One Dog at a Time
An illustrated book by Ella-Grace Collins of Ellabees Illustration
There are some dogs who become unforgettable parts of people’s lives, and others who live and disappear without anyone ever learning their name. The dogs I discovered through this project were destined to be the latter.
One Dog at a Time is a 48-page illustrated collection of portraits and stories inspired by real rescue dogs cared for by SFT Animal Sanctuary in Tangier, Morocco.
I created the project after learning that millions of street dogs across Morocco are to be killed ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, in an effort to “cleanse” the streets before the tournament.
It is very easy to speak about stray dogs as though they are all the same thing. A problem. A population. A passing image seen through a car window, on a television screen or at the side of a busy street.
But the longer I spent drawing these dogs, the more impossible that became.
Each one arrived carrying their own particular personality, entirely untouched by the word “stray”. Some were frightened. Some were injured. Some had learnt, somehow, to make themselves small enough to survive unnoticed.
Under different circumstances, many of these dogs would simply have been somebody’s dog.
My own dogs stood beside me through hospital admissions and recovery, showing me how deeply a dog can change somebody’s life. These dogs are no different. Given the chance, any one of them could simply have been somebody’s dog — offering the same comfort and companionship.
Through this book, I hope to raise awareness of the dogs behind the statistics and encourage people to look beyond the word “stray”, recognising each dog as an individual with their own personality, experiences and value.
About SFT Animal Sanctuary
SFT is a non-profit animal sanctuary in Tangier, Morocco, run by Sally and her team. Alongside rescuing and caring for street dogs, they work towards creating lasting change and more humane alternatives to culling through Project Hayat.
Exhibition & Recognition
Originally created as my final pre-degree project, One Dog at a Time was presented alongside an exhibition of the original portraits at my end of year graduate show, where it received both Best in Show and Highly Commended. The project has since also helped me become an NMTF General Retail Finalist, allowing me to share its message with a wider audience.
The book is now available to pre-order, with 5% of the profits from every copy sold donated to SFT Animal Sanctuary with the rest helping me to print and produce more books. The campaign also allows people to donate to directly support the sanctuary’s ongoing work.
Even if you are unable to donate or order the book, simply sharing the campaign would mean so much and help these dogs’ stories reach more people.
About the artist
My name is Ella-Grace Collins, and I am the artist and illustrator behind Ellabees Illustration.
Ellabees began after a long hospital admission, when I started to realise how easy it is to overlook the small things that bring us joy. During that time, animals played an extraordinary role in my own recovery, and through my work as an illustrator I have come to realise that my story is far from unique. Time and time again, I have met people whose lives have been quietly shaped by the animals beside them.
My work is rooted in traditional drawing, painting and storytelling. Whether I am illustrating a much-loved family companion or a rescue dog from the streets of Morocco, my aim is always to look closely enough to capture something individual — not just what an animal looks like, but something of who they are.
At the heart of my work is the belief that animals are never just subjects to draw. They have personalities, histories, habits, fears, loyalties and a unique ability to change the lives of the people around them.
That is what I hope to show through every illustration.