Pop Art Pet Unleashed

Sniffer dogs have long been used to spot hidden explosives and drugs, so why not DVDs? That’s the theory being put to the test by the Motion Picture Association of America and the U.K.-based Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).

In a recent test at a U.K. airport FedEx facility, two black Labradors named Lucky and Flo were 100 percent successful in finding DVDs in packages, says Raymond Leinster, director general of FACT. The dogs don’t differentiate between pirated DVDs and legitimate ones. They do sniff out discs’ the polycarbonates, lacquers and resins — smells that humans can’t discern.

When the dogs succeed in locating the discs — indicate by wagging tails and other signs of excitement — their reward is a soggy tennis ball. The groups hope to use dogs to curb sales of pirated movies, which cost the movie industry billions of dollars each year.

Source: NPR

A new expansion opening this week at the Museum of Modern Art includes Andy Warhol’s cow wallpaper from floor to ceiling. Just further proof that it’s still Andy’s world, we just live in it! This means you quite likely have someone on your gift list this holiday season who is a Pop Art enthusiast. So to help you have a hip, happy Warholiday shopping experience, here are some unique Pop Art themed gift ideas.

Urban Outfitters has a huge collection of housewares and accessories featuring Andy’s artwork, and Amazon has a library of books about all things Pop Art including “The Philosophy of Andy Warhol” in which The private Andy Warhol talks about love, sex, food, beauty, fame, work, money, success; about New York and America; and about himself–his childhood in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, good times and bad times in the Big Apple, the explosion of his career in the sixties, and life among celebrities.

Barney’s NY is serving up soup! Very special soup, in exclusive Pop Art cans. All four limited edition soup cans have authentic reproductions of Andy Warhol designed labels, printed on special quality paper and with Andy’s signature (reproduced). Best of all they actually contain Campbell’s condensed tomato soup!

And a personal favorite directly from The Warhol Store, the Marilyn canvas tote with rhinestones & sequins! The online collection from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh is quite extensive with something to appeal to any art-lover.

Happy Warhol-idays from Pop Art Pet!

Well it’s “Black Friday,” the biggest shopping day of the year, and we don’t want to feel left out so we have a door-buster special of our own.. Order a Pop Art Pet Gift Certificate with a minimum value of $100 and you’ll get a bonus - A $20 certificate for merchandise in a custom Gift Shop! Plus free shipping of your Gift Certificate gift pack which includes a gift card, stickers, and a magnet!

With a gift certificate, the recipient can choose their favorite photo and preferred style for their own portrait, and now you can give two gifts in one! After the artwork for their portrait has been created, we’ll open a gift shop for them featuring their original design. Then they can choose artistic accessories like a t-shirt or coasters or a clock!

(Or if like us, you feel that it is almost as good to receive as it is to give, you could keep the Gift Shop bonus for yourself and use it in any of our breed-specific online shops! we won’t tell)

This offer is available until December 8th, but be sure and check out more details and specifics on our Specials page before you order.

Fur-Free Friday, an annual event that takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving, aims to educate people about the horrors suffered by fur-bearing animals. Organized originally in 1986 by grassroots activists to abolish the fur trade, Fur-Free Friday has grown to be one of the most widely attended annual demonstrations of the animal rights movement. Through protests, education, and the promotion of cruelty-free fashion, LCA gives a voice to the millions of animals who suffer and die each year.

This year marks LCA’s, Last Chance for Animals, 18th annual Fur-Free Friday, a grassroots event that brings hundreds of protesters to Beverly Hills, CA, to spread the message that people should not wear or buy fur.

The march goes through the streets of Beverly Hills visiting all the fur stores on the famous Rodeo Drive. LCA’s Animal News Van will accompany marchers and educate onlookers by playing video footage about the horrors of the fur trade.

California Residents can join LCA’s Protest, Friday, November 24th, 11am to 2pm at the Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills. Or click here to find out about protests planned for your area.

This weekend in both Orland, California and Watkins Glen, New York, Farm Sanctuary’s Celebration FOR the Turkeys is a unique and compassionate alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving holiday. This special event at the farms places turkeys at the center of attention, rather than at the center of the Thanksgiving table. As part of their nationally recognized and celebrity supported Adopt-A-Turkey Project, the Celebration FOR the Turkeys was established 20 years ago and has since become the holiday event of choice for animal lovers and advocates from all over the nation.

An enjoyable day for people of all ages, the Celebration FOR the Turkeys offers plenty of activities for participants, including shelter time with the animals and special guest presentations. Guests also have the opportunity to spend time with like-minded individuals and sample delicious vegan food at a special holiday dinner. The highlight of the event, however, is the Feeding of the Turkeys Ceremony. During this delightful ceremony, guests are invited to feed our rescued turkeys their very own feast of stuffed squash, cranberries and pumpkin pie!

Most importantly, the Celebration FOR the Turkeys is an occasion for friends of farm animals to gather and appreciate the distinct personalities, behaviors and desires of turkeys. It is also a time to remember the millions of turkeys who die every year so they can be made into Thanksgiving dinner. While the Celebration provides an experience for the rescued turkeys that most others in the country are unable to enjoy, it is the hope of Farm Sanctuary that the event will help spread a message of compassion for these animals far beyond the fields of our sanctuaries.

Did you know that we do custom Pop Art for people too? If you didn’t, check out popartgo.com! We were recently asked to do a portrait of Diana, and Paula, who commissioned the portrait had a special request. She wanted Diana’s portrait to have that true, classic Warhol look, like Marilyn. To match Diana’s decor, she wanted to go with more subdued colors, rather than a neon pallet. These are the examples we were working with..

Diana, however is a red-head and Paula wasn’t sure if she wanted to make her a blonde or not so we gave her both options.

And here you can see how much detail there really is.

We love the challenge of working with specific requests and examples, so if there’s something you had in mind for your own personal masterpiece, just contact us and let us know.

(You can check out all of Diana’s proofs by clicking here.)

This time we bring you great holiday gift ideas, not for pampered pets, but for pet-obsessed people! First, Spilsbury clever & unique gifts offers the PetMaster. This handy electronic device organizes pet records & gives thousands of tips on caring for your pet, putting everything you need to know about your cat or dog at the touch of a button! Paw-shaped PetMaster fits in your purse or pocket and stores vital info about your pet, as well as phone numbers of vets, pet-sitters, groomers, pet store, and more. Giant reference library has pet care tips on everything from housebreaking and nutrition to behavior problems and health emergencies. On the road? PetMaster helps you find a pet-friendly hotel. After-hours emergency? Get the location and number of nearby pet clinics all over the country. Includes built-in shopping list and photo frame. $29

This playful Dachshund Lamp from Offi Lighting is made of non-toxic, odorless plastic with a low voltage replaceable bulb that bathes a room in soft light. Dog lovers in general and Weenie Dog fans especially will adore it. Available in six colors. $59

Fidobags by nicklovegrove.com are the most loyal of all luggage. Great for travel, overnight stays or just to take to the gym. The bags are fully lined, have an adjustable shoulder strap, and most ingeniously feature a removable head (not a feature you want in your real dog) so you can always get to your phone, keys, passport etc. The bag was originally designed for the Sputnik Spacelines exhibition in Tokyo, and is becoming very trendy. $180

And don’t forget we have our own ginourmous collection of pet-tastic gifts for people available in our online gift shops. Check them out!

By the way… USA Today is providing a guide to holiday shopping, and look what they recommend:

Turn your loved ones into works of art

Yeah, that’s us! And we are very flattered! Coincidentally we are now very busy, so if you’re planning to order a custom pet portrait for Christmas, you better check our Holiday Ordering Information, time is running out!

When the weather was hot we provided some tips and advice on how to keep your pets cool and comfortable and safe. Well, now the seasons have certainly changed and the cold can be just as dangerous for dogs as the heat, especially for senior dogs. Here are some easy ways to keep your old friend cozy and comfortable this winter.

Healthy dogs with longer coats are able to maintain their body temperature during colder weather; but certain breeds, such as Greyhounds, Labs, and other short-haired breeds may need some extra help. Dogs with thinner coats and lower body fat content benefit from wearing a coat. Even with a warm sweater or jacket, however you should restrict your dog’s outdoor exercise during extremely cold weather (15 degrees fahrenheit or lower).

When there’s a lot of snow on the ground, be sure and clear a potty area for your dog, and provide older pets, especially those with arthritis, a warm sleeping area indoors away from drafts to prevent aching, stiff joints.

Make sure to check your dog’s paws after outdoor romps in cold weather and remove any salt, ice, or snow. You should also keep the hair around their paws trimmed to prevent snow and debris from sticking, because it can be very uncomfortable and cause more serious problems with their pads if ignored. Some vets recommend using dense, wax-based creams on dogs’ paw pads to prevent cracking and irritation from ice and ice-melting chemicals.

Cold weather can make certain medical conditions in older pets worse, such as hypothyroidism, a disorder in which the thyroid gland secretes insufficient amounts of hormones. If your dog gains weight during the winter (without a change in diet), is always seeking warmth, seems sluggish, or has an unhealthy coat, you may want to consult your vet about having his or her thyroid levels checked.

If you are attentive to your pet’s special needs during the winter and keep them warm, dry, and loved; you can all enjoy a winter wonderland this season!

We have made our dates and deadlines available for this Holiday Season so you won’t miss your opportunity to give the gift of a Pop Art Pet portrait to the pet-obsessed person on your shopping list:

The last day to order a portrait with stretching services and guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve is Friday, November 24th. However, and this is crucial, we must have a suitable photo to work with by this date! After this date, if you are requesting to have your portrait stretched and need delivery by Christmas Eve, you must pay a Rush Fee.

After December 6th, stretching services will not be available for any Holiday orders, and a Rush Fee, as well as expedited shipping rates will be required to ensure delivery of your rolled portrait by Christmas Eve. December 10th is most likely our last day to accept any Christmas orders, but please contact us - if we are able to evaluate your photos, we may determine that we can complete your order!

If you miss our deadline (or would rather not pay a rush fee), you can contact us prior to placing an order and we will let you know if we can have proofs ready for you by Christmas. This would allow you to make some sort of presentation to the recipient on Christmas then deliver a belated, but still wonderful, gift to them after the Holiday.

If you would like to give the gift of Pop Art Pet but you know you cannot have a photo for us to work with in time for the holidays, remember we do offer Gift Certificates. Gift Certificates are available in any dollar amount you select, or for any specific size and style that you choose. Gift Certificates can be sent in time for Christmas via snail mail if ordered by December 16th, or we can send them electronically, for you to print it, if ordered by 5:00 p.m. (central) on the 23rd. They make an awesome gift and they allow the recipient to have creative freedom in selecting their favorite photo to be used for their portrait!

Get more details on our Holiday Order page.

Spoiling your pet rotten – with the latest fashion designs, entertainment gizmos, treat flavors or jewelry – has gone from raised eyebrows and thoughts of the crazy pet lady, to beyond socially acceptable. Pampering your pet is now considered cool and/or hot! In our continuing efforts to provide you with the best, holiday gift ideas for pets and pet lovers we have found some big ticket items that you are going to love! So if your budget is beyond cute collars and simple squeak toys check out some of these ultra-luxurious gifts for super sophisticated pets and their people.
Petsmobility.com presents cell phones for pets. The PetsCell™ is the first voice enabled waterproof GPS cell phone optimized for animals. It will be available for distribution late in 2006. Combining industry leading GPS technology with the ability of 2-way communication, the PetsCell™ delivers consistency and quality of locates across a spectrum of encompassing conditions that existing pet tracking devices simply will not match. With remote programmable geo-fence capability and an ambient temperature sensor accompanied by a variety of other attachable devices, the PetsCell™ is quite simply the standard against which all other pet tracking devices will be measured.

Spritz, Spray, Powder & Pamper for extra glamour with Sexy Beast! A blend of bergamot and vanilla-infused musk combined with natural patchouli, mandarin and nutmeg oils make up this pet perfume which is only part of the Sexy Beast line of products that will make your pet more attractive (or at least less offensive).

The ultimate indulgence for urban pets comes from Elite Pet Havens. They create custom designed state-of-the-art health and luxury havens for your cherished pet. We provide a unique private environment in your home or apartment designed to enhance the life experience of the urban pet, and pet owner. High-tech integrated design of the components together with an infrastructure of leading experts’ enables/creates a virtual interactive outdoor environment for your pet(s) inside your own home, and in limited space.

Each customized unit includes, visual, auditory and olfactory simulation systems, climate-control systems, exercise and physiologic monitoring systems, and other components for optimal pet to pet and pet to human interaction. [If you’re not sure what all of this means, you’re not alone but it sure sounds cool!]

Keep in mind that no pet is truly pampered until their image has been preserved for all time in a custom work of art! Check our Holiday Ordering Information to find out what our deadlines are for this holiday season.