Pop Art Pet Unleashed

It’s almost time to turn another page on the calendar, believe it or not it’s almost May. May means it’s time to plan a much-needed vacation! When making reservations for this summer, don’t call a kennel or a pet-sitter, instead call any of a growing number of pet-friendly vacation destinations!

• Here’s How:
  1.   Ask fellow pet owners, such as friends and co-workers, where they’ve traveled with their pets.
   
  2.   Look online for pet travel guides, which provide listings of pet-friendly lodgings across the country (and in some cases the world). You will be amazed how many resources there are! Our favorite one is “Fido Friendly” magazine, and in the most recent issue I found an ad for Travelwithyourpet.com, which will help you cover all the bases.
   
  3.   Search travel sections of bookstores for local or regional travel guides targeted at pet owners. Also, check with your auto club; AAA’s accommodations books indicate whether pets are welcome at hotels.
   
  4.   Call several hotels and resorts in the area you’ll be visiting and find out which ones welcome pets. Find out which places offer special pet services, such as dog walking areas and pet-sitting.
   
  5.   Call restaurants, fairgrounds and other places of interest in the area to find out where you’ll be able to take your pet once you’ve reached your vacation spot.
   
  6.   Decide on a specific destination based on the availability of pet-friendly facilities.
   
   
  Tips:
   Make sure you fully understand a location’s pet policies before making reservations. For example, some hotels only allow pets during certain times of year, or only allow pets of a certain size.
   
   Always carry plenty of water and pet food for your pet during long car trips or hikes.
   
   If your pet has health problems, make sure there are qualified veterinarians in the area you’ll be visiting.
   
   Observe proper etiquette while vacationing with pets. For example, always keep your dogs on leashes in public and avoid leaving a dog alone in a hotel room.

Another important consideration, fly or drive…

If you decide to fly be sure to check with the airlines about their restrictions and requirements (you’ll probably need a health certificate from your vet). Did you know that small, and sometimes medium sized pets can go with you in the cabin? You just need an airline approved bag to carry on, and these days you have some very fashionable options! If you decide to drive, just keep your pet’s safety in mind and consider a safety belt, or some very stylish Doggles so your dog can safely stick his head out the window.
Whatever you decide to do you will have so much more fun with your best friend as your traveling companion. So hit the road, or fly the furry skies, and have a dog gone great time!

If you need any more helpful hints, consult Kylie – she is a very experienced traveler. She’s been coast to coast!

…and speaking of inspiration, Andy Warhol, who is responsible for the theory that “everyone is famous for at least fifteen minutes,” has far exceeded that. Even now, nearly 25 years after his death he is getting plenty of press. A 624 page, visual biography including 2,000 images, many rare or previously unpublished, is due to be published this summer. In september, PBS will air a documentary featuring Warhol and calling him “the most significant artist of the second half of the 20th century.” There is also the movie being released later this year, about Edie Sedgwick, who was known as Andy Warhol’s muse, starring Sienna Miller.

Andy Warhol is the father of “Pop Art,” in fact he coined the term as he removed the barrier between art and the masses, making him very Pop-ular! He was perhaps the first to identify the impact of celebrities and the media on our culture. Obviously, he has made a big impact around here (we wouldn’t have a job without him)! And we absolutely agree about the significance of his artwork. Those who knew him have said this ongoing, long-lasting, hype over his work and the fact that he is practically a household name, is exactly what Andy planned; which makes us think he would be tickled neon pink to see our work! If anybody believed that immitation is the highest form of flattery, it was Andy Warhol.

Actually, as you can see, there is not that much similarity between Andy’s artwork and ours, but it is certainly Warhol-inspired!

People often ask us how we got started doing what we do, immortalizing other people’s pets with a passion. Obviously we’re animal lovers, but there is one little animal in particular that has been quite an inspiration for us. Meet Kylie!

We adopted Kylie from the Humane Society in Honolulu about 12 years ago (she’s actually going to be a teenager later this week!), and she pretty much turned our world upside down – in a good way! She has a larger than life personality and has practically become a little celebrity as the subject of kyliedog.com. She has shared stories from her coast-to-coast travels, provided her own news service, plus her infamous Psychic Puppy Network (featured on Graham Norton, in USA Today and other major publications).

Well, about five years ago we, Kylie’s faithful servants, were left jobless due to the IT recession and, found ourselves with a little too much time on our hands. One day one of us began manipulating photos of Kylie, just out of curiousity; adding color and texture using various techniques. The result was the first ever, totally accidental, Pop Art Pet portrait – We just didn’t know it yet!

We printed it as large as we could, and put it on the wall. Everyone who saw it had the same reaction… Cool! And there were lots of suggestions that we should offer to do the same for other people and their pets. We didn’t really take it too seriously at first, but people in Denver tend to be really crazy about their pets, so we thought what the heck, we’ll give it a shot. And the rest is history!

Actually, the rest was a little more complicated than that, we’ve learned a lot since then. But most importantly we’ve learned that there are so many people who love their pets as much as we love Kylie, it’s amazing! Giving those people a way to immortalize their “furry kids,” makes it all worth it, and we feel so privileged to be chosen for this labor of love!

Since then, there have been a few more Kylie creations too, even though she is not always the most cooperative model. She’s a constant reminder of why we do what we do… because every pet is truly a work of art! Ours just happens to be a piece of work as well!

Happy Birthday Kylie!

Did you know.. the bunny was first used as a symbol of Easter in 16th century Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings. The first edible Easter bunnies, made primarily of pastry and sugar, were produced in Germany as well, during the early 1800s. Also in Germany, children made nests of grass and placed them in their yards. They believed the Easter Bunny would fill these baskets with brightly decorated eggs during the night.

The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the “Oschter Haws” was considered “childhood’s greatest pleasure” next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the “Oschter Haws” would lay a nest of colored eggs.

Thus the custom of making nests also spread to America. Children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country.

Wishing you an Extra Special Easter Weekend
from Pop Art Pet!