WHETHER YOU find your favorite kitsch kitty and doggy-themed treasures by strolling outdoor flea markets or by surfing the net, here are some resources to ensure success in your quest for quirky quadruped bric-a-brac.
Fido’s Flea Market Finds
Whether you’re looking for Ruff Stuff (stuffed dogs of every breed) or Pup Art (puppy paintings and dog drawings), check out Flea Market Fidos – a comprehensive canine collectible guide for both first-time and seasoned collectors. Written by Barri Leiner and Marie Moss, the guide features over 200 photos of collectibles that the dog-loving duo has rediscovered at flea markets around the world. The guide also includes Puppy Love (dog collectibles for children), Paper Trained (ephemera finds), Real Tales (stories of junk hunters and their hounds) and tips on displaying your treasures. From Scottie salt and pepper shakers to a doorknocker in the shape of a Terrier, you never know what Fido find may be hiding around the corner at your neighbor’s next yard sale. Thinking of taking a road trip with Rover? The “Go Fetch” section at the end of the guide provides a listing of the best shops, websites, antique malls, and flea markets in the country and abroad.
Flea Market Fidos by Barri Leiner and Marie Moss and published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang is available at a bookstore near you.
21st Century Cat and Canine Collectibles: On Ebay, Where Else?
Chances are if you didn’t find that special canine collectible at your local flea market, you’ll find it on eBay, the world’s largest trading community. Animal collectibles are the second most-purchased items on eBay, with over 87,000 collectibles listed on the site daily. Buyers can choose from figurines, ornaments, jewelry, clothing or even a custom made painting of their favorite canine companion. Purchasing that Siamese Cat tape dispenser or Paris Poodle hand painted toilet seat has never been simpler; the seller auctions off an item for either 3,5,7 or 10 days, and the highest bidder at the end of the time period “wins” the item. Many items also have the “Buy It Now” feature, which allows for immediate purchasing.
Dog collectibles are the most purchased animal collectibles on eBay. Over 1,110 dog items are purchased daily out of the 31,000 offered. Around seventy-five different dog breeds divide up the dog category, making it easier for the buyer to quickly locate those must – have Maltese earrings or the vintage purrfume Poodle nightlight (both for $20). (The Poodle, evidently, leads the pack in the most popular dog category with an average of 1,050 items for sale).
The “Kitty Komforts” and “Pooch Provisions” categories contain thousands of must-haves for your pet; cat condos and sofas, holiday collars, doggie bandannas, raincoats, and football jerseys of any NFL or NCAA team – to name only a handful – are up for bidding. And for those animal lovers not quite ready for or able to have a pet, there are eBay’s Electronic Pets, Fur Real Friends and Interactive Kitties (available in a variety of colors). www.ebay.com.