About

What is Picasso Pets Exactly?

Your pet (a dog, a cat, a bird, a pig, a horse, whatever furry, feathery creature it is that you love) is paired up with a local artist (the pet’s “muse”) to create a masterpiece. The artist helps the animals use their feet to paint across a canvas, use their tails as paintbrushes, and sometimes even use their noses as a stamp. The canvas is then stretched, the artist puts on the finishing touches, and there you have it, the most unique piece of artwork that you will ever have, especially because it was created with the love of an animal. This artwork is then auctioned off in conjunction with other large auction items, and is accompanied by a silent auction. Over the past 11 years, the artwork has evolved from what you could call “abstract,” to masterpieces that you couldn’t dream of. All the proceeds from our event pour right back into our amazing organization, and back to our mission, helping people heal.


HIP History

Hand in Paw, an internationally known non-profit founded in 1996, provides professionally trained animal assisted therapy teams to help people heal physically and emotionally. These teams (who are completely volunteers) successfully address abuse, disabilities, illiteracy, and chronic and terminal illness in more than 50 facilities in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, Cullman and St. Clair counties in the state of Alabama. Research has proven that animal assisted therapy reduces anxiety, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and improves heart and lung function.

Our Therapy Teams make more than 50,000 visits per year. At no time has Hand in Paw charged for its services. We are funded entirely through the generosity of donors, grant monies and proceeds from fundraising events.

Below are descriptions of the three programs that Hand in Paw serves. Please go to the Volunteer tab for information on how to get involved carrying out our amazing mission: Helping People Heal.

PETSCRIPTION volunteers work with patients to provide them medical, psychiatric and rehabilitation services via interactions between them and their therapy animals. Whether its visiting a child in their hospital room, bringing joy to the elderly in a nursing home, or providing motivation to those during a rehabilitation session, the therapy animals bring joy, comfort, and lots of hugs.

SIT, STAY, READ! helps reluctant young readers who are performing below grade level to overcome embarrassment and improve skills by reading aloud to a non-judgmental therapy animal. This program was first conducted in association with libraries and now helps improve literacy skills in other settings as well.

PAWSITIVE LIVING™ is an innovative 12-week program that teaches compassion and anger management to high-risk youth. Under the leadership of licensed professionals, Hand in Paw's proprietary Pawsitive Living™ curriculum is focused on reducing violence and preparing youth to be better citizens and parents in the future. At the end of the program, participants demonstrate their change in perspective and ability to contribute positively to the community by visiting the Exceptional Foundation with our teams. Pawsitive Living™ volunteer teams also assist with mothers and children affected by domestic violence.


The Evening's Events

Once you enter the Cahaba Grand Conference Center, and walk up their grand staircase, you will start one of the greatest nights you could imagine. Guests will have the opportunity to browse our silent auction packages comprised of more than 100 items, while enjoying an open bar and music by jazz band, Soul Therapy. Half way through the evening the silent auction will come to a close and there will be a seated dinner followed by the live auction. There will be 25 live auction items comprised of the pet paintings, vacations, and items that you will not find anywhere else but the Picasso Pets auction! Presentations will also be made by those whose lives have greatly been enhanced by the positive effects of our Animal-Assisted Therapy Teams. At the evenings close guests will have the opportunity to donate money straight to Hand in Paw's programs (see HIP History). One will not leave this spectacular event without being overwhelmed by how much good Hand in Paw does in our community.

Details:
When: Saturday, August 18th, 2012
Time: 5:30PM
Where: Cahaba Grand Conference Center
3660 Grandview Parkway
Birmingham, AL