Author: rhishja

Welcome to snoots + teefers! I'm Rhishja and I live in Tucson with two dogs, one cat, and one tortoise. I’m a music lover, Gen Joneser, and world traveler. I’m so excited for you to meet the snoots + teefers characters! I hope you enjoy my playful characters + occasional miscellaneous stuff!
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Dancing Rainbow Pangolins!

Dancing rainbow pangolin t shirts + stickers
Dancing rainbow pangolins t-shirt by snoots + teefers

Hey now! These Dancing Rainbow Pangolins are ready to roll when you are.

Celebrate pangolins on World Pangolin Day (third Saturday in February) and every day with this awesome collection of Pangolin t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and stickers.

Pangolins are the only mammals covered in scales. The scales are comprised of keratin and indeed feel very similar to our own fingernails.

Unfortunately, all eight pangolin species populations are in decline due to killing and trafficking due to myths about their scales. It must be emphasized that pangolin scales have zero medicinal benefits or magical powers.

I’d like to take a peek at those pangolins
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Rhinos! You Had Me At Wallow

You had me at wallow rhino t-shirt and sweatshirt by snoots + teefers

There are currently just five species of rhinoceros still surviving after decades of killing and rhino horn trafficking.

Here’s the thing about rhino horn: it’s nothing but a big ol’ mass of keratin. It has zero magical powers or medicinal properties. Rhino horn is of no use to anyone except rhinos. For example, male rhinos use their horns in fights and females use their horns to help wobbly newborn rhinos stand up.

Check out the You Had Me At Wallow rhino t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts!

take me to the adorable rhinos
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Got Dragons? Chinese New Year Begins Feb.10

flat lay Chinese New Year Dragon tee shirts by snoots + teefers
Flat lay Chinese new year dragon tee shirts by snoots + teefers

New designs: Dragon with Matches and Baby Dragon!

Chinese New Year begins Saturday, February 10th, ushering in the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of power, strength, and luck.

  • Chinese dragons do not breathe fire like their European counterparts. Chinese dragons are benevolent creatures who breathe clouds and summon rain to help farmers.
  • Chinese dragons represent prosperity and good luck. They are often depicted holding a pearl because the pearl is a symbol of wisdom, spiritual energy, and power.

If you were born in 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940 … then your Chinese zodiac sign is Dragon.

I’m especially excited for this Chinese New Year because … I’m a Dragon!

To celebrate this auspicious event, I’ve created adorable dragons for you to enjoy wearing throughout this Year of the Dragon – and beyond!

shop the dragon collection
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Floof Alert! Clumber Spaniel Tees

Clumber Spaniel Floof graphic tee by Rhishja Cota
Clumber Spaniel tees!

For those of you who know me IRL, you know my lovely Rani is a Clumber Spaniel.

I discovered Clumbers in a dog encyclopedia when I was 25, and finally, in my 50s, I drove from California to Arizona to pick up my precious bundle.

Clumber Spaniels were one of the first nine breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. This breed was likely developed in England, and named after the Duke of Newcastle’s Clumber Park. The AKC describes the Clumber as “The Clown Prince and Bird Dog.”

“The breed has been described by its partisans as naughty, mischievous, stubborn, affectionate, and entertaining, but through it all the Clumber retains the touch of regal dignity that marks him as a companion of crowned heads.”

Check out the snoots + teefers shop for Clumber Spaniel t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies!

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Super Snoot! Basset Hound Tees

Basset Hound graphic tee by Rhishja Cota image
Basset Hound graphic tee by Rhishja Cota image

A SUPER SNOOT design: the Basset Hound!

“Basset” comes from the French word bas which means “low” – because Basset Hounds are indeed low to the ground. So I call this design Le Chien Bas.

One of my three dogs is a Basset Hound named Tupelo. The smooshy droopy face might make people think this breed is low energy, but I’m here to say no way!

Bassets are strong working dogs, with the stamina and energy to hunt all day through any terrain, following that amazing nose wherever it goes. Did you know those long ears and wrinkled skin are for sweeping scent closer to the nose?

The Basset Hound we know today was developed in France and England in the late 1800s. From “A Noble Clown and Loyal Hunting Dog” by the AKC:

“The job of hunting furred game over rough terrain or heavy brush requires, first and foremost, a great nose to find the scent of the prey. The dog needs to move on the trail at a speed that allows the hunter to follow on foot, and he must have the endurance to keep up the chase for hours. Of equal importance, the dog needs to be determined that he will find the game — even if it takes all day.”

Yes! I want an adorable Basset Hound t-shirt!
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The Blep Tabby Cat

Blep tabby cat. Graphic tee by Rhishja Cota

This blep tabby cat design is inspired by my tabby, Medeski!

I adopted my tabby, Medeski, from our local shelter (PACC). Medeski (named after John Medeski) is my first “indoor only” cat, so I binged Jackson Galaxy’s show to learn about “catifying” my house.

Did you know that “tabby” is a coat pattern, not a color or breed of cat? There are four distinct tabby patterns: classic (swirls), mackerel (stripes), spotted, and ticked (agouti).

Have you noticed that tabbies have a an “M” on their foreheads? One of the legends about the tabby “M” is about the Prophet Muhammed and his tabby cat, Muezza, who killed a snake before it could harm Muhammed.

“The prophet was so grateful to his cat that he stroked her back, granting cats the ability to land on their feet, and placed his hand on her head, forming the letter M. Every tabby cat born after that had an M on its forehead to remind the world of Muhammed’s love for cats and to always respect our feline friends.”

Recommended reading: Cats are not domesticated – and here is why.

Check out the snoots + teefers shop for blep tabby cat tees and hoodies!

Yes!