One special dog inspired this artist to give back

Entering the lobby of Miami-Dade Animal Services, you can’t miss the 10-foot-tall mural of a dog named Russell. The striking modern abstract image — an enticing pattern of blues, pinks, and white — rises all the way to the ceiling.

The mural is artist Jonathan Ramirez’s depiction of the high-spirited canine he adopted there in 2019, shortly after waking up one morning with a sudden yearning to adopt his first dog.

“I had no experience or any sort of plan when I adopted — just the desire to give a dog a chance,” he says. “But as soon as I walked into the shelter, I immediately fell in love with Russell. He had the most beautiful yellow eyes.”

At home as their relationship deepened, Jonathan says he found himself joking with his dog, asking Russell: "What’s your purpose?"

“Little did I know his purpose was already unfolding,” Jonathan says. “It wasn’t just about him. It was about how he was leading me toward something bigger.”

When Jonathan adopted Russell, the excitable 6-month-old pup needed support in learning how to navigate life in a human’s world — skills like walking on a leash and being calm around strangers. “I soon realized I needed help, and once I found a trainer who saw potential in both Russell and me, things changed,” Jonathan says.

Through shadowing his trainer and getting hands-on experience, Jonathan gained enough skill not only to help Russell with his training but also to help other dogs.

He began offering low-cost and free dog training to local rescue organizations (that had taken in dogs from Miami-Dade Animal Services) to give them a better chance at adoption. And in doing so, he was inspired to put his talents as an artist to work for the animals.

Known in the local art scene as Jay Ramirez, the Nicaraguan- American painter is known for his vibrant and colorful murals and paintings that blend realistic portraits with abstract elements to evoke emotion, spark conversation, and build meaningful connections. His work is on display in the Florida cities of Inverness, Tarpon Springs, and Miami, as well as Greenfield, Massachusetts.

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Jonathan came up with an idea to create a mural for the shelter that could make the space more inviting while inspiring more people to adopt.

Annette Jose, Miami-Dade Animal Services director, gave Jonathan creative freedom with the design. And it turned out so well that more murals (all donated by Jonathan) are planned with varying themes, including one that pays tribute to volunteers in the shelter’s play area. It also helped draw attention to dogs who still needed homes.

“I’m very active on social media, and part of the idea was to promote some of the shelter dogs on social media while I was working on the mural,” Jonathan says. “We also created a video featuring some of the shelter’s longer-term residents.”

“Jonathan’s journey with Russell exemplifies the transformative power of love and commitment,” says Annette. “We’re incredibly grateful to Jonathan for his inspiring mural that beautifully captures the essence of compassion and the joy that comes from adopting a shelter pet.”

In addition to his artwork and volunteerism, Jonathan and his girlfriend, Adrienne Hernandez, co-founded The Doggie Walk Club. It’s a group of people who get together to walk their dogs in local parks — some with their own pets and others with adoptable dogs. Outings are usually followed by a stop at a pet-friendly coffee shop or restaurant.

“Part of the reason for the club was to promote adoptable dogs outside of organized animal welfare events,” Jonathan says. “We bring together pet families, foster families, rescue groups, and volunteers for group walks through dog-friendly paths and local businesses. And our events have helped dogs find loving homes. Often someone who doesn’t have a pet comes on our walks and realizes they didn’t know they needed a dog until they met one they really liked.”

Dogs on walks get free custom bandanas designed in collaboration with local artists. The true guests of honor at walking club events are the adoptable pups. They wear special “Adopt Me” bandanas — custom-designed, of course.

With Jonathan and Adrienne meeting so many wonderful dogs, many needing homes, it was inevitable that their canine family would grow. They added Bolo in early October 2024 and then welcomed Oscar, rescued during Hurricane Milton, a week later. And Jonathan’s video of longer-stay dogs at the shelter has done its part, too, with several of them getting adopted.

Life at home is good, and the three “siblings” spend a lot of time together. Bolo is a tad bigger than Russell, but because he’s more about chilling and hanging out, he’s perfectly happy to let gregarious Russell be the life of the party. At night, the two of them are usually curled up together asleep, while Oscar, the trio’s senior citizen, likes his space.

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For Jonathan, his decision to adopt Russell motivated him in an extraordinary way to help save animals. His mural featuring Russell stands front and center, a reminder to the community that every dog deserves a chance at a loving home. But, he says, it’s Russell who deserves the credit.

“Russell has been the real hero all along,” he says. “He led me to this moment, when I can use my art to help inspire others to help save lives.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.