More: Did the shelter name him “Picasso” because his face looked a bit like a cubist painting? Possibly. But the hairless patches on his otherwise scruffy face were well earned. Picasso’s mother gave birth to him on a porch in rural Texas in 2018. She was an “outside dog” and, due to owner neglect, she and her pups suffered from severe skin infections and demodectic mange which were left untreated. Her owner eventually agreed to relinquish the distressed canine family to a rescue. At the shelter, all were subsequently treated for their various health issues but Picasso’s skin was the worst and left him with permanent scarring and hair loss. As he matured, his hairless patches became less noticeable - but a giant underbite emerged like an abstract masterpiece. After several months of fostering and one failed adoption, I eventually decided to keep him. He is my most valuable piece of art.