During the federal government shutdown, countless federal workers were fired, furloughed, or simply let go with no clear answers. In a moment of uncertainty, many workers were left wondering what would come next or whether they would even have a job to return to.
However, in the middle of all that fear and uncertainty, one former federal employee from Takoma Park found comfort in the softest place imaginable: her furry companion. And not only did that comfort carry her through her own despair, but it also sparked a creative project that now helps to tell the stories of others who were forced out, too.
Denise Mortimer, a former employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development, was among those let go during the shutdown. She had spent years at the agency, dedicated to work that mattered deeply to her. Losing it was not just the loss of a job; it was the loss of community, purpose, and the daily rhythm she had built her life around.
“It was clear that this transition wasn’t going to be like the others,” Mortimer said. “We went into the office, and we were met with a barrage of executive orders, one of which was specific to reinventing international development. It was clear there were going to be very big changes coming to the agency.”
In the middle of all that turbulence, she turned to an unexpected source of healing, drawing her dog. What started as a simple, soothing distraction quickly evolved into something more. Denise began sketching her coworkers’ pets, little whiskered muses with big personalities, and pairing each illustration with the story of their owner’s service. Each drawing became a tribute to the person behind the badge, a way to preserve and tell their contributions even as the government erased their positions.
She called it the RocketBear Project.
“I started drawing pictures of my colleagues’ cats and dogs and bringing them into the office to kind of cheer people up a little bit. USAID, our staff are all around the world, and so I had colleagues in South Africa. They would email me pictures of their dogs, and I would draw them, then email them back. It was a little shot of dopamine, during a really stressful time,” she said. Through these whimsical pet portraits, Denise found a way to honor not only the animals that brought comfort in tough times but also the humans behind them, dedicated public servants who deserved to be seen, remembered, and celebrated.
“I thought it was an amazing idea that Denise had. I know it came out of grief, but when I heard about what she was doing. I wanted her to draw Josie. I thought it was a really cool idea to sort of humanize the workforce because we were kind of demonized as being lazy and unneeded,” said Candice Broda, a friend of Mortimer and a former federal employee.
“Dogs are therapeutic. Or any pet in general. I would encourage everyone to look at the Rocket Bear Project. It’s a great thing that Denise is doing, and anyone who has lost their job and has a beloved pet, I’m sure she would be willing to include them in the project,” Broda added.
What began as her personal coping mechanism has now evolved into something heartwarming, powerful, and profoundly moving. The Rocket Bear Project shines a gentle light on the people who keep our government running, reminding us that behind every policy or program is a human being, with a story, a life, and often a loyal pet curled up at their feet.
