A photo of a dog sculpture at Glen Lake Park circulated social media this week and had some people questioning the origins of the public art.
At almost 20 years old, the concrete design has faded and looks a little worse for wear to the point where the dog almost appears emaciated, as some people suggested online.
The sculpture was made in the likeness of a hound named Sadie, who has since died. While the warm brown paint has faded and grime has settled in making her look a little mangy, she was a lively hunting dog at the time.
Her owner, local developer Cliff Curtis, fondly recalled how Sadie hunted cougars with him for all of her 11 years.
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She was a cross between a treeing walker and bluetick hound, had a B次元官网网址渃old noseB次元官网网址� Curtis said, meaning sheB次元官网网址檇 pick up old cougar tracks, versus a B次元官网网址渉ot noseB次元官网网址� dog that would only react to very fresh scent.
Which kind of nose is better for hunting?
B次元官网网址淚t depends on how long you want to run for,B次元官网网址� Curtis grinned. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 hunt anymore, but said just seeing SadieB次元官网网址檚 statue brought it all back.
B次元官网网址淚f I could still keep up with the hounds over the hill, IB次元官网网址檇 be out there right now,B次元官网网址� he said.
This is the image the artist worked off to cast the contrete sculpture now placed at Glen Lake Park. Sadie was 7 or 8 years old when this photo was taken at camp, Cliff Curtis said. (Submitted/Cliff Curtis)
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The sculpture, commissioned by the city of Langford back around 2004, was originally placed on the sidewalk outside of EvedarB次元官网网址檚 Bistro on Peatt Road south of Goldstream Avenue when the building was being constructed. EvedarB次元官网网址檚 has since closed and a later tenant wanted to expand the patio, so the sculpture was moved to the dog park at Glen Lake Park last year.
SadieB次元官网网址檚 sculpture is tied to a post that Curtis said was meant to look like a dog waiting for its owner.
Even though the artist rendered her a little skinny B次元官网网址� the shape of ribs are visible, and her skin appears loose on her frame B次元官网网址� she looks lifelike. During the interview at the park another dog excitedly approached concrete Sadie, apparently expecting to find a playmate.
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