Fire Escape opens doors to canine coloring through painting with puppies night

What better way to spend a blustery winter’s day than snuggled up with a puppy and a painting project? On Jan. 11, the Fire Escape hosted a Painting with Puppies event alongside Our Pack, a New London-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing dogs with rehabilitation and forever homes. The event is not only a way to connect with some adorable puppies and unleash inner creativity, it also serves as a major fundraiser for Our Pack and provides them with the monetary support they need to continue their mission of improving the lives of animals, educating, and giving back to the community. 

Rebecca Graf, the owner of the Fire Escape Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio in Downtown Oshkosh, helps with the organization of events at the studio every year. These events include classes for all ages, fundraisers, personal parties, and a variety of workshops. 

“We have multiple nonprofits that ask us to run the events to raise money to help support the dogs that they bring in. They are usually from down south, and a lot of the dogs have medical issues,” she said. “They need money to pay for medical assistance, to fund the fostering and food, and then everything else they need to try and get them adopted. All the dogs that they bring here are adoptable.” 

A major part of Graf’s job is helping out with Painting with Puppies, which has since paved the way for many similar events.

“I've been doing this event here for 10 years. So, Paint with Puppies was our first event, then we did Paint with Goats. We've done Paint with Kittens, and Highland cows, and even with the zoo. No matter what, it goes to the nonprofit that is either fostering or raising,” she said.

Our Pack Animal Rescue, Inc. helps care for abandoned or in-need dogs and other pets throughout not only Southern Wisconsin, but extended to close by states. One Our Pack board member, Amber Peterson, works to organize fundraisers throughout Wisconsin and beyond. 

“The goal today is to help us raise money. As fosters, we always have medical bills. Julian, one of the dogs, for example, has a skin condition, so we’re helping provide him with skin creams and anything he would need,” she said. “We don't really make much money off of our dogs, so we really depend on fundraising.”

Because Our Pack relies so heavily on donations and fundraising, it is of the utmost importance to organize events that will appeal to a variety of community members. 

“Being able to paint literally with a puppy on your lap is definitely what draws people in. The Fire Escape is sold out today—90 people is their max capacity, and it’s a great turnout,” Peterson said. 

Ginger Haus, a community member, had never attended a Painting with Puppies event before—but after hearing about the event online, she was immediately interested. While she first only heard about getting to visit with puppies, helping a nonprofit organization in the community was an added bonus. 

“I think people should come for the sake of seeing the puppies, getting to know and seeing the community venue that presents it, and meeting the people who are taking care of these dogs. The event is helping your whole community. Plus, the dogs are getting adopted and saved and rescued,” she said. 

Now that Haus knows how much the Fire Escape’s events positively benefit the community, she will be returning—and the puppies and unique art pieces didn’t hurt! 

“It’s a fun experience with the dogs running around, and then also you go home with a product that you can use in your home, which is cool as well,” she said. 

West junior Kaelyn Oaks also attended the event—though it certainly isn’t her first Painting with Puppies experience. 

“I come mainly for the dogs, and me and my mom are good friends of the owners of this place. So, we like to come when they have events,” she said. “On a smaller scale, it’s good for the dogs to have communication with each other and with people. And it’s like a nice community-building activity. The Fire Escape is also a very friendly and welcoming area to be in.”

Graf encourages people to attend these events to not only support Our Pack but also add a heartwarming touch to their day and get a chance to socialize with the Oshkosh community 

“When you’re coming here, you’re supporting a really good cause. Even if you don’t want a dog, there's a lot of people that only come to get their dog fix. They just wanna hang out,” she said. “It’s something fun to do, just to get to paint and hold a dog or a goat in your lap.” 

Graf enjoys seeing the connections made through these events between animals and future owners—the true goal of the event.

“My favorite part is the bonding of the people and the dogs. We do have people that you can tell instantly that it’s already a bond. There’s one tonight, and she says that dog’s going home with her tonight—or that she’ll at least be applying for it,” she said. 

Oaks encourages all to attend the event and enjoy the gathering of both the community and some furry friends.

“My favorite part is getting to be around all the art and getting to paint with a bunch of people while being surrounded by animals,” she said.

Peterson hopes that events like Painting with Puppies throughout the community will raise awareness for fostering programs while also providing a creative outlet. 

“You get to paint a great piece, bring it home, and you get to snuggle puppies,” she said. “What is there to not like about that, right?” 

by Kathryn Scheivert and Dania Mian

Published February 9, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue IV