A portion of proceeds from every Desert Sunrise harness, leash, and collar will be donated to Vernan's nonprofit of choice: Turquoise Paw, a native-owned rez dog rescue organization located in the Navajo Nation.
“Vernan's Desert Sunrise art is his way of honoring where he came from and celebrating the traditions of the Navajo women in his life.
He drew from the colorful yarn and elaborate geometric patterns he grew up watching them weave and tapped into his skills as a graphic designer to carry the tradition forward in a new media: dog gear.”
MEET THE ARTIST: VERNAN KEE
Get to know Vernan Kee, the story behind the Desert Sunrise print, and the rez-dog cause that's near and dear to his heart.
Get to know Vernan Kee, the story behind the Desert Sunrise print, and the rez-dog cause that's near and dear to his heart.
“A mix of so many breeds, rez dogs often have eccentric looks, bright minds, and a thirst for adventure. They're resilient and can heal from their traumas in the right hands. And Vernan has committed himself to rescuing as many rez dogs as he can.
“My time in the marines taught me ‘leave no man behind.’ Now, it’s ‘leave no dog behind.’ You learn to be there on the frontlines to help. Now, I can’t just give that up. I have to keep helping.””