Debbie Cirino enjoys painting her clients.

Just one problem: They tend to pant, waggle and do other things unsuitable for capturing on canvas or paper.

"People ask, 'Do you do portraits?' " she said. "Then they ask, 'Do you take pictures? Because I don't think I can get Fluffy to sit that long.' "

Actually, as a pet painter, "I prefer [using] photographs of Fluffy," she said. "I've done some interesting requests. I had one lady who commissioned a portrait of a Dalmatian, saying he loves diving, and could I include a diving theme with the Dalmatian?"

Cirino obliged.

"I had the dog holding a diving mask in his mouth, and he looked like he dragged the flippers out of the closet and he was ready to go."

Cirino is among 56 artists whose work will be in a show called "Pets on Parade," which opens at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Monte Cristo Hotel in Everett.

The show will present paintings and sculptures of horses, sheep, rabbits, cats, dogs, birds and other creatures depicted in op art and folk art to realism and garden statuary.

"I think the thing with pets is that they offer unconditional love," said Janet Wold, whose colorful paintings of dogs are as bold as posters. "We love them back."

"Pets on Parade" The Arts Council of Snohomish County will present 56 artists' animal works beginning with a public reception from 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and continuing through March 3 at the Monte Cristo Hotel, 1507 Wall St., Everett. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free. Information: 425-257-8380.

"Originally, we were calling it 'Pets and Their People' because so many artists coming into the gallery were painting their pets," said gallery director Carie Collver, whose pug, Jose, comes to work with her every day. "And half the studios I'd go into had studio pets. Quite often, the pet becomes the model for the painter. It was a natural course that we pull all these artists together."

Animals — leashed and preferably in party clothes — are welcome at tomorrow night's free opening reception. Exhibit visitors will be encouraged to donate a collar, a leash or pet food to the Animal Adoption Center of the Northwest Organization for Animal Health (NOAH), which takes in animals that are about to be euthanized at other shelters.

At the opening, NOAH will have pets available for adoption. People are also encouraged to bring their favorite pet photo for display throughout the run of the show.

Cirino's painting, "Paws-A-Traction," is a whimsical work in the Grandma Moses mode, depicting the pastimes of Arctic sled dogs. There are dogs pulling sleds full of wood, dogs racing as sled teams and dogs towing human skiers, a sport known as skijoring. Cirino also included herself; her Rottweiler, Abby; and her Norwich terrier, Willie.

"People love their pets, and it's wonderful to have an opportunity to express this in an art medium," she said. "It's a unique medium and topic."

Cirino's family showed and raised Siberian huskies when she was a child, and she met her husband while both were racing them. Each year, she takes part in the national "Art Show at the Dog Show" in Wichita, Kan., a juried art show that accompanies a dog show.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com