New fundraiser will support humane society

The Estevan Humane Society has embarked on a new fundraiser with a talented artist who is also an animal lover. 

BJ Zieger, who owns Lucky Buddha Tattoo, will provide a tattoo or portrait of a pet/animal of choice for the winner of a raffle. 

For the tattoo, Zieger asks the owner to provide him with the highest-quality picture possible.

“Then I choose the best one that is going to make the best tattoo, and then we find the best placement of it,” said Zieger.  

He says he does a lot of pet tattoos, and they’re always fun to complete. It’s something that is growing in popularity as tattoos become more common. He has done the animals you’d expect, such as dogs, cats, birds, fish and rabbits, but he’s also handled some different animals.

“People love their pets, and it’s a great thing to do,” said Zieger.  

He’ll tie in flowers, names or the animal’s favourite toy with the pet.

The portrait, meanwhile, allows him to display his creativity in a different way, and for the owner to be creative as well. Zieger has done paintings of cats in space or sitting at a piano or on a record player. 

“A painting will take up to 15 or 20 hours, while a tattoo takes six or seven,” said Zieger. 

Zieger is an animal lover who recently adopted a puppy.  

Initially the humane society was going to make the draw for the tattoo or portrait the night of its gala dinner on Feb. 6, but decided to extend the draw date to April 6 in an effort to sell more tickets as they had only been available since early January.

Raffle tickets are $20 each and the prize is valued at $700.