Pop Art Pet Unleashed

Archive for January, 2009

Yesterday, sadly Kylie, our inspiration for creating Pop Art Pet, had to move on from her life with us to greater adventures. But we will never forget how she made our lives better every single day.

Kylie was truly exceptional, and one of a kind, and for those of you who haven’t spent a lot of time on her website here are some things you may not know:

Kylie was more well-traveled than lots of people. She was born in hawaii which truly makes it paradise, we adopted her from the Humane Society there when she was eight months old. Then we moved to new jersey when she was almost 3 and that became her launching pad. She’s literally been from coast to coast (and Canada) including:

New York City (including Times Square, Central Park, and Rockerfeller Center at Christmas)
Boston
Philadelphia
Amish Country
New England
Washington DC
Toronto
L.A.
Hollywood
Las Vegas (one of her favorite destinations)
Seattle
Vancouver
Plus many less “exciting” destinations like Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, South Dakota, etc.

Kylie loved road trips! She visited multiple world’s wonders – Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, The Grand Canyon, and Old Faithful. She’s seen Hoover Dam, The Space Needle, Pike’s Peak, Royal Gorge bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the White House, even the Hockey Hall of Fame (can you believe they wouldn’t let her in)! And of course the ever-popular roadside oddities like Carhenge, that big thermometer in Baker, CA, and the entire town of Roswell, NM.

We moved to colorado about seven years ago and Kylie loved it here too. The weather is nice in Denver almost all the time so she got to go on many hikes, and loves climbing up rocks and walking through streams, and chasing bunnies, and she really loves the snow and going sledding and going to the mountains!

Kylie is quite famous! She was on the radio when we had a friend in honolulu that was a dj who let her hang out in the booth with him. Then she moved on to television when her Psychic Puppy Network got media attention. It was featured on the So Graham Norton show in the UK, then she was interviewed for a television show called “The Internet Tonight” on the former TechTV channel (now G4). PPN (the psychic puppy network) was also featured in a newspaper in florida, on USA today’s website, on Seventeen magazine’s website, and for awhile it was a link on Penn & Teller’s website.

Kylie was even a model! Wag n Wash used her as a spokesmodel on their website and in their brochure and print ads. She was very photogenic even though she really didn’t like the camera. Kylie is possibly one of the most photographed dog in the world, just visit her flickr page (or click all the blue links in this post) and you’ll see what I mean.

Kylie was such a comedian, she made us laugh almost every day. She was our child, our best friend, and she was a Rock Star! She was loved by everyone who knew her, and thanks to her website even by some who never met her. We were so privileged that she shared her life with us.

Of course kyliedog.com and our memories of this sweet funny girl will live on. It was all a work of love, for the most special soul we have ever known. We will miss her dearly everyday.

According to a story on News 10′s website, fish experts believe that goldfish have been kept as pets for more than a thousand years. Originally kept near temples in China, goldfish are now one of the most popular pets in the world.

These fish are easy to care for and can make a great first pet for a child. They don’t need a filtration system or a heater, but having these extras can help keep their environment consistent.

Whether you are keeping them in a bowl or tank, make sure to choose a container that’s large enough for your fish to grow. A five or ten gallon tank leaves plenty of room for your fish as well as a few fun decorations. Make sure to thoroughly rinse anything you put in your fish tank, but never use soap. All fish are very sensitive to the residue left behind by cleaning products.

Keep your tank away from windows. The temperature fluctuations near a window can be deadly to your fish. A well cared for goldfish can live 15 to 25 years. The oldest known goldfish lived to be over 40 years old.

With 120 varieties of goldfish available, the choices seem endless. If you are looking for an easy to care for pet with an exotic look, think about a goldfish! Fun, easy and beautiful.

While we have had the pleasure of creating custom pet portraits of a few iguana’s and even a snake,we have not had gold fish or fish of any kind for a client..

That just doesn’t seem right since they’re one of the most popular pets in the world. So if you know a goldfish that would make a great subject, please let us know!

Did you know we have a whole site dedicated to doing people portraits?

We recently helped create an awesome anniversary gift for a lovely little family by transforming a simple photo into something special.

We did a simple background and a soft technique to design this traditional style portrait. But we can also do Pop Art of you or your family for that whimsical Warhol-esque look.

Just check out Pop Art Go and consider art that is uniquely you!

We were visiting our friends at CityRag.com, home of Buddy the Wonder Dog, and saw the most amazing story of BFF’s Tara & Bella who just happen to be an elephant and a dog!
You really have to see it to believe it..

Did you know that in addition to the customized Pop Art portraits we create from photos of your pet, we also offer limited edition prints of our original animal artwork?

At Pet Pop Art you can order a print of our original Pop Art, Traditional or Comic designs. We offer several favorite breeds from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane, plus cats and cockatoos too!

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Some of the special limited edition pieces are printed on artist grade canvas, others are printed on premium luster photo paper and beautiful when framed. They range in size from 18×24 to 20×20 and start at just $55.

So if you’re a pet lover in need of artwork for your home or office, be sure and check it out!

We found a list of New Year’s Resolutions for dog lovers on The Fun Times Guide To Dogs and thought it was great (although #10 would not go over very well with Kylie):

1.  Get your dog neutered or spayed.
Your dog will have a lesser chance of developing cancers in the reproductive organs, and will have a sweeter personality and better behavior overall. Your dog will also be less likely to mark territory, wander and contribute to an already overloaded pet population.

2.  Keep an eye on your dog’s weight.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise, the right kind of foods (but not too much food), and plenty of clean water. That way, your dog will not become obese, and they will not be so quick to exhibit behaviors that are less than acceptable.

3.  Consider fostering another dog in your home.
Only do this if you are certain that you have the time, love and inclination to be a dog foster. There are many dogs that need love, care and attention (and some need a lot of healing too) before they can be adopted out. Dog fostering is one way to give your dog a buddy to play with — even if it’s only for a short time. It’s also a great way to give back to your community.

4.  Take your dog to the vet for a yearly exam.
Just like people, dogs need to have an annual check-up to make sure that everything is working properly and that there are no hidden health issues. Since symptoms can often go unnoticed, a visit to a veterinarian’s office may be the only way that you would even learn about a serious health problem. And the earlier a problem is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

5.  Provide your dog with a cozy, warm place to sleep.
This is really important, especially in the winter when there might be snow or ice and very low temperatures. You should never leave your dog outdoors during these times. Bring them indoors instead — even if it’s only temporary. A cushiony pet bed with an old towel or blanket is something your dog will thank you for in the winter!

6.  Make sure your dog has the proper I.D.
Whether you put identification tags on your dog’s collar, or get a microchip implanted underneath your dog’s skin, you need a way to claim your dog should he wander away, get lost, or become injured. The only way your dog will be returned to you is if he can be easily identified.

7.  Have your dog groomed regularly.
This includes having your dog’s toenails clipped, and having his coat washed and brushed often — no matter what breed of dog he is. If your dog’s toenails are not trimmed, they can break off (which is painful), or they may even grow under and into your dog’s foot pad (which is also painful). Don’t forget to clean your dog’s ears as well. Otherwise, your dog will start to have smelly ears, and ear mites which are just nasty!

8.  Socialize your dog with other dogs.
If your dog isn’t given the opportunity to hang out with other dogs on occasion, then problems can arise. For example, when you’re walking your dog, he may act out as soon as he sees another dog. Maybe he’ll start barking uncontrollably, or he might even try to start a fight with another dog. For these reasons and more, it’s always a good idea to allow your dog to socialize with other pets as much as possible.

9.  Reduce your dog’s exposure to harmful chemicals.
Just as with humans, dogs can get cancer and develop other health issues when exposed to certain harmful chemicals. Going green with your cleaning practices and using non-toxic cleaners that you already have in your home (such as vinegar and baking soda) will help to reduce your dog’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

10.  Don’t feed your dog people food.
Your dog’s digestive system is different than a human’s. As a result, some people food is actually dangerous and unhealthy for dogs to eat. It’s best to refrain from feeding your pet table scraps (…which will also help to keep their weight down).
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We would also like to suggest:
11. Order a custom pet portrait of your dog to capture their wonderful spirit on canvas.

Happy New Year!