November's Gentle Paws Portrait Giveaway- Cooper's Story

Meet Cooper (Mr. C)

This is Cooper — or Mr. C, as his family lovingly called him. A tiny fox terrier who lived life entirely on his own terms. While most dogs come running at the sound of their name, Cooper? He'd come home when it suited him, haha. After all, there were rabbits to chase and long grass to leap through in those beautiful Warrandyte paddocks.

His family describes him as more cat than dog in some ways — napping in sunny spots, demanding cuddles at night, and never missing his biscuit at teatime. That's the thing about some dogs, isn't it? They create these rituals with us, these little moments that become the fabric of our days.

A Fighter's Heart

At 16½, Cooper was diagnosed with kidney disease. The vet gave his family two weeks. But Cooper had other plans. He gifted them six more precious months — months filled with more paddock adventures, more riverside walks, more love than anyone could have asked for.

Even in those final months, he never stopped being Cooper. Still exploring, still running, still living exactly as he always had.

Why I Do This

I have to be honest with you all — when I started Gentle Paws, I never imagined this part.

I knew I loved drawing dogs. I knew I wanted to create beautiful portraits. But what I didn't know, what I couldn't have predicted, was how privileged I'd feel reading your stories. How much it would mean to turn your memories into something tangible, something you can hold onto.

These past two months, reading through all your giveaway entries, has genuinely changed how I see this business. It's not just about creating art anymore. It's about connection. It's about honouring these incredible souls who've shared your lives and your homes and your hearts.

Cooper's family said he "remains the heart of our stories and laughter." And isn't that what we all want? For our beloved companions to live on, not just in memory, but in the way they've shaped us, the joy they've left behind.

Thank You

So thank you. Thank you for trusting me with Cooper's story. Thank you to everyone who entered, who shared your precious memories, who let me into that tender space where love and loss and gratitude all live together.

Having the ability to turn these memories into artwork — to give Cooper back to his family in a way they can see and touch and treasure — it's something I never take for granted.

Cooper will be racing through those Warrandyte paddocks in his portrait, free and wild and perfectly himself.

That's exactly how he should be remembered.

Want to join the giveaway? You can submit your details here.