When I started my freelancing business a few years ago, I called it Colby Creative in honor of a very special cat. Since that time, I have done work for all manner of animal organizations in the Pacific Northwest. For a variety of practical reasons, today I call my business Mike Watters Design, but I hope the memory of Colby lives on in my work. Here are a few of my favorite animal-inspired designs.
Client: Pasado’s Safe Haven & Seattle Seahawks
Project: 2009 Pro-Compassion Calendar
Description: In 2008, Pasado’s Safe Haven — an animal rescue group known nationally for its cruelty investigations — teamed with the Seattle Seahawks for a Pro-Compassion Calendar. Renowned photographer Dean Zulich (former contestant on VH1′s The Shot) volunteered to take the photos, and I donated my design services. For Pasado’s, it was an opportunity to raise money and awareness on behalf of the animals. The Hawks benefited from positive PR in the Seattle Times, P-I and local TV news — even as the Michael Vick controversy reverberated throughout the NFL. The calendars are no longer for sale, but you can still view some of the photos at DeanZulich.com. Just click on Portfolios > Advertising.
Client: Olympic Mountain Pet Pals
Project: Pet Pals Palate Pleasers
Description: Olympic Mountain Pet Pals is an organization dedicated to creating better lives for companion animals in Jefferson County, Washington. In 2006, I worked with the organization to develop a cookbook featuring more than 200 vegetarian and vegan recipes. Featuring artwork donated by Max Grover and pet photos submitted by OMPP readers, the cookbook raised money for the spay and neuter program, the feral cat program and Ginger’s Fund, which provides emergency medical care for needy pets.
Remembering Colby
Here’s a letter I sent to the Cat Connection Los Angeles, the rescue group from which we adopted Colby.
Greetings:
My partner and I adopted a kitten named Rufus from the Cat Connection in 2000. A few months later in early 2001, we adopted Colby (a gold cat) from the Beverly Oaks Animal Hospital. He was around the same age as Rufus, about 5 months old.
Rufus is now 6 years old and is a very sweet, mellow kitty. He mostly likes to sleep and cuddle, but every once in a while he still tears across the house like a kitten. He is a lap cat and likes having his belly rubbed. Rufus was the first cat I ever adopted, and soon after he came into my home, I realized that I will always have a cat in my life.
Colby, unfortunately, died when he was 4 years old of a rare fungal infection in the brain (a particularly virulent strain of cryptococcus). He had a very happy life with us. He was a charming and handsome cat. He was well-liked by everyone, including the dozens of veterinarians and residents at the University of Missouri Vet Teaching Hospital where he was treated during his prolonged illness.
I was profoundly affected by Colby’s life during the four years that I had him. He was one of those cats who would come running when you called his name. He liked to curl up next to me when I was reading in bed and have me rub his side. He was very tall, and I once saw him jump nearly six feet in the air while chasing a bug.
In September 2005, I opened my own graphic design business called Colby Creative. In memory of Colby, I donate a portion my profits to animal rescue organizations. In keeping with my mission, I am sending the Cat Connection a check for 10 percent of my October 2006 earnings. It’s a small token for the many years of happiness you have given me by connecting me with these two cats.
Thank you for blessing my family with the two best cats in the world and for continuing to do the important work that you do.
Sincerely,
Mike Watters
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