About the Artist

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If you've already read the Little Laz

"About" page, you'll know that my name is Cass. My love for animals started very early in life, growing up in rural Cherryfield, Maine on an alpaca farm. Alongside the 25+ alpacas, we always had a myriad of pet dogs, cats, and fish in our farmhouse. My mother brought her rich career as an art teacher home by inspiring in my brother and I a passion for creating, and as a State Game Warden my father made sure to raise us with a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. It wasn't uncommon for him to bring home injured baby deer, turkeys, owls, or other Maine wildlife to care for until they were able to go to be in-taken by a wildlife rehabilitator, or to pull my brother and I out of school to spend the day with the state biologists as they observed and tagged the local bear population.

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Just 10 days after graduating high school, I ventured across the country on my own to basic training at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After I completed basic, over the next four years I earned my Bachelor's of Science in Philosophy, competed in Division I cross-country, and was trained to become an Air Force Officer. I graduated and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2020, in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though it was an unorthodox graduation for USAFA, the institution was sure to give the class of 2020 and our families the proud moment of graduation. My closest friends and I stood 6 feet apart from one-another amongst a terrazzo of 1,000 cadets as former Vice President Mike Pence arrived via helicopter to speak and the Thunderbirds flew overhead.

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After the famed "hat toss" of USAFA graduation, I once again ventured across the country on my own -- this time to Vandenberg Air Force Base in mid-coast California, where I was trained as a nuclear-operator (commonly-known as a "missileer"). In between training, my friends and I got to enjoy spending time on the beautiful beaches and doing our best to keep our heads above the waves as we tried our hand at surfing. The most enjoyable part of my time at Vandenberg AFB though, without a doubt, was my sweet dog Laz coming into my life, (you can read his story on the "About" page). Having lived in a military college dorm since I was 18, I was elated to finally be able to give an animal of my own a happy home. Luckily I found Lazarus (Laz), who proved to be the greatest and most-loyal dog I could have ever asked for. As a special-needs senior Laz needed a little bit of extra care and attention, but he was just happy to be alive and the tiny dog brought so much joy to all of our lives.

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Upon graduating from my training in California, Laz and I drove back across the country to my assigned base, F.E. Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There I ranked up to First Lieutenant and served (and am currently still serving) as a missileer, while working towards my MBA. Though my service status may soon be changing given a disqualifying chronic PTSD diagnosis following the events that led to the loss of my sweet dog, I am determined to make the best of the situations I cannot change and keep Laz's goofy, fearless spirit alive through this business and my every-day life.

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I currently reside in the lovely town of Fort Collins with my one-eyed, FeLV+ cat, Fezzik (Fez), where I handcraft all of the thoughtful products you'll find on the "Shop" page. In honor of Lazarus 10% of all profits from our products will be donated to the ASPCA in efforts to help and save innocent animals like Laz and Fez to whom the world, and unfortunately many of the people who reside in it, have not been kind.

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