'It's very surreal': Artistic southern Alberta dog gains worldwide attention for painting
When Megan Bolen taught her dog Rogan how to paint just over a year ago, she had no idea how much attention her clever K-9 was about to receive.
"It's very surreal to be talking to people about my painting dog. Like it still doesn't feel real. I'm sending my dog's paintings to Hong Kong. That's very surreal." She said.
Rogan's work may look a bit different from most up-and-coming artists, but considering the fact that he has no thumbs and does all the work with his mouth, his talent is undeniable.
That's why his Instagram is picking up steam, some of his pieces are about to be featured in and art exhibit in Hong Kong and others are currently being auctioned to support Tripawds.
"Sometimes he shocks me by how quickly he picks things up. It's almost like he's a mind reader," said Bolen.
"I feel crazy almost saying that, but it's like, he's so quick to pick things up and he just loves training so much and he's so joyful about it."
Since learning how to paint, all of the proceeds from Rogan's sold pieces have been donated to local charities in southern Alberta.
So far, just shy of $6,000 has been given to animal shelter in and around Medicine Hat thanks to Rogan's artistic gift, but the most recent fundraiser in mind has a more international feel to it.
All the money raised for the Tripawds Foundation goes towards their Kaiserin Care Package which supports cats and dogs who have been diagnosed with cancer.
There are 16 paintings up for auction from puppy Picassos from all around the world.
"These paintings are coming from the U.K., all across Canada, one from Australia, one from Scotland and in the United States." Said Tripawds co-founder Jim Nelson.
The company is based in Texas, but the idea for the dog art fundraiser actually came from one of the organization's Canadian members.
"She's actually in London, Ontario. So, it started with a Canadian and we're just really happy to go ahead and move forward with this. We're so excited." Said co-founder Rene Agredano.
For Rogan and Megan, being able to contribute to the fundraiser is a rewarding feeling.
It's been a whirlwind of social media attention and interviews with news organizations since Rogan first picked up his customized, jaw-fitted paint brush, but Megan wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm a crazy dog lady. That's all I want to do is talk about my dog so, you know, I'm living the dream!" Said Bolen.
The Tripawds art auction is on until June 13th and the hope for the funds raised to cover the expense of the Kaiserin Care Packages for at least another 12 months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.