‘Lily’, 2009, original black Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

During war and disaster pets are often left behind to fend for themselves.  Fleeting opportunity in which to escape leaves little time to garner pets whom instinctively may bolt from fear.   Panic-stricken people often seize personal possessions and furniture instead of animals – although sometimes the heart strings just aren’t long enough.  For those who adore their pets it’s hard to imagine the pain experienced during such times when an owner is not able to locate a beloved animal, left only with the angst and speculation of what happened to them.

My drawing entitled ‘Lily’ represents pets that are left behind during war and disaster; the dog’s owner took the furniture instead.

‘”A girl holding her dog in a devastated neighborhood in Warsaw, Poland, 5 Sep 1939″ by Julien Bryan’

Some pets are kept close during flight or rescued in the aftermath of the event – their moving stories recounted or their images captured on film or in photographs.  During WWII, the little girl standing in shock amongst the devastation of Warsaw in 1939 holds her dog close, comforted by his presence.  The determination and strength worn on the face of a French woman leading her horse whilst her dogs follow under cover of a cart full of possessions.

19 July 1940, Refugees escaping France WWII

Woman and her Dog outside her bombed house, Grozny, Chechnya 1995. Photograph by Yuri Gripas

In 1995 Grozny, Chechnya, with her dog next to her a woman despairs at the bombing of her home whilst an evacuee in a truck says goodbye to his dog.

Russian man, Grozny, Chechnya says goodbye to his dog, 1995. Chechen forces. (AP Photo)

Cat Survivors of the 2011 Tsunami, Tashirojima (Cat Island), Japan

Around the world concern was raised for the feline occupants of Tashirojima or ‘Cat Island’, Japan during the 2011 Tsunami.  But many of the cats survived, cared for by people of the small community of 100 islanders, still outnumbered by their feline friends.  In 2013 a dog survived 3 days buried under rubble following an earthquake in Lalu Village in Hetuo Township Dingxi, China and was eventually recovered by villagers and rescue teams.

Dog rescued after 3 days buried under rubble after earthquake, Dingxi, China 2013

The dog in the drawing is my own dog, Lily.  She lies on the memory of a chair representing owners who took furniture and personal belongings instead of their pet leaving the family dog to fend for itself amongst the wreckage of war and disaster.

DNA of Northern Inuits and other Malamute breeds is closer to Gray Wolf DNA than many other dog breeds.  Dogs who give many of us unequivocal companionship were domesticated from wolves thousands of years ago.

In light of this all profits from each print sold will be donated to ‘The Wolves and Humans Foundation’.

The Wolves and Humans Foundation is a UK based charity dedicated to the conservation of Europe’s large carnivores wolves, bears and lynx. Wolves and Humans work with people and local communities to find practical solutions to co-existence with wolves and other large carnivores, thereby helping long-term conservation of these species. For further information please visit http://www.wolvesandhumans.org/index.htm

‘Lily’, 2012/2014 Archival Limited and Open Edition Pigment Print Series’, Jane Lee McCracken

Archival Pigment Prints are available in two sizes –

NEW A4 Print – signed and numbered luxurious Archival Pigment Prints on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm of ‘Lily’ are especially crafted to order by one of the best printmaker’s in the UK Jack Lowe Studio and are available to purchase for £35 inclusive P&P from my website shop

A3 Limited Edition of 200 – signed and numbered luxurious Archival Pigment Prints on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm of ‘Lily’ crafted by one of the best printmaker’s in the UK Jack Lowe Studio and are available to purchase for £55 inclusive P&P from my website shop