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I've got an idea for Santeri and would love to apply!

So, there's a conservation project called the Livestock Guarding Dog Program that's headed by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).

LGD Program

In this program LGDs (livestock guardian dog), usually Anatolian Shepherds, are raised / trained and gifted to families that rely on livestock for their livelihood and live in areas where there's a large amount of human-predator conflict (I believe the program started in Namibia but would need to fact check myself). This program saves lives on both sides of the fence because cheetah's are mesopredators - they're excellent hunters and also avoidant of predators that are larger than them because they're not adapted for physical altercations. The LGDs are large and intimidating and cheetahs will run from them if challenged by them. Historically, humans will establish ranches in predator territory and are then in conflict with the predators (the predators want to eat the livestock to survive, the humans use the livestock in various ways to provide for their families). When predators (specifically cheetahs) would kill a rancher's animal, the rancher / ranchers would go out and hunt cheetahs (even if they weren't sure which cat had eaten their animal). When the dogs are placed with the ranchers, the dog will guard against an approaching cheetah. The cheetah runs away from the dog. No livestock are killed, and no cheetahs are killed.

I'd like to write a story about a LGD and a cheetah who become friends! I think the name Santeri would be a good name for the shepherd because it means "defender of mankind". It's a friendly sounding name with a strong meaning, which fits well for the character.

My general outline of the story I've had in my head is about the pup's arrival and learning on the ranch, the meeting with the cheetah (who doesn't have a name yet but I have ideas and may make a pair if it works best that way, giving each their own portions of stories and then sharing a joint part), and the development of their friendship (with sprinkles of educational stuff and links on the profile to learn about the conservation program). I actually already have a piece of art for them because I have wanted to make this story for a while now! Pup & Cheetah.

I have "groups" of pets and this kiddo would fit right in with my "short story" characters or my "pairs" depending on if I keep the story to one pet or two!

I've been wanting to make a blacklight or spectrum telenine because I love the art, and that would be a perfect fit for this character both in the general look and in the personality / expression of the art. Because I love the look of the telenine so much I probably wouldn't do an overlay, instead I would get art of the two characters for the profile. I'm kinda envisioning the pre-made profile layout from Helix that's centered with one of the characters on each side, both sitting and looking towards the other with a big smile.

The name and its meaning lends itself to some other good ideas, but I think this is a great fit for this character and I'd like to flesh that out before considering something else!

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