Life-sized fiberglass dogs arrive on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Life-sized fiberglass Labrador dogs will be displayed on the Downtown Mall this summer to bring awareness to Service Dogs of Virginia.

The public art project, called Art Unleashed, features 20 full-sized lab statues painted by local artists and sponsored by local businesses.

"We say it's where creativity meets compassion," said Tina Floyd, director of development for Service Dogs of Virginia.

Service Dogs of Virginia purchased the fiberglass statues from an organization called Cow Painters in Chicago. The statues arrived as blank slates, ready to be painted.

Over the last six months to a year, the organization recruited local artists and businesses to create and paint the dogs. The artists finished their work at the end of March.

Artists drew inspiration from the spirit of the dogs, the natural beauty of the area and local wildlife, Floyd said.

The dog statues will be displayed throughout greater Charlottesville and other places in Virginia in July, August and September. Display locations include Keswick Hall, Boar's Head Sports Club, Ivy Nursery, UVA Hospital, Martha Jefferson Hospital, Neroli Spa and Magpie Knits.

Right before the auction, as many dogs as possible will be displayed in front of the Code Building.

"They think this is an exciting public art project. I know Charlottesville, I think is really behind the addition of public art in the area," Floyd said.

The dogs will be auctioned off at a live event at the Code Building on Oct. 24. All proceeds will go toward a new training facility the organization plans to build in Keswick, with construction expected to start this summer.

Service Dogs of Virginia does not charge for its dogs.

"We don't want money to stand in the way of people with disabilities receiving the help they need," Floyd said.

It costs about $40,000 to raise, train and place one service dog. The training lasts over two years.

Space to train the dogs is the biggest challenge facing the organization.

"We are a little stifled on our ability to continue to increase our numbers of the service dogs we raise and train because of our space," Floyd said. "And really that puts us just at a disadvantage of helping all of the Virginians that are in need."

The new facility will provide space for more puppy litters, more exercise areas and larger training spaces.