Bideawee, one of the country’s oldest and most respected animal welfare and pet adoption organizations, announced the winners of this year’s Love Your Pet Art Contest and Expo, an art competition for Long Island students in grades 1-12. Prizes were awarded in five groupings based on children’s grade year in school: Grades 1 and 2; Grades 3 and 4; Grades 5 and 6; Grades 7 and 8; and Grades 9 through 12.
The winners are: Jasey Cole, a first grader, who is home schooled and lives in East Quogue; Scarlet Rovet, a fourth grader at East Moriches Elementary School in East Moriches; Nadia Sookoo, a fifth grader at Tangier Smith Elementary in Mastic Beach; Madison Cohen, a seventh grader at the Portledge School in Locust Valley; and Uma Kaushik, an 11th grader at Syosset High School. The winning artwork featured drawings of pets and a photograph of a dog relaxing with a book.
The much-anticipated annual event gave the budding artists the chance to demonstrate their artistic ability and memorialize their love for their pets in many mediums including drawings, sculpture and photography. This year, two hundred pieces of artwork were submitted, and the winners were chosen by public votes. Winners received gift cards from Target, Splish Splash, Tanger Outlets, Dave and Busters and the Long Island Aquarium.
“Animals and humans share unbreakable bonds, but the connections between children and their pets are particularly unique,” Bideawee President Leslie Granger said. “We are so thrilled to feature these relationships in Bideawee’s Love Your Pet Art Contest and Expo.”
The organization congratulated the five winners, as well as all of those who submitted their beautiful artwork to share with the Bideawee community.
“Their pieces reflect the passion they have for their pets and inspire everyone to provide the best possible care for the animals we serve,” Granger said.
A $5 donation granted entrance into the expo. The event raised more than $1,400 to help continue the care for the pets in need at Bideawee.
—Submitted by Bideawee
