Art and writing from Raquel and Brian Barbeito

Painting of three dogs. One on the left looks curious, one in the middle looks friendly, one on the right looks focused and serious. One on the left is tan, one in the middle is brown, one on the right is black.

Seven Souls 

(The Dogs in my Life)

  • for all of them everywhere 

Kelly (a Beagle Sensitive and Kind)

When I was a kid that was our dog. She sat in her place after school and kept me company, but when I was sick she knew and came to sit beside me. At other times I let her sit on the couch with a pillow which wasn’t allowed but if nobody was around I let her and she loved it. Kelly would wag her tail a lot and loved to see people, guests. I think back at her with good memories and sitting with her on say, those winter days and looking out the window at the snow falling onto the world. 

Poocho (the Tender and Instant Family Member)

He was a rescue and already had some years. A great old lab. But he had a good run as it were with us and was provided a nice home with two parents and kids, three kids. He went camping with us, and for walks in the local trails and ravines. Basically he was perfect in that he caused no trouble and just wanted to be around us. He had a comfy old chair he sat on and liked to sleep on. Sometimes people would ask why we kept that chair but they didn’t understand. I am happy that we here gave him a nice few years before he had to go the great dog fields in the sky. 

Wolfe (the High Spirit and a Best Friend)

A special dog in all ways. A rescue husky mix. They said collie-husky. Long legs. A certain aloofness he was grey and white and black and everyone stopped to look at him. Fast. Smart. Interesting. Unique. He is running somewhere up there and having a good time. Down here we certainly went far and often to fields and forests.  

Tessa (all Bark and Sits in my Heart)

Tessa recently passed but I am glad she is not in any more pain though I and everyone miss her and always shall. She was a companion that had the truest loyalty and heart. She was always a sort of old lady in that she didn’t want to go far exploring though did like to walk. In the hey-day she played and walked with her brother Wolfe and we did everything we could each day to have a healthy and good life. 

Indy (Handsome and Tara’s Birthday Gift)

Indy is a beautiful light hair collie, long and handsome, and Tara’s dog. He likes everyone though. He is very sensitive and his coat is wonderful and a bit longer than the others. He likes to run fast and take care of his younger sister Luna. Josh brought him home one September for Tara’s birthday and he fit in instantly and it’s been great. 

Luna (the Looney that we All Love)

Luna we went and got from Barrie Ontario, and she is half husky, the colour white, short hair, and has a strong spirit to say the least. She is afraid of nothing and likes to swim, play, wrestle, but also cuddle and just chill. She keeps everybody on their toes and is a great, great member of our family. 

Nova (a Spirit Strong)

Nova is our niece Diane’s dog. She lives with us right now because our niece does. I love Nova and she sometimes follows me around. She is a wonderful dog, who has learned to go to the forest trails with us. She isn’t crazy about going in the water, but went into a little nice cold stream briefly today and seemed okay with it. Nova is a black dog, and her coat seems to shine. She has a kind and inquisitive look in her eyes as she looks at you and the world. 

Raquel Bianca Barbeito (the artist) is a student of Animal Biology at The University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. She is also a painter and has done commissioned work for clients who want custom animal portrait creations.  Raquel works on canvas with acrylic paints. 

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