Hi, I’m Dr. Karen! Read me to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, pope, bailey, coda, naid, and fred.
We all have different ways to express ourselves and have different ways to honor our pets or make it memorable. For me, a part of this expression is through artwork on the skin: tattoo. When I was 17 years old, I got my first tattoo, and it was back before joining the mainstream! This is the most tragic, ordinary Tiger design you can think of, but for a good behavior, straight student who never smoked, or not drunk alcohol (then anyway!), That, The lion was like my own personal revolution. My big male cousin was afraid to know that he was not the first in the ‘ink’ family, and that the tattoos on his arm next week immediately made himself a redback spider!
They say that tattooing are like potato chips – you may never have the same, but I will have a decade before getting a second, and since then there has been a lot of more Is Tattoos are not for everyone, but for me, there is something about their stability that appeals to me… even if I’m finally planning to turn my tragic lion into something more artistic –
Some of my recent additions have paid tribute to my pets, past and present, and it surprised me when it is better to pay a tattoo tribute to my pet when they are still alive with me or this Use the shape like this. Sad process.
To make pets memorable
When the owners have to sleep their pets. If we keep the impressions of their claws, something that has become a regular service offered. Often, people will convert these powders into print tattoos. I began to think that maybe I would like to get the prints of my pet’s claws in my life, rather than the signs of death, so that I could be reminded of a pleasant time rather than the worst.
At this time, I have two of each.
My pet-affiliated tattoos is for my strange and amazing cat, clutch-which is still very alive when I write it. A simple design, but still one of my favorite. Continuing on the Flyian theme is my Tumblring Cat. Five colors for my five fellows. Unlike the next people, these are all ‘happy tattoos’.
I have two tattoos in memory of the dog, the most impacted of any pet on my life – possibly someone. The potatoes were with me for only 18 months. He was already 10 years old when he came to stay with me, and his purpose was never to stay for more than a few days until we could find him a permanent home, but his amazing personality, love and The ridiculous small ways shed light inside me. Life that helped me in some of my darkest times, and reminded me of what was happy. When Tate died suddenly in December 2022, the destruction is not just such a strong word.
There were two things to help me during this period. One came in a very small form, and the other was able to draw his name permanently on my skin, just as it was on my heart.
When I write this, I know that while moving forward I want to make art for my skin that celebrates my pets like being in life. I don’t want my tattoos remind me of his death. I know the last thing we want to think about is the end of our pet life, but if you have a special way that you want to remember your pet, you probably do something I would like to think that will be associated with them in life. , Something that will bring a smile to your face and when you go, you will take you back to some perfect memory. How do you do that depends on you, but I know I’m going to take a lot of ink!
Do you have any special ways you celebrate or pay tribute to your pet, past or present? Pictures, paintings, or maybe, like me, tattoos are your thing. I would love to hear from you.
This article is part of Dr. Karen’s series with five of her dogs.
