Maddy and Leia had always been among the most popular participants at the annual Pageant of the Masters, a prominent Southern California festival where legendary works of art come to life with dedicated models filling in for the famous subjects.

Last year, the duo drew rave reviews for their depiction of Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam.  The steadfast felines stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity as the attendees fervently, but respectfully, showed their appreciation.  In previous years, they appeared in such tableaux vivants as Grant Woods’ American Gothic, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks.

But Maddy and Leia won’t be participating in this year’s pageant. It’s not that they don’t have the time and it’s certainly not that they don’t love doing it.  They just simply refuse to lend their likenesses to Dogs Playing Poker.