When Scott Nerney thought the Warwick Animal Shelter should have signs more welcoming than “Dog Pound” he turned to animal control supervisor Ann Corvin, who told him to go for it. A board member of the Warwick Center for the Arts, Nerney turned to Karen Christine Giles who relatively recently started painting portraits of people and pets. Her work has gained recognition and her first encounter with the Friends of the Warwick Animal Shelter came at a blessing of the animals prior to the pandemic at Warwick City Park. Mayor Frank Picozzi gave Nerney the thumbs up and in less than three months he and Giles had the signs completed. Last Friday the signs were unveiled. The project caught the mayor by surprise, as one of the signs features his black lab, Molly. The other two are of a dog and cat that have been adopted from the shelter. Giles said a portion of her animal portraits would be donated to the Friends of the Animal Shelter. Here Giles and Nerney look on as Picozzi admires Giles’ work. Giles gave him the painting from which the sign was made. A couple of cats waiting for adoption also wanted to be pictured. (Warwick Beacon photos)