Every portrait begins with a story.
Every animal you meet here is part of our extended family. Some live with us, some with our children, and some belong to dear friends
Each one has their own unique personality, funny habits, and special place in our hearts. Their stories remind us why personalised portraits mean so much to the people who love them.
We hope you'll enjoy getting to know them... and perhaps they'll remind you of someone special waiting for you at home.
🐱 Meet Bella – Our CEO
Bella came into our lives in the most unexpected way. She and her sister were found as tiny kittens in a barn on our son and daughter-in-law's farm. They were so young they had to be bottle-fed, and from the very beginning Bella had a gentle, trusting nature.
She came to us as a birthday surprise, and before long she had completely won our hearts. Although she loves the whole family, it's no secret that Serg is her favourite person. Every afternoon she waits patiently by the garage door, ready to greet him the moment he comes home.
Curious, affectionate and always close by, Bella reminds us every day why pets become family. She may be the smallest member of the Sands Printing team, but around here she's proudly known as our CEO.
Favourite things: Watching birds from her cat tree, greeting Serg at the door, and supervising absolutely everything we do.
Chief Executive Officer of Sands Printing.
🐱 Meet Salem
Salem has the gentlest soul.
If I'm home, he's never very far away. He quietly follows me from room to room, happy just to be close. When I'm outside spending time with the chickens, he patiently watches me from the window until I come back inside. My cats are indoor cats, with enclosed verandas where they can enjoy the fresh air safely, but for Salem, watching his family is just as important as watching the world.
He isn't a loud cat. In fact, he hardly ever meows at all. But when he does, it's the sweetest little voice, and when he's happy, his purr says everything his words never need to.
At night, we all have our places. Bella curls up at Serg's feet, while Salem sleeps at mine. Somehow, that's always felt exactly right.
If he's hungry, Salem has his own special way of reminding me. He faithfully follows me towards the kitchen... and then, just as I'm about to take my next step, he suddenly flops onto the floor right in front of me and rolls onto his back. I've learned to stop first, carefully step around him, and only then continue—otherwise one of us might end up having quite an adventure! It's adorable, funny... and just a little bit dangerous.
Salem takes his time getting to know new people, but once you've earned his trust, you have it forever. He's incredibly gentle, especially with Bella. Serg often smiles and says, "Look at him looking after Bella," as Salem patiently lets her eat first or simply gives her whatever she wants. Kindness seems to come naturally to him.
If you ask anyone in our family who Salem belongs to, the answer comes without hesitation.
"He's Nena's boy."
And if you asked Salem...
I'm quite sure he'd say exactly the same thing.
🐈 Meet Taurus
Taurus has the softest little voice... although he hardly ever uses it. Most of the time, he doesn't need to. His loud, happy purr begins the moment you come close to him—sometimes before you've even had the chance to touch him. Whether you're putting down his dinner, giving him a cuddle, or even giving him his medicine, his purr seems to say, "I know you're looking after me."
From the very beginning, Taurus and our youngest son, Alek, quietly chose each other. They're rarely far apart, and wherever Alek is, that's exactly where Taurus wants to be. His favourite place in the house isn't really a room—it's simply wherever his person happens to be.
A few months ago, Taurus became very ill, and for a while we weren't sure he would recover. Today he takes medication every day, something he doesn't particularly enjoy, but he trusts Alek completely. That quiet trust between them is something very special to witness.
When Alek is away for more than a normal workday, Taurus wanders gently through the house making the sweetest little "mrr" sound, looking for him. The moment Alek comes home, he relaxes. His world feels complete again.
Although he's naturally curious, Taurus is also the guardian of the house. He notices visitors before anyone else, keeps an eye on unexpected cats outside, and isn't shy about expressing his opinion if someone is being a little too loud or moving a little too quickly. Sometimes he'll give a gentle warning meow, scratch the carpet, or even lift a paw as if politely saying,
"Excuse me... I think you could behave a little better."
Once Taurus decides you're one of his special people, you've earned a loyal friend for life. Until then... he'll quietly observe you and make up his own mind.
One of his favourite places in the world is his cat tree by Alek's window, where he can happily spend hours watching the birds and the chickens outside.
Around our home, everyone knows exactly who Taurus belongs to.
He's Alek's boy.
And if you asked Taurus...
I'm quite sure he'd tell you the very same thing.
Mariska & Skocko
🐔 Meet Mariška
If devotion had a face, it would look a lot like Mariška.
When she became broody, we knew she had her heart set on becoming a mother. Serg built her a special little "maternity ward" with a cosy bedroom at the back and a small area at the front where she could stretch her legs, eat and drink. She spent her days patiently sitting on her nest, leaving it only briefly before returning to the eggs she was determined to protect.
About a week later, Charlie brought us some fertile eggs, and we gently placed them beneath her. Nineteen days later, one tiny chick finally hatched.
That little chick was Skočko.
From that moment on, Mariška devoted herself completely to her little boy. She still patiently waited a few more days in case the remaining eggs hatched, but when it became clear they wouldn't, she quietly accepted it and poured all of her love into raising Skočko.
As he grew, they moved from the maternity ward to a larger outdoor enclosure, and eventually joined the rest of our flock. Through every stage of his life, Mariška never stopped watching over him. She taught him where to explore, when to rest, and how to be confident in the world. Wherever Skočko went, his mum was never far behind.
When Skočko grew into a handsome young rooster, we knew he deserved a place where he could have his own flock. Charlie kindly welcomed him to her farm, where he now lives exactly the life we had hoped for him.
For nearly two weeks after he left, Mariška quietly called for her little boy.
She searched around the yard, looking for the chick who had always answered her voice.
Watching her reminded us of something we will never forget.
The love of a mother doesn't depend on words, feathers or even species.
It is simply love.
To us, Mariška will always be one of the most devoted mothers we have ever known.
🐓 Meet Skočko
Some little ones seem to arrive in the world already full of adventure.
That was Skočko.
Nineteen days after Charlie brought us fertile eggs for Mariška, one tiny chick finally hatched. From his very first days, he seemed to have springs in his little legs. He ran, hopped, explored every corner he could find and was forever popping out from under his mum's wings before racing straight back again.
It didn't take long before Serg gave him the perfect name.
Skočko.
In Serbian, it means little jumper or little hopper—and it suited him perfectly.
As he grew, so did his curiosity. Serg built him little ladders to climb, and Skočko happily spent his days jumping, exploring and finding the highest places he could reach. Yet every evening, after a day full of adventures, he curled up beside Mariška. No matter how brave he became, Mum was never far away.
When Skočko grew into a handsome young rooster, we knew he deserved a place where he could have his own flock. The happiest part was knowing exactly where that place would be.
Charlie welcomed him back to the very farm where Mariška had once lived, where his father and uncles still watched over their own flocks. In every sense, Skočko was going home.
Today, Charlie still sends us photos and little updates that always make us smile. Seeing him confidently strut around, surrounded by his family and his own growing flock of ladies, reminds us that sometimes the greatest act of love is letting someone grow into exactly who they were meant to be.
To us, Skočko will always be the little chick who couldn't stop jumping...
...and the handsome rooster who reminded us that sometimes the best journeys lead you right back to where your story first began.
A special thank you to Charlie and her family for giving Mariška her chance to become a mum, for welcoming Skočko home, and for continuing to share his adventures with us.
🐶 Meet Tiny
The first time we met Tiny, he was only a tiny puppy sitting happily on Kat's lap. A few days later we drove over to meet him, and from the moment he saw us he couldn't contain his excitement. He ran in circles, raced up and down the driveway and greeted us as though we'd been best friends forever.
That joyful welcome has never changed.
Every time we visit, Tiny runs the length of the driveway to meet us, circles the car with pure excitement, then proudly leads us back to the house before making sure everyone has given him the cuddles he believes are his right. If more than one person is there, he'll happily move from lap to lap, making sure nobody misses out on loving him.
Tiny has a beautiful gift for making people feel welcome. He doesn't just wag his tail—his whole body seems to smile. One evening, he was outside looking through the glass door while we sat inside. Every time I looked at him, his tail wagged so fast that he completely forgot what he was doing. At one point he stopped halfway through scratching an itch, one back leg still in the air, because saying hello was far more important.
There is so much love in Tiny. You don't just see it... you feel it.
Favourite things: Greeting visitors, cuddles, resting his head on someone's lap, and making everyone feel like the most important person in the world.
🐶 Meet Pepper
Pepper has enough energy to keep the whole farm entertained. Playful, cheeky and just a little bit crazy, she always seems to be looking for her next adventure. If there's a fence she shouldn't jump over, or something she probably shouldn't chase, Pepper is usually the first to investigate.
But beneath all that excitement is a dog with an enormous heart.
When she's had enough adventures, Pepper has only one thing on her mind—being close to the people she loves. She adores cuddles, loves stretching out on the couch, and is happiest when she has her family all to herself. If she could have her way, she'd happily trade chasing things for a cosy blanket, a full tummy and an evening of cuddles.
Sometimes I imagine Pepper saying,
"Forget the other animals... you don't need them. I'm here!"
That pretty much sums her up.
She's full of joy, full of love, and never afraid to let everyone know exactly how much she enjoys life.
Favourite things: Cuddles, comfy couches, family time, tasty treats, and occasionally pretending that fences are only a suggestion.
🐶 Meet Charlie
Charlie may not be tiny by name, but he certainly is at heart. Gentle, affectionate and full of quiet joy, he loves nothing more than being close to the people he loves. If someone is nearby, Charlie is never far behind.
Playful and full of energy, Charlie enjoys life with the same enthusiasm as any young dog, but it's his gentle nature that truly stands out. He loves being picked up, cuddled, and included in everything that's happening. Being close to his family is all he really needs.
Charlie's beautiful blue eye often catches people's attention first, but spend a few minutes with him, and you'll notice something even more special. There's a calm wisdom in the way he looks at you, as though he's quietly trying to understand everything around him.
Sweet, loyal, and endlessly loving, Charlie has a wonderful way of making everyone feel special.
Favourite things: Following his favourite humans, cuddles, being carried, playtime, and quietly reminding everyone that sometimes the gentlest hearts leave the biggest mark.
🐂 Meet Romeo
Romeo may be the biggest member of our Meet Our Models family, but he also has one of the gentlest hearts. Friendly, curious and surprisingly playful, he enjoys greeting visitors and never seems to mind a little extra attention.
Like many animals, Romeo has his own quiet personality. He's calm, careful around people and happy to wander over to the fence to see who's visiting. Spend a few moments with him and it's easy to understand why everyone who knows him speaks so fondly of him.
Romeo reminds us that every animal has a unique personality, no matter their size. Behind his strong appearance is a gentle soul who has earned a very special place in his family's heart.
Favourite things: Visiting the fence to say hello, spending time with his family, and quietly proving that gentle giants really do exist.
Sometimes the quietest souls leave the strongest impressions.
Every one of these wonderful animals has left a mark on our hearts and helped shape Sands Printing in their own special way.
Thank you for taking the time to meet them. We hope they've made you smile—and perhaps reminded you of someone special waiting for you at home.