little more about her very special dog with special needs:

I adopted Sebastian in February, 2003 from the Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue Group (MAESSR) where I also do volunteer work in interviewing applicants and occasionally transporting a dog from one destination to another. Sebastian is actually a local dog and had been dropped off at the Animal Rescue League in East Liberty (Pittsburgh, PA) who then contacted MAESSR. He was then fostered for about a month in Greensburg.

I am telling you it was divine intervention. My mother and I drove to Greensburg to first meet Sebastian and it was love at first sight. I could have picked him up then but decided to wait a week so I could think about and make sure it was ‘right’. It was. I went back the following week and it was as if Sebastian knew he was coming home to me. He was absolutely perfect in the car.

At that time he was 6 years old and we later figured out he had been pretty traumatized about being given up as he had suffered several seizures when we first got him. I had never had that experience before and it was dreadful to watch and all you can do is hold him and pet him and talk to him in a calm voice until it’s over. I am quite happy to say he hasn’t had a seizure in probably 3 years now which is such a relief. Whoever owned him before had been very good to him as he was well trained and well behaved. We think it was because they were expecting a baby and didn’t want him anymore which certainly was a blessing to me.

Sebastian is the most laid back, calm dog I know. He loves to play ball and Frisbee and going in the car. He’s an absolute gentleman and doesn’t jump or table surf or get on the furniture. I know that we will never have another dog quite like him so I give thanks every day that I have him.

See Sebastian up-close and personal on his very own page. Welcome to the Pets Pictured Pack, Sebastian!