Archive for February, 2008
According to Reuters, leading a dog’s life could be a good thing in the United States this year with spending on pets forecast to hit a new high despite fears of a recession and a crimp on consumer spending.
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association released figures on Tuesday showing pet owners spent an estimated $41 billion on their animal friends last year which was almost double the $21 billion spent in 1996. But the non-profit industry group projected this would rise by nearly six percent to $43.4 billion in 2008 as pet owners treated their animals to spas, designer clothing, and other high-end goods as well as gourmet foods. APPMA President Bob Vetere said an increase in pampering and gift giving has fueled the industry as more pet parents continued to treat their pets like members of the family.
“We’re noticing more baby boomers are pet owners and they are treating their pets like members of the family,” said Vetere in a statement.
“For empty-nesters, pets are filling a void in their lives and they’re showing their appreciation to their pets.”
About 71 million homes in the United States — or about 63 percent of households — are estimated to have pets, with dogs, cats, and fish the most popular pets. This has led to a vibrant market in pet products, services and health insurance. Vetere said spending on pet health insurance was a growth area and there was also a marked increase in spending on grooming services such as pet hotels, pet spas and doggie day cares.
“High end products in general are on the rise, as is gift giving and new product introductions and innovation,” said Vetere who estimated six percent of dog owners bought their four-legged friend a Valentine’s Day gift. “The pet industry continues to grow at a record pace and the future is no exception. Pet owners and the companies providing pet products and services show no sign of letting up.”
PS: If you’re looking for a way to pamper the pet lover in your life, why not a custom Comic Style, Lichtenstein-like portrait of their dog or cat??
Notice anything?? We’ve been doing some remodeling – a lot of remodeling actually! PopArtPet.com, your source for custom, Pop Art style pet portraits has a whole new look!
We’re brighter and bolder than before, and featuring far more examples of our whimsical works of art.
And we’re featuring them in a manner that really displays the attention to detail in our portraits.
Our menus and navigation have also changed somewhat, but we think you’ll still find it user-friendly, allowing you to find the information you may need about our portraits and our process. We hope you enjoy browsing around, taking in the vivid colors and the eye-catching images, and we welcome you to let us know what you think!
Recently we were asked to create a custom, Warhol style portrait of a lively Labradoodle named Rocky.
As you can see, Rocky’s quite the rock star so the portrait had to be larger-than-life..
At 36″x48″ the completed artwork certainly fit the bill (it is way bigger than Kylie)!
By the way, Rocky’s portrait was commissioned by a generous family friend as a housewarming gift… I sure hope Rocky’s new house has lots of wall space!
If you are interested in an extra large or custom size dog portrait or cat portrait just contact us for a quote.
It is the middle of February already, which means its also the middle of “National Pet Dental Health Care Month.”
The California Veterinary Medical Association says all pets are at risk for developing dental problems, so it is important for owners to have their pets examined by a veterinarian annually to detect problems early. It also is important for owners to check their pets often between visits for these warning signs:
— Bad breath
— Tartar buildup on the teeth
— Swollen, receding or bleeding gums
— Fractured or abscessed teeth
— Change in eating habits
A pet should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if it shows any of the above symptoms.
The CVMA further recommends these simple steps to ensure proper pet dental health care:
Step 1. Visit a veterinarian at least once a year. – The veterinarian will examine a pet’s teeth and gums. Recommendations may be made for cleaning, polishing and other dental care in the hospital and a program of home dental care.
Step 2. Professional dental care. – If a pet already shows evidence of periodontal disease, a professional cleaning is in order. Depending on the pet’s age and physical condition, the doctor may recommend blood analyses, radiography or other diagnostic tests to evaluate the heart, liver and kidneys for coexisting disease before proceeding with general anesthesia.
Once a pet is anesthetized, accumulated tartar and calculus are removed by ultrasonic and hand scaling. Radiographs are taken to identify teeth needing fillings or root canals that can be repaired, and teeth that are beyond repair can be extracted. Finally, the teeth are polished to slow down formation of new plaque, tartar and calculus.
Step 3. Dental care at home. – Regular brushing is critical to any preventive dental program. A special toothbrush and toothpaste for pets are recommended.
Feeding pets a dental diet with the VOHC seal may help prevent accumulation of plaque, tartar and calculus. Consult a veterinarian regarding the best diet for your pet.
Step 4. Return to a veterinarian for regular dental checkups every six to 18 months or as recommended by your veterinarian.
The CVMA urges all pet owners during “National Pet Dental Health Care Month” to review their pet’s dental care and take the necessary steps to ensure their pet has healthy teeth and gums.
And we encourage you to protect your pet’s smile.
A great smile is makes for a great custom portrait!
Every chance we get, we try and remind our pet loving clients and friends to take lots of pictures of their pets. Currently we are working with an adorable threesome of Scotties whose parents shared with us that they have a tradition of taking photos of puppy’s first bath. What a great idea!
How cute are they?!
Even if you never feel the need to have a custom pet portrait created from your pets’ photos you will never be sorry to have lots of pictures of them; and starting a tradition is a great way to remember to take more!
Here’s another suggestion, every year on their birthday take their picture with the same toy; or take a picture of your furry kid in the exact same spot outside on a beautiful day in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
You can be creative, or keep it simple. You can make it something specific and meaningful to your family, or just to you and your best friend. Just take our advice, and take your pet’s picture please – often!
Authorities say a Labrador retriever named Jet really can fly. The 65-pound dog survived a six story leap from a Tampa airport parking garage and lived.
Police and Jet’s owners and vet say the 2-year old dog accidentally leaped over a parking garage railing on New Year’s Eve and walked away from the landing — 60 to 80 feet below.
Jet spent the night at a vet’s office with a collapsed lung and some cuts and bruises. But by the next day, the dog was getting antsy again.
His owners are Clayton and Jessica Tieman of Largo. They named Jet for the sheen of his black fur, not for any flying abilities. They say their next dog will get a more earthly name, perhaps Scooter.
Source: Yahoo! News
At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah they are called the Vicktory Dogs – 22 pit bulls seized from ex-NFL star Michael Vick and placed in special care at the sanctuary. They’re there because they had nowhere else to go.
Many of them are suffering from serious psychological and emotional trauma, similar to what you see in children from situations of abuse and neglect. Many of them had been forced to fight to the death – like gladiators in some primitive arena.
Other national organizations had simply called for the dogs to be killed. But what kind of message does that send about how our society treats the victims of such horrible abuse? There are real options, and with your support these dogs can have good lives that make up for everything that went before.
Already they’re making progress: learning how to play, how to relax, how to love. Many of them will be adopted to experienced homes. Others will live out their lives in the beautiful environment of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
On www.bestfriends.org you can read the whole story, learn more about many of the individual dogs and what you can do to help them.
