Our Story

About Whiskers & Wags Custom Designs

At Whiskers & Wags, we create handmade, custom home décor and door hangers designed to add a warm, personal touch to any home. Each door hanger is crafted from ½-inch thick birch wood, carefully stained, hand-painted with your custom design, and sealed for lasting beauty. Our creations are available here on our website, at the Painted Tree in Bloomington, Illinois, and at select craft festivals throughout the year.

But Whiskers & Wags is more than a craft business — it's a mission.

A portion of every sale directly supports rescue efforts and population control of feral cats and dogs in Los Corales, Dominican Republic.

My passion for animal rescue has been lifelong, but in 2021, after purchasing a property in Punta Cana, I quickly realized the lack of organized resources that we often take for granted in the United States, such as the Humane Society or ASPCA. What started as simply feeding a few hungry cats soon revealed a much larger colony in need of care.

Today, I help feed roughly 30 feral cats and work alongside fellow expats to reduce the population through sterilization, veterinary care, and adoption efforts.

Over the past few years, many cats have been flown to loving homes in the United States, Canada, and even Europe. One of those cats, Stewart — my original porch companion — made his journey home with me in early 2024. Stewart's story continues to inspire me to keep going, even when the work feels never-ending.

What began as a creative hobby has grown into a way to directly support the animals that depend on us. With each sign purchased, we take another step toward improving the lives of these deserving animals.

Follow our Facebook page for rescue updates, adoption stories, and videos like Stewart's journey home. Together, we truly are making a difference — one life at a time.

Thank you for supporting handmade and helping animals in need.