NORWICH – Chenango County artist and designer Erica Kenyon spends much of her free time up-cycling antique and nostalgic pieces as a hobby, for the most part. While she operates a small boutique of her collections in the rear of a small holistic foods shop in downtown Norwich, she hasn't given up her day job.

But just as Kenyon has an insatiable thirst for all things eclectic, she also possesses a bleeding heart with regard to animals, even those that aren't hers – and especially to those in need.

“I am sure we all wish we could just pretend that terrible things don't happen to beautiful creatures, but the world can be a cold and hellish place sometimes,” said Kenyon of The Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation, an online effort that “thankfully but also not so much, came across my Facebook feed.”

Currently, the initiative is touring across China and Korea to rescue dogs from the meat trade.

“I think so many of us feel compassion for animals. They are much like babies, helpless and innocent, and give comfort, happiness, and meaning to life,” said Kenyon.

To assist in her capacity, Kenyon is raffling off some of her original wares to generate donation funds to the foundation.