This painting by Roanoke artist Terry Lyon is for sale through Vinton Veterinary Hospital’s art auction. Courtesy Dr. Courtney Wiegard.

You expect to see art for sale in a coffee shop, but not necessarily in a veterinary waiting room.

Yet that’s what’s happening at Vinton Veterinary Hospital.

The hospital will be holding an art auction through the first week of December to raise money toward funds that cover medical costs for rescued animals and assist clients who’ve fallen on hard financial times.

Veterinarian Courtney Wiegard said the hospital is always trying to come up with new ways to add to both of those funds, and she thought the silent auction would be fun.

The idea started with Roanoke artist Mark Shepheard, who is a client of the vet hospital. He helped Wiegard recruit other artists in the region, including Terry Lyon, Sunny Rosso, Nina McGee, Maria Driscoll and John Reburn, who owns Appalachia Press in downtown Roanoke.

Most of the pieces placed on the hospital lobby’s walls are animal themed, Wiegard said.

The auction also includes paintings from Waynesboro watercolor painter Linda Patrick donated by Wiegard’s mother. And in a nod to the region’s rail heritage, Wiegard’s mother also donated a 1950s-era framed handkerchief depicting Chessie Peake, the feline mascot of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway company, with her kittens.

The paintings are accompanied by biographies of the artists. The project is giving clients something new to do while they’re waiting with their pets.

Wiegard said the hospital might, in the future, consider allowing artists to set up and sell paintings in the lobby, just like what you’d see in a coffee shop.

For more information, call 627-5118 or visit vintonvet.com.

Click here to read the rest of the column.