Siblings celebrate with Dogs Trust charity gift book tie-up aimed at raising £25,000
Rescue pooches have been a constant thread through The Little Dog Laughed’s history so what better way to mark the card and gift company’s 25th anniversary than linking up with a canine charity to raise £25,000.
Little Dog Laughed’s directors Anna Danielle and her brothers Gavin and Nathan Smith have worked with Dogs Trust to produce gorgeous illustrated book, A Dog’s Life, featuring 50 original artworks with true tales of pooches’ second chances, forever sofas and living one’s best life.
It was back in 1998 that Anna started creating greeting cards in her bedroom and she is amazed that through the laughter, tears, excitement and drudgery the business has grown to what it is today, and has taken one the working mottos pinned to the studio wall to heart – enjoy the wins.
“We’d questioned whether to mark the milestone,” creative director Anna told PG Buzz, “would 25 years be seen as a negative in an industry that needs fresh and new? Is it sensible to highlight your company age, does anyone even care?!”
After deciding to enjoy the wins, the trio considered how to mark the milestone, agreeing a “glass of fizz and samosas” wasn’t the way to go so they brainstormed for five minutes then, in the usual The Little Dog Laughed working pattern, went with what Anna wanted to do, this time a chance to give something back and sink her teeth into a new art project.
And it was an easy mental leap from dog cards to Dogs Trust where they pulled up their he-who-dares wins pants, approached the charity and, just 11 months from the initial email, the book is published and on sale through the website with the aim of raising £25,000 to help with the organisation’s rescue work, which can be seen in the video below.
Anna explained: “In truth, it very nearly broke me, working seven days a week for almost four months to hit the artwork deadline – which was extended twice!
“I realise now how slow I am at painting. Being creative while also juggling the daily demands of a large family is definitely a challenge. The lowest moment, aside from the intense, poor posture pain and waistline effects of a chocolate biscuit diet, was hearing the guilt-laced words from my youngest ‘I wish you weren’t always working’. Six little words that stabbed deep at the heart – multiple times.
“I sincerely hope the money raised from this project will make his no sleepover sacrifices worth it!
“On a happier note, it has been absolutely fascinating to be in partnership with Dogs Trust and learn about the work they do and the positive life changes they bring for the rescue dogs and their humans too.
“The gift book is heart warming, uplifting and hopeful. It celebrates the special bonds people have with their dog and many of the stories tell of the difficult of times, made better by the furry ones in their life.”
Anna, Nathan and Gavin were all invited to visit the charity’s Loughborough centre to discover the love and dedication that goes into the care and rehabilitation of the dogs they rescue, where they were “blown away” by the work of the dedicated staff and army of volunteers.
“Everybody gains something from volunteering their time,” Anna said, “be that friendship, solitude, peace or a routine. Driving away from the centre we couldn’t help but think our country and society might be in a better, kinder shape if Dogs Trust were in charge – let’s be honest it, could they actual do any worse!”
Having worked with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for the 10th anniversary, and the RSPCA for the 20th, this project has been even larger as Anna has illustrated 50 Dogs Trust rescue stories, touching on everything including divorce, friendships, new careers, health, misfortune and motherhood, with some to make you laugh and others bringing the tears.
The pooches, picked by Dogs Trust for Anna to illustrate, include Emmy, the high-energy, bat-eared legend who has climbed the Three Peaks and raised over £2,000 for Dogs Trust with her coastal challenges, and little Lacey, the faithful companion who kept her human focused and sane when she was going through a heart-breaking divorce.
Greg is an elderly chap who liked to get straight to the point, the point being whatever worked best for him, or Figg, the sweetest Staffie and animal assistance activity dog who tornadoes her way into everyone’s hearts!
Soulful Logan has a penchant for soft furnishing thievery, while flower girl Maddie and page boy Flea were itching to get to the bit where the vicar says “you may now lick the bride”.
Anna added: “With over 50 muses, there’s a good chance you’ll find your breed bias among the pages. From labs to lurchers, rotties to rascals, doodles to dachshunds, they’re all here and, if by chance they aren’t, maybe think volume two!”
Looking back on their quarter century in business Gavin, who used to work in construction with Nathan, has never regretted swapping hard hats for a tape gun.
“I went from receiving angry and irate calls on Christmas Eve about leaking roofs or builders’ rubble,” he recalled, “to phone calls expressing heartfelt thank yous for opening one of our cards that made them smile when their life hadn’t been so great.
“I remember Anna walking into the office as I was putting the phone down and she immediately asked me what was wrong. I must have had a very perplexed look on my face but replied ‘nothing’s wrong, someone has actually just phoned to say thank you’!”
And the trio’s collective work memories include Focal Point hilarity with the Compost Heap boys and a strategically-placed fart machine to their lockdown tradeshow video skit, right up to the present day with the Connect solidarity protest at Autumn Fair just last week.
“Never a dull moment,” Anna said, adding that creating and producing greeting cards is a “brilliant industry to be part of”, it has such a rich history, with great people involved and some of the best creative talent in the world.
She said: “As a nation, we do greeting cards better than anyone else and that’s surely something worthy of a little pride.
“Whatever the future holds, it’s been an absolute honour to play our small part in this industry and we’ll always be extremely grateful to the buyers and businesses that have supported us along the way.
“Their knowledge, suggestions and feedback have played a key role in our journey. So, we’d love to take this chance to say a great big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of our story.”
The Little Dog Laughed’s Dogs Trust collection is launching this autumn with the gift book as its centrepiece and a 2024 calendar and diary, plus more lines being added throughout the year, all designed to coordinated with existing the publisher’s gift lines – a percentage of sales from across the range will be added to the donation.
Douglas is one of the company’s toy dog lines and, with a new neck scarf and change of ear colour, he’s a dead ringer for the Dogs Trust logo, so is now the star of the free POS book unit.
