Pop Art Pet Unleashed

Archive for May, 2006

One of our bloggers who read our last post sent us this money dog!  A perfect example (tho potentially an expensive one) of Pop Art, taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary! Very clever!

It took lots of internet sleuthing to find the artist,  Justine Smith and see more of her work. Justine Smith is a British artist, she works with a variety of everyday objects. Her work with currency is amazing but she is particularly known for her ongoing series of dog sculptures created from chicken wire and plaster then covered with money, or with the funny papers – like this 3-D version of a Comic Art Dog. It’s so cute!!

 Justine Smith, seen here with her artwork, has exhibited her artwork in galleries and museums internationally. Her work has also been included in collections in the British Council, private collections of major corporations as well as several celebrities.

As we have pointed out, Kylie was and still is the inspiration behind Pop Art Pet. But in addition to the many, custom portraits we have created featuring Kylie, which you have no doubt seen around the site and in this blog, we have had several other artist commemorate Kylie’s unique beauty! We thought we would show them off and encourage others to support the arts – especially pet art!

Of course Kylie has modeled for professional pet photographers, both in black and white by Doghouse Studios, and in color by One Fine Day.

We had a caricature done of her by artist Brian Nutt.

We even had Guillermo, the talent behind Woof Art do a custom Pop portrait of her too!

Yes, he is our competition technically but in this business there is plenty of room for “friendly competition”, and we are happy to consider Guillermo a friend!

Possibly my favorite original creation of Kylie, however are the little figurines created in her likeness.

I call them my claymation Kylies – they’re adorable!

Anyway, the point is, there are lots of very talented artists out there specializing in custom pet art so there is bound to be one that appeals specifically to you and perfectly suits your pet’s personality. Or if you’re like us, lots of them will! In fact, if you know of, or see any other really creative forms of custom pet art please let us know!

Since we started our new Pop Promo for Exotic Pets Only, we’ve got some exciting new clients! Above is our inspiration for this special, Kalani the Macaw our lucky Furry Scurry contest winner. 

Also, we said “Got Iguana?” to invite people to visit our specials page, and we got Gojira, a little guy with big aspirations! How cool is he, and we just love that name! His dad was not sure if he wanted a custom Pop Art style portrait or a Comic style, so we gave him both options, but this comic version is definitely our favorite.  

We are also working on a hedgehog named Henry, a horse, and some others as well. And we are having so much fun we are going to continue offering this special 20% discount on Exotic Pet Portraits awhile longer. But don’t hesitate, visit our specials page for more details and order today – just use the voucher code “EXOTIC” when you checkout.

So you meet a great guy, go on a few dates, things are going well then you invite him to your cat’s birthday party and he looks at you like you’re a crazy cat lady and stops returning your calls. Or maybe you finally get the nerve to ask that girl from the gym out. Your first date is perfect ’til you bring her home, where your German Shepherd greets her politely and she starts sneezing uncontrollably!

You need to meet somebody who understands the importance of that little furry person in your life. He’s your best friend AND your kid! You should be looking for love in pet friendly places. But where? Well, as usual, you can find the answer on the internet on DateMyPet.com.

You can find people like you, in your area who love their pets and are sure to love yours. You can make sure that you’re compatible with each other and with each other’s pets. On datemypet.com you can select age groups, locations, and of course, preferred species (of pets, not dates). Or if you’re not looking for a romantic relationship for yourself, you can search for a suitable play mate for your pet – they get lonely too ya know!

So if you are actively internet dating or just considering internet dating, you may want to check it out. I don’t think there’s an 800 question personality profile to help you meet somebody guaranteed to be your soul mate, but you may meet somebody really cool who thinks your dog is cool too!

We held our drawing today for the Furry Scurry attendees who went online to register to win a free 18×18 custom pet portrait in their choice of styles!

The winner is… Robin Massey! We have already emailed Robin and she has decided to use her prize to have us do a Pop Style portrait of her dad’s Macaw, Kalani, as a father’s day gift. We certainly didn’t expect to be doing a portrait of a bird for someone we met at the FURRY Scurry!! But we like feathered friends too, and are always excited about a change of pace. We’ll be sure and show everybody how Kalani’s portrait turns out.

We have actually been wishing we could do more portraits of exotic pets. In fact it gave us an idea for our next Pop Promo… 20% off any style of portrait, 11×14 or larger please, of any exotic pet.

Just so there are no misunderstandings, we consider an exotic pet anything that is not a dog or cat (or human). So a ferret or a parrot would count; so would a horse or a goldfish, which aren’t technically considered exotic but we don’t want to discriminate. But please don’t dye your cat purple or give your dog a mohawk and call it exotic! We’re not sure how long we will run this special offer, so you should place your order and send us a picture of your hamster or your hedgehog today! Just enter the voucher code “EXOTIC” and click on recalculate when you check out.

This Sunday, May 14th, is a very important day! Yes, it’s Mother’s Day which is of course very important without mothers, let’s face it, none of us would be here! However, we’re talking about the fact that May 14th is “Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.” It’s a cause that has been around for many years, but now in the aftermath of last year’s devastation to the animal population in the Gulf Coast, it is something that all animal lovers should get involved in and do their part. The good news is, there are so many ways you can help!

“No Pet Left Behind” is a movement to help promote the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), which requires state and local authorities to consider the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. Please visit this site and fill out the form and send it to your senator and/or congressperson.

Become a member of “EARS,” Emergency Animal Rescue Service. Visit the United Animal Nations’ website to learn how, and to get much more valuable information about how you can help on a local and national level.

Educate yourself about what’s going on in your community and your state to change legislation regarding pets and other animals during a disaster. Do you even know if your local shelter would allow you to bring your dog or cat with you in the event of an evacuation Or would you have to choose between their safety and yours? If so, what can you do to change it? Also, it is important to know what’s going on in Louisiana because they are still in the nation’s spotlight and nowhere else is it so painfully obvious that things have to change. The entire Gulf Coast region is serving as an example and catalyst for that change. Visit Eric’s Dog Blog for a great source of information from a non-political observer/activist/hero who has been there since shortly after Katrina, doing everything he can to rescue abandoned pets.

You can even Party With A Purpose and make it fun to bring awareness to this issue. The Humane Society is encouraging compassionate citizens to attend or even host a party on Sunday, June 11th to take action and get more people involved.

Don’t forget preparedness begins at home! You should have a disaster kit ready, not only for yourself, but for your pet. Below is a list of recommended supplies:

Dog & Cat Disaster Kit

Food – Have at least a (2) week supply at all times. Use the brand that your pet is used to eating. If they eat canned food, buy pop top cans of food small enough to be used at one feeding since you may not have a way to properly refrigerate a partially used can of food – do not feed food that has been left out. Store dry food in an airtight, water proof container. Rotate food at least once every (3) months. Include in your supplies a feeding dish, a spoon to scoop and mix the food, and a hand crank can opener in case you do not have pop top cans

Water – Have at least a (2) week supply at all times. Store water in plastic containers and keep in a cool, dark place. Rotate water at least once every (2) months.

Sanitation - Have a pooper scooper in your disaster supplies for picking up after your dog. For your cat have a small litter box and litter scoop in your supplies and enough litter to last at least (2) weeks. Have some plastic bags in your supplies for disposing of your pet’s waste.

Cleaning Supplies – Include a small container of soap for washing out your pet’s food dish, and some paper towels for drying dishes and other cleanup. If you will be housing your pet in a crate, include with your disaster supplies a disinfectant that can be used to clean the crate

Collar, Tag, Leash, Harness – An extra, proper-fitting collar with identification tag should be kept with your disaster supplies. Also a good leash and a harness – even for cats – is a must! It could be a very stressful time for your pet, they may become frightened and try to run away. It is also a good idea to have a spare identification tag with your disaster supplies that you can write on, so that if you are going to be living somewhere temporarily you can put the phone number and address of that location on the tag.

Crate - Purchase a plastic airline crate or a wire collapsible crate to transport your pet should you have to evacuate and/or to keep them in following a disaster. Many public evacuation facilities will ONLY allow pets if they are crated. Be sure the crate is large enough for your dog or cat to lie down comfortably and allow room for a food and water dish.

First Aid Kit – A good first aid kit for pets should include:

• first aid book for pets
• conforming bandage (3″ x 5″)
• absorbent gauze pads (4″ x 4″)
• absorbent gauze roll (3″ x 1 yard)
• q-tips (1 small box)
• antiseptic wipes (1 package)
• emollient cream (1 container)
• tweezers and scissors
• instant cold pack
• latex disposable gloves (several pairs)
• proper fitting muzzle for dogs

Medications – If your pet is on long term medication, always have on hand at least a two week supply, since your vet may not be able to open right away to fill a prescription. Check with your veterinarian to see if he/she has a disaster plan – if not find a veterinarian in your area who does have a plan so that you can get medical care for your pets should they be injured during the disaster. Keep your pet’s medical records, including records of vaccinations with your disaster supplies.

Pictures - You should have in your supplies some current pictures of your pets to use in case they get lost during the disaster. And be sure to include yourself in some of the pictures in case you have to show proof of guardianship.

Hopefully you will never need it, but it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! So for their benefit and your peace of mind, please Be Prepared!

It’s getting warmer and you know what that means… flea season! You can help keep them away and do something sweet for your dog at the same time. Brewers yeast is a natural anti-flea remedy, so try out this recipe:

1 cup flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer’s yeast (available at health-food stores)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped medium
1/2 cup chicken stock plus 3 tablespoons for basting

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a mixing bowl, combine oil and garlic. Alternately add 1/2 cup chicken stock and flour mixture in 3 parts; mix until well combined. Knead about 2 minutes by hand on floured surface; dough will be sticky.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out about 3/8 inch thick. Cut out bone shapes; place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, rotate baking sheet, and baste with remaining 3 tablespoons chicken stock. Bake 10 minutes longer. Turn off oven, leaving oven door closed. Leave pan in oven for 1 1/2 hours longer.

**Makes about 5 dozen bone biscuits.

Did you know that this is “Be Kind to Animals Week?” I totally forgot to mention it yesterday. Of course, around here it’s always be kind to the animal week, but Kylie wanted us to make sure that everybody knows that this week it’s required by law, to Be Kind to Animals!

The Denver Dumb Friends League is the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region, they welcome tens of thousands of animals to their shelters yearly, and never turn ANY away. (I know it’s not a great name, but it is referring to the fact that the animals can’t speak for themselves. Besides it was established in 1910 so what are ya gonna do?) Every year on the first Saturday in May, the Dumb Friends League host the famous “Furry Scurry!”  It’s a two-mile walk and fun run with your dog in Denver’s Washington Park, and there are usually about 5,000 people and 10,000 dogs! It’s furry, slobbering, barking, bedlam – it’s nuts!

This will be our 5th year to participate. We beg & bribe our friends to get up at the crack of dawn, and help us set up our booth and show off our portraits. It’s fun for us to actually get to talk to the people and pet the pups that we work with since it’s usually all strictly emails & pixels! While we’re there we also like to offer something special to our local customers and those helping support the animals in need, plus 20% of any sales that day will be donated directly to the Dumb Friends League. So, if your in the Denver metro area this Saturday, May 6th, be sure and join the fun and stop by to say hi!