**Trigger Warning: The following story contains themes of pet injury and loss that may be distressing to some readers. Please read with care.**
From Story to Sketch: The Tale of Roland
This is part one of a mini story series where we take you behind the scenes to get to know the adorable pets that inspired their custom portraits and patterns.
Meet Roland, a one and a half year old chihuahua mix affectionately known by his humans as the ultimate “Silly Goose.” Roland was a vibrant little soul who brought joy and laughter with his larger-than-life personality. His family cherished every moment with him, from sunbathing in his bright yellow harness to strutting his stuff on the runway at the Blue Owl Dapper Dog fashion show. Unfortunately, their world was shattered when Roland tragically passed away due to inadequate safety measures at a dog daycare.
In the wake of their loss, Roland’s family transformed their grief into action, launching Roland’s Silly Goose Crew, an organization dedicated to advocating for higher standards in pet care.
The Heartwarming Journey from Roland to Silly Goose
Roland was adopted from New Hope Animal Rescue, where he and the other puppies in his litter were named after characters from “Schitt’s Creek.” Like most dogs with obsessive owners, he was soon given all sorts of nicknames—part of the joy of having a pet. Roland. Rolly. Rolando. Regardless of the nickname, he always embodied the silly goose spirit. Because at the end of the day, silly goose was a state of mind for Roland . . . He loved to crawl on his belly with his legs dragging behind him and would steal hair scrunchies, keeping them as his toys. Roland also LOVED BBQ pulled pork, and he even enjoyed dressing up. You could say being a silly goose was just in his DNA. DNA test results showed that Roland was 62% chihuahua, 11% shitzu, 8% dachshund, 2% total mutt mix. But if you ask his parents, he was 100% Silly Goose.
Celebrating Unique Love With Art
To support their mission, Roland’s owners and founders of Roland’s Silly Goose Crew, worked with Pet Obsessed People to turn Roland’s silly goose energy into custom portrait stickers. Roland’s owners were really excited to work with Alex of POP because they were tired of sorting through a conveyor belt of images and only seeing generic breeds. Roland’s owners never felt like Roland was represented in other items on the market, even in Chihuahuas. Enter POP and Alex, who doesn’t draw the breed. She draws the unique pet.
Creating Art That Lives up to Roland’s Legacy
Making art that lives up to a legacy like Roland’s isn’t something Alex of POP took lightly. Roland and his family deserved artwork that actually looked and felt like Roland. Alex pours her heart and soul into everything she creates and takes her time getting everything just right.
She took pictures of Roland and his background information, his story, and his relationship with his parents and got to work. As soon as she heard that Roland was a silly goose who loved to dress up, especially in his bright yellow harness and bow ties, Alex knew she needed to draw Roland as a dapper gentleman. What sets Pet Obsessed People apart from competitors is Alex’s ability to depict each pet's distinct traits that truly capture its personality and energy. For Roland, that was his goofy yet adorable ear. To tie it back to Roland’s Silly Goose Crew, Alex gave Roland a rainbow-colored bow tie.
Customers Who Are Left Feeling Seen
Roland’s owners loved the finished product and that Alex didn’t draw a chihuahua. She drew Roland. They loved the attention to detail, saying on their Instagram page, “The whiskers! The rainbow bow tie! It’s perfection!!”
They loved Alex’s work so much that they came back for more, having Alex make valentines with a themed bow tie, and they have plans to partner with Alex to create even more artwork for Roland’s Silly Goose Crew’s brand, marketing, and community materials! Pet-obsessed people like Roland’s owners keep coming back to POP because everything they receive has real soul. They want to collect and feel a piece of the artist and their passion. And that’s exactly what Alex delivers.
At Pet Obsessed People, I believe your pet deserves to be celebrated with a custom pattern or portrait as unique as your bond. From personalized designs to merchandise featuring your beloved pet, everything can be purchased directly from POP. Let’s create something special together that honors your furry friend! Ready to get started?
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