"Bob"
10 x 10 watercolor
20 x 20 watercolor with text
It was Sunday afternoon, cold with a constant drizzle falling. I had arrived at the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society (OLHS) to photograph a few dogs for the upcoming art auction "Paws for Art". This is an annual fundraiser for OLHS and I had committed to donate a painting of one of their residents.
Cyd Dunlap met me at the facility and invited me to “just take a look around.” She said that she could let out any dog in a separate run for me to visit and photograph. As I entered the facility, I noticed that it was clean in spite of the weather and that there were many dogs.
I walked all around the excited dogs and pups, some inside, some out. I was particularly drawn to a cute little fuzzy spotted puppy and then to a gorgeous large rust-colored dog sporting a thick luscious coat. I was to learn that his name was “Lenny”. These dogs were the ones that would make a pretty picture. I finally decided that the adult dog would be best for the portrait.
Cyd came out and I asked her “to let out the large dog near the end.” She said, “Oh, you mean Bob.” She seemed to be very excited that I had selected one of her obvious favorites. A few minutes passed and from the other end of the run entered a blackish dog that looked as if he were barely surviving. I first noticed that he was mostly gray skin with a few tufts of hair, tall, skinny, and for the most part scabby, standing on extra long legs. When he got closer I saw his face. For a moment it took my breath. His eyes were full of mucus, he had sores all over his face and his nose was running. Not knowing what to say, I photographed this dog that managed to carry himself with grace and pride. I noticed that he had an air of calm that spilled over onto all the excited cages. I reluctantly reached to pat him and felt prominent boney ridges across the top of his skull and saw his unusually dark eyes. His eyes were noticeably dilated from medication and I could tell that he had lived on a chain for his eight or so years of life with little or no food.
As I photographed Bob, I noticed that he did not mind that he was getting soaking wet. Actually, he didn’t seem to mind anything at all. He simply lumbered around proudly. I thought, “I now see what Cyd sees in him.”
After I got home, I carefully reviewed all the photographs, and there were many. I too found that Bob was my favorite. He was the best example of the efforts of OLHS and the most fitting for the occasion. I learned from Cyd that Bob had been taken from a piece of property where 60 dogs had been kept, most chained. Some were rescued and treated and some had to be euthanized for unsocial behavior. Bob is one of the lucky ones. Mississippi State University Vet School has picked up several from this group, including Bob, to treat for a week and then return to OLHS.
After a few days, I emailed Cyd: “I think Bob may be a Standard Poodle. I adopted one once and they have striking similarities particularly the boney ridges across the top of his skull.” I then looked up the description of the Standard Poodle – “The Standard Poodle is an intelligent and elegant-appearing dog, squarely built, moving soundly and carrying himself proudly with a good temper. The head and muzzle are long. The eyes are oval, set far apart and very dark. Some have amber eyes but dark eyes are considered better. The ears hang close to the head.”
Bob will come home on Thursday and Cyd says he has a spot at OLHS even if he is never adopted.
OLHS is in its 26th year and in 2007 took in approximately 3600 animals. She states that, “It’s just after noon and we have already taken in 20 dogs. We get criticized for having to euthanize but we are left with no other choice. People need to be more responsible with their animals.” The OLHS statistics can be viewed at www.oxfordpets.com.
Thanks to OLHS Bob is no longer chained and will continue to carry himself proudly, with his air of distinction and dignity. Cyd says, “This is the hope of OLHS for all animals.
Note: "Bob" auctioned for $2,800, the second highest amount. Last year (2007)"Paws for Art" collected approximately $50,000 from this event.