When a dog they knew passed away, Dave and Pat Klug couldn’t find the perfect sympathy card to send their friend, so they made one themselves, leading to a business creating pet sympathy cards for over 10 years.
“We love all animals and have great respect for them,” says Dave, an artist and designer, and Pat, an advertising and marketing professional, who sell their cards and artwork to both animal lovers and animal care professionals.
Klugworld Veterinary Communications’ line of cards are not just tasteful, but objects of art suitable for framing: A dog running carefree toward the rainbow bridge, a bunny leaping in stardust, a horse jumping through the clouds, a cat walking underneath a shooting star. A sample of the text inside one of the cards: “Please accept our deepest sympathy, and know that you and your beloved friend are in our thoughts today.”
The work isn’t sad, they say, but “inspiring and uplifting.” Their designs have won the highest honors in the National Stationery Show. They’re sold to vets across the country, from Pittsburgh to the west coast, and as far as Australia.
The couple also sells animal-related artwork at festivals and will soon be opening Double Dog Studios, a storefront in Carnegie. Why animals? They are animal lovers and have two rescue dogs of their own, Ollie and George.
“Jack the cat just passed away,” says Pat. “We still look for him and love to be reminded about him through photos, stories, and Dave’s art.”