Bria
English Black Labrador retriever Search & Rescue Dog with DAWGS
Bria is a four year old English Black Labrador retriever who has
been training for search and rescue since 2005, first with my husband
Matt and for the past year, with me. Having recently become a certified
Field Assistant myself, my goal is to be a dog and handler team able
to work in the field together by the end of 2008.
Bria has been called a
natural and is so incredibly focused and in her element while she
is working that just watching her makes
me beam with pride. I’ve told my teammates time and again that
only hope I can be as good of a handler as she is a search dog. While
Bria is not working, she is seeking as well as giving love and attention
to everyone around her and will occasionally romp and play with her
fellow dog teammates, that is if there’s nothing available
for snacking.
Disaster and Wilderness
Ground Searchers (DAWGS)
is a volunteer search unit dedicated to the training of search
and rescue dogs, handlers and support personnel in order to provide
professional and highly-skilled search and rescue teams in the
event of emergency response events. Formed in 1997 and operational
in the spring of 1998, their primary search area is the state
of Connecticut, although they are willing to assist disaster
relief efforts and lost person searches wherever they are needed.
In this painting of Bria,
I was trying to portray what her handler calls her personality
of "calm, sweet and peaceful with a gentle soul". Remember,
these are just small, quick ol sketches, not full portraits. Because
it was late, this photo was taken with a flash, and I will try
to get a better photo up soon, she really isn't quite so blue in
the actual painting.
Thank you, Jennifer, Bria
and all the other handlers & dogs out there that dedicate so
much time and money to save us from harm.
Note from Jennifer: "I
wanted to thank you again for the beautiful portrait of Bria. It
is even more
striking
in person
and I love gazing at it on my mantle.
You were really able to show her calm and peaceful disposition and
how lovable and dedicated she is through her eyes and expression.
Simply amazing!"
If you
are a member of Search & Rescue, K-9 or Mounted Patrol, please
allow me to paint a small portrait for you at no charge, in gratitude
for your service.
PLEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT OR
TO COMMISSION YOUR OWN PORTRAIT
If
you like my artwork and would like to see the paintings as I complete them,
please click here to sign up for my email notification list
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