Sadly, Netop passed away on August 18, 2019. He was a wonderful soul that did so much for animal related causes in the Wimington, NC area and beyond.
What follows is a tribute to Netop, written by Matt Born and that appeared in the Aug, 20, 2019 edition of the Wilmington Star News. For a Star News photo gallery of Netop please click here.
"Netop painted until the very end. July 24th to be exact. That was the last time he picked up his brush, said Jacqueline Karch, the owner of the 16-year-old mixed-breed dog. It’s safe to say that Netop is the most well-known dog in Wilmington. That late July painting was the last of the thousands that Netop created over the years. He was put down on Sunday after 16 years due to complications from a recent diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele.
Karch adopted Netop in 2003 from the New Hanover County Humane Society and realized early on that he was not an average dog. His intelligence was apparent when he quickly learned to walk on a treadmill and ride a skateboard. Karch, an artist herself, decided to see if she could teach Netop how to paint. From his earliest efforts in 2006, he was a natural. She joked that he was a reincarnated artist and more human than dog.
She used brushes attached to T-shaped sprinkler fittings, and Netop would choose between 3 or 4 colors on any given painting. Karch said while painting, “he really knew what he was doing” and commented how he varied his technique between making little dots and longer strokes.
Netop was probably best know for his fundraising and countless appearances at benefits throughout the state. At many, he raised several thousand dollars in a single appearance. He held at least four over the years at Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop in Wilmington. Owner Kerry Bradley recalls that when he painted there, the crowds were standing room only and she would always sell out of his paintings. She said he “truly was one of a kind”.
His work supported a wide range of causes, including domestic violence shelters, canine cancer research, various animal shelters and rescue groups. Karch is particularly proud of a Pet-Oxygen Mask Fundraiser at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington in 2007. The money raised provided 50 oxygen masks for pets that were donated to area fire departments. The masks have directly resulted in the saving of the lives of pets within the county.
Karch remarked about how much he loved to perform and how comfortable he was around people.
“For such a little dog he was larger than life.”
His spirit will live on through the paintings that he created. Karch still has boxes filled with several hundred Netop paintings, so his fundraising spirit will continue on. |