Ive never lived in a home that wasnt crawling with animals.
How could I not?
You get used to that unconditional love, something we all need and so rarely encounter elsewhere.
That is until an unexpected phone call turned my entire pet parent life upside down.
Upon my return home, I faced his absence everywhere I looked.
The lack of morning meows and scattering of loose cat toys sent me reeling with grief.
Me and my sphynx, Wilson
Like a true millennial, my period of mourning felt like an appropriate time to get a tattoo.
Clients tend to gravitate towards delicate, fine-line representations of their pet portraits.
I love to tattoo them.
Munce’s tattoos of his living pugs Elvira and Morticia
That was more of a memorial to her.
I already think about them every second of every day, so I thought, Why not?
She is my soul dog in a way that I never expected.
Ferrie’s photorealistic tattoo of her boxer mix, Gracie
I got Ellies portrait done byEvantattooto represent the permanence of my love for her and my grief.
She was my world and I missed being able to look down and see her whenever I wanted.
Stiegman’s tattoo of her dog Ellie, who passed last year.
Stiegman’s tattoo of her dog Ellie, who passed last year.
Truly the most difficult part of the process was picking a photo that perfectly captured his essence.
Choosing someone who understands your vision and the tattoos significance is important.
Recruiter and beekeeperGiorgia Elizabeth Rossiniis grateful she picked an artist who was emotionally supportive throughout the process.
Rossini’s memorialized tattoo of her corgi, Molly
I felt so understood and I knew Id picked the right person to tattoo her.
She foundSarah Jurgielewicz, an artist in Brooklyns Ridgewood neighborhood, on Instagram.
I loved her style immediately and could tell shes a cat person, Sanger says.
Sanger’s 7-year-old cat Cooper.
Sanger’s 7-year-old cat Cooper.
Even the increasingly popularstick-and-poketattoo style is fair game when it comes to getting your pet tattooed.
Vintage store ownerHailey Clemenscommemorated her own sphynx, Frank, in 2020 and chose the method for its imperfection.
Clemens' stick-and-poke tattoo of her sphynx cat, Frank.
I loved the rawness and edginess ofHannah Claire Grants tattoo style, she says.
She was the perfect fit.
Clemens' stick-and-poke tattoo of her sphynx cat, Frank.
My finished tattoo of Wilson.
Fine-line work, photo-realistic tattoos, and natural themes are all trends that lend themselves perfectly to pet portraits.
Stiegman agrees, adding that younger people are more open to embracing the way that they feel.
Theyre not embarrassed to represent those feelings in a tattoo.
By the time we finished, I could feel a few tears bubbling up behind my eyes.
My finished tattoo of Wilson.
Trust me, youll be grateful to, once again, always have them by your side.
