Pet Tattoos

In a recent post, we looked at the rising trend of friendship tattoos and some inspiration from famous people who have gotten them done. Friendship tattoos between people can be matching, in the same or different locations on the body, or complimentary, like those pieces of a heart-shaped necklace you would share with your bestie in school. Meanwhile, there is a different kind of strong friendship that only one of the parties can honour by getting a tattoo done. The friendship between an animal and their human caretaker. 

Our furry friends

Pet tattoos, or, as we have seen them called in places although we are highly sceptical towards the phrase, pettoos, are also a growing trend. Perhaps this is a natural result of more and more people choosing to become dog and cat moms and dads rather than have human children. Pets become part of the family, best friends, and bring a ton of affection and joy into people’s lives. With our lifespan statistically predetermined to outlive theirs, it is no wonder we wish to immortalise their image on our skin, so that we can carry them with us always. 

In memoriam

Several celebrities have gotten tattoos featuring their pets. Some have chosen to honour the memory of a beloved pet who passed away. Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas got matching tattoos in remembrance of their dog Waldo Picasso, an Alaskan Klee Kai who died after being hit by a car in New York City in 2019. The couple has another Klee Kai named Porky Basquiat, a Golden retriever reportedly named Penelope, and a corgi that joined the family in 2020. 

Carnival Row star Orlando Bloom also lost his dog early last year, and got the name of the mini-poodle – Mighty – tattooed on his chest in his memory. Meanwhile, a few months later, the actor, engaged to Katy Perry, could be seen out and about shopping for dog supplies carrying a new little fluffball in his arms. 

Singer Pink also has a tattoo of her bulldog Elvis who passed away in 2007. Elvis’ portrait sits on the inside of her lower arm, accompanied by the verse “A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance, sleep in peace my darling, I release you.” 

Miley’s crew and ink

Not everyone waits until they lose their beloved pet to have their image inked on their skin however. Miley Cyrus may have a tattoo of her late dog Floyd – also an Alaskan Klee Kai, along with the phrase ‘with a little help from my fwends’, and of her late pet pufferfish Pablow (done by Dr Woo).

However, she also has portraits of her Shetland sheep dog Emu whom she adopted a little after Floyd passed away, and of her pitfall Mary Jane. The Wrecking Ball singer has at least 13 pets in total, including pigs, horses, and cats. That’s enough for a full leg sleeve, we reckon. Hopefully, she will have a lot more time with each and every one of them still, and the tattoos will be purely celebratory.