Many parents proudly display their child’s artwork around the house to marvel at their creativity, if that’s what you call it. But one dog owner has taken this to a new level after turning his German shepherd’s destruction into a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
At first, Lupita Reynosa, 26, was confused when she walked into her home to find her boyfriend, John McKenzie, 29, admiring the new artwork he had hung in the living room. She liked the rustic art that looked like it was made entirely of wood, but after getting a closer look, she realized it was indeed a piece of wood hanging on the wall.
The couple’s German shepherd, Maverick, had been scratching the wooden gate outside their home in Humboldt County, California, for the last four years. When McKenzie recently replaced the fence, he couldn’t possibly throw away this masterpiece and decided to cherish his dog’s hard work instead.
Thankfully, Reynosa is also a fan of the wall art, as she told Newsweek that it is a fabulous way to transform “a little chaos into something memorable.” Not only does it look fun, but she loves that it tells a story of Maverick’s creativity, too.
@peetah97 / TikTok
“It took Maverick four years to create this unique art with his nail scratching,” Reynosa said. “Every time other dogs walked by, he’d scratch at the gate and leave behind his mark, like he was creating his own canvas.
“My boyfriend realized it would be a good way to always remember him if he put it up on the wall. It’s a hilarious testament to Maverick’s personality, and a reminder of all those moments he spent just being himself,” Reynosa added.
She shared a hilarious video on TikTok (@peetah97) of McKenzie staring proudly at the unique design, and it instantly went viral. In just a number of days, the clip has generated over 1.4 million views and more than 192,000 likes at the time of writing.
Plenty of dog parents praised the creative idea to turn “destruction into art,” and even offered suggestions for how they can add more touches to it. Some suggested adding a signature or a pawprint in the corner so Maverick could sign his own artwork.
Thankfully, the couple has plenty of time to contemplate these ideas as Reynosa said the artwork will be staying up indefinitely. They have no plans of taking it down as it “adds a quirky touch to the wall.”
Any time they have guests over, the original piece will certainly be an incredible conversation starter as soon as they enter the house.
Reynosa told Newsweek: “The reactions have been really positive. People found it hilarious and relatable, and I’ve even got some great suggestions from other pet owners with ideas for it, but we think it looks ‘pawfect’ just the way it is.
“We have loved seeing how creative everyone else is with their pets. It’s been a great reminder that sometimes chaos can lead to something beautiful and fun. Plus, it definitely brings a smile to everyone who sees it.”
The viral clip has already gained more than 1,760 comments on TikTok, as many people hailed the genius idea.
One comment reads: “honestly it does look pretty good for wall décor.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “You should put a little plaque with the artist’s name.”
“I see the vision,” commented a third person.
A fourth added: “Someday that will mean more than you could imagine.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
