Dogs are essential to our lives. The roles they play are diverse and important. There are guide dogs, police dogs, therapy dogs, herding dogs, sports champion dogs, etc. – not to mention plain old beloved-member-of-the-family dogs. We love ’em all, but this issue focuses on a less public role dogs can play, that of artistic muse.
For our Dogs in Art issue, we invited Beast of the Bay Awards winners and runners-up in the Best Pet Artist category to submit samples of their work. Be prepared to be dazzled.
This year’s first place vote-getter in our annual readers’ poll is Michael Wertz, printmaker extraordinaire, whose canine muse, Miss Olive, holds down the household. Michael’s work appears on here. Sam Price took top honors last year. His “second child,” a Boston Terrier named Auggie, is his mascot and his muse. See Sam’s amazing collages here.
Three BOBA runners-up also lend beauty to these pages. Christene Pinter takes constant inspiration from her “Chahuahuasaurus” Pinxo, rescued from the streets of Mexico City. Enjoy some examples of her extraordinary dog portraits. Gabriele Bungardt gazes into the eyes of each animal she paints and depicts what she sees there in remarkably expressive paintings. See some here.
Finally, we bring you the amazing wood carvings of Tim Racer. Tim co-runs BADRAP, an awesome education and rescue group based in Oakland that has been improving the lot of Pit Bulls for years, including some rescued from Michael Vick’s infamous dog-fighting ring. Turns out Tim doesn’t just save dogs, he carves them, and in amazing detail.
We are most grateful to Tim and the rest of the artists here for allowing us to share their wonderful work with our readers.
Another focus of this issue is Sonoma County animal welfare, and one article from the North Bay ties right in with our art theme. Ellyn Jaques Boone discusses a “paws in the paint” fund-raising program she launched that brings special attention to shelter animals, especially those well on in years. As Executive Director of the Paws for Love Foundation and Silver Paws for Love, she helps homeless animals create works of art that are sold to raise funds for the Sonoma Humane Society. Read all about it here.
Here you will hear from Sonoma Humane itself about how the organization is thinking “outside the shelter” by finding new ways to help local families keep their dogs despite difficult circumstances. The result is less overcrowding at the shelter and less emotional anguish for the animals and people involved. Bravo!
We’ve packed a lot more news into this issue. First, a huge win for dogs and their people in Oakland! For many years, the Oakland Dog Owners Group and other folks have implored the city to open more public parks to dogs. At its meeting on April 1 the Oakland City Council did just that. Click here to learn what new destinations await you and your canine companions, both on- and off-leash.
In San Francisco, professional dogwalkers are protesting the new regs proposed for their businesses on Golden Gate National Recreation Area lands, including such iconic spots as Crissy Field and Fort Funston. Reduce the number of dogs City walkers are legally permitted to handle and the business model becomes untenable for many. Bay Woof attended an April rally in support of the walkers, who provide an essential service to dog folks in the community. Click here to learn more about this important issue.
Readers Digest online recently put together a list of pet “secrets” – research-based advice on a wide range of topics affecting dogs and cats. A sampling appears here.
Finally, we provide a glimpse into the life and legacy of an amazing animal advocate. Virginia Handley – founder of the Animal Switchboard and PawPAC, among many other endeaors – died in April at the too-young age of 68. Readers may remember her from the annual legislative updates we published in these pages. Virginia was one of California’s most energized and effective voices on behalf of humane causes and her death is a blow to the cause. Fortunately, she inspired and mentored countless people during her many decades in the field. They will carry forth Virginia’s work and message, albeit with heavy hearts.
Until next month, get inspired by your own canine muse and enjoy everything the fabulously dog-friendly Bay Area has to offer.
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