Long before websites and social media, Sunnycrest’s youngest visitors shared their appreciation in one of the most personal ways possible—with crayons, pencils, markers, paint, and plenty of imagination.

Since Sunnycrest Animal Care Center opened in 1969, children have given us drawings of their pets, our doctors and staff, and their visits to the hospital. Some were created before the World Wide Web was proposed in 1989, and all of them were brought to us by hand.

Many of these pictures have been displayed on our exam-room walls, where they continue to be enjoyed by our staff, clients, and patients. We saved as many as we could because each one represents a child, a beloved animal, and a small piece of Sunnycrest history.

Some are carefully detailed, while others are wonderfully imaginative, but every drawing was created with affection. Together, they remind us that the bond between children and their animals is often one of the earliest and most meaningful relationships in a child’s life.

We are pleased to preserve and share this collection online. Click any picture below to enlarge it.

Do you have a young artist in your family?

We still enjoy receiving pictures from children who visit Sunnycrest. If your child would like to draw a pet, a veterinarian, or a visit to our hospital, please ask a member of our staff about adding it to our collection.

With permission from a parent or guardian, selected artwork may be displayed at Sunnycrest or included in this online gallery. To protect children’s privacy, we recommend identifying artwork by the child’s first name and age only.