Dogs Trust dogs unleash their creative sides for art exhibition

To highlight Dogs Trust Ireland’s long-term dogs, an art exhibition with a difference is being held in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin on Thursday 22nd and 29th of June 2023.

Not only will paintings of the dogs be available to purchase to support the life-saving work of Dogs Trust Ireland but art by the dogs will also be on offer too.

The charity affectionately calls the dogs waiting six months or more to find their homes ‘underdogs’ and when the art students in Mountjoy heard this, they immediately made plans to help the dogs find fame.

There are several reasons why some dogs might get overlooked in favour of others.

If a dog has had a difficult start in life, they may be nervous or frightened and need additional care and attention to adjust to home life.

Other times, a dog might be unfairly judged by their appearance. Darker coloured dogs, particularly black dogs can be overlooked because they do not stand out as much as a lighter coloured dog.

Terrier cross Chuck next to a portrait of himself drawn by an art student in Mountjoy.

Corina Fitzsimons, PR & Communications Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland explains: “As soon as we heard from the art teacher in Mountjoy, we thought it was an incredibly thoughtful gesture from the inmates. For them to feel so passionately about people surrendering their dogs in such high numbers, and to then do what they could to help was so generous of them.

“We can see how they drew parallels between themselves and our Underdogs.

“Both groups are often overlooked, underestimated, and undervalued.

“They did a similar fundraiser last year for Ukraine, so we are delighted to be the recipient of their kindness this year.

“As we love to involve our dogs, we commissioned our Underdogs to create their own artwork.

“To ensure the dogs’ safety, we put pet safe paint on canvases, covered them in plastic, smeared it with some tasty paste and let the dogs unleash their creative sides.

“They produced some unique pieces and we’re very excited to see the public’s reaction to our very own Dogcassos.”

In an art class in Mountjoy prison just before Christmas 2022, with widespread media coverage on the issue of sky-high surrender numbers to rescues and pounds all over the country, inmates of the prison wondered how they could help.

Photograph: ©Fran Veale

Eleanor Jones, City of Dublin ETB, Art Teacher at Mountjoy continues:

“There has been so much media coverage about dogs recently and how there are so many unwanted dogs in the country.

“It quickly became clear that the students felt very passionately about the desperate situation many dogs had been put in especially after Covid.

“We had a lengthy conversation about their love of dogs, many being dog owners themselves and how so many animals were now being surrendered to shelters, as people who had adopted during the pandemic are now not able to care for their dogs.

“The art students feel that by engaging in this project they are connecting with the world outside the prison and making a positive contribution to their community.

“It has been a very engaging and positive experience for all those involved.”

A similar exhibition took place last summer at Mountjoy to raise funds for Ukraine.

Prisoners donated their artwork, and a considerable sum was raised which they hope to replicate to support Dogs Trust Ireland, who rely solely on the generosity of their supporters.

Dogs Trust is always looking for specific homes for their ‘Underdogs’ so if you think you might be in a position to offer a long term dog a home, please visit www.DogsTrust.ie/Underdogs for more information.