this one in from New Hampshire and more to come

This friend came from Patricia in New Hampshire the other day. I have another box or two to open.

I feel like I am having contact with so many wonderful creatures through this project, as well as wonderful folks who are keen to participate and share with the world a love of animals, and especially dogs. Our love of hounds is ancient and full of history, stories of rescue, courage, and good deeds.

 I am discovering how much people are attached to these objects, that they symbolize the history of deep relationships and exchange between human and animal, the bonds that link us, and the complexities there. These cartoony objects with simplified anatomy and google-y eyes are evidence of love, friendship, and many days of time spent together....or apart.

 They arrive shredded and disemboweled, sometime unrecognizable as anything but stuffing and fake fur. These are the roadkill of our dogs' activity and joyful play, stress release and anxiety therapy. I am fascinated by the shear variety of creatures live and constructed. 

The exhibit will be mounted at the end of July, and the show will open August 6th! See Patricia Ladd Cargea's Gallery on line. 

toys from all over!

Well, thanks to many of you the toys keep coming in! And great pictures of your dogs. The American Kennel Association published a small piece and photograph of the project as a call for art. I'll post that later. For now look at these great toys and dogs! More inventory and details to come.

Above, Tasha Dog in her elegant towel shows her tattered frisbee to Companion friends Elizabeth and Steve, and fellow creature-cats,  Jack and Loco have lots of fun with her in SoPo.We received this picture of two dogs wrestling, and I just had to include it. They must be friends of Tasha having a good romp.

 Elizabeth brought over Sunny's orange frog, which will be returned to her after the installation. Sunny is the lovely blond above.We have received toys from around the State, including Georgia, New Mexico and Texas just this past week. Keep 'em coming. Deadline is extended to 20 July.

chewed blonds arrive in the mail

 Sammy the Dalmatian's blond bear with white paws came through the mail slot yesterday. 

This creature's head is severed, barely attached to a right paw and piece of the back. Three accompanying remnants include a front or back piece, one with the white of a foot, and another that still has some stuffing in a left paw, and the Made in China label says: Huggable Farm friends. Hmmm, are farm friends huggable? 

Another one arrived with a special afternoon postal custodian in a jiffy pack.  

Quite pungent and losing small, white balls from the inside, this blond creature is inside a blue "Giant" shopping bag. The eyes and muzzle are chewed out.  It looks like this canine went right for the face.

One arm and both legs still have stuffing, the left arm is  floppy and torn. The creature's tail  and long ears are  intact. It has a little black loop maybe for suspend from a door? This looks like a possible child's toy, abducted by a canine....who is a pincher maybe Rhotweiller mix with cute eyes and ears named Maya. 

The enclosed note reads" Hi, I'm Maya (dog)  dot dots and a smile and two exclamation points."

 This one is decidedly aromatic. Maya is the dog at the top here.

Hard to describe that doggie smell, but we all know it. Maybe by the time I've received all of the entries, I'll know what words to put to the smell. Any thoughts?

Ralphie from Baghdad

Here is Ralphie from Baghdad, my friend Peter is over there and adopted this dog. He's a puppy and teething, so chewing everything. Here is a toy he might send to us eventually.We wish Ralphie and Peter and all of their friends safe nights and days, and offer our thanks for all they do.

prepare to chew toys

We want your chewed toys, so please send them along.

Here is Kaya, prepping his contribution to the project. 

Annie sent me pictures of the chewing and licking in process.

Kaya lives with two cats, Rickey and Lord Byron. 

Chew on! 

slipped through the mail slot

Yesterday, a chewed toy was slipped through my mail slot. Plenty of dust came along with this crazy eight-thing. 

Last week, I finally picked up Gus's girlfriend from the post office. Isn't she cute!

 I hope many more will be coming. Here are some fine specimens! Thanks friends of Chewed Toys.

Savannah dogs

I was in Savannah this weekend for a symposium, and I presented a paper on drawing room and talked about the projects we do, like Chewed Toys. I met Princess and Max, the dog companions of my friend Alexandria. They showed off for me, posed, and played. They were very sweet. The were all very hospitable and showed me a Southern good time. 

Recently, Oprah had a show on the puppy mill problem and horror. I missed the program, but have seen footage and other films about this issue. In New York City, I knew many animal rescuers. They would harbor many creatures until they could get them adopted, for often shelters have a time limit before they "put them to sleep". (Why do we use that euphemism. Death is not sleep.)

I hope that people will think twice before buying a dog. there are so many creatures that need home. I found my two cats, Musa and Leila, on my street. They had been left by people, abandoned. I think we can al do much better by the animals that bring us so much love and joy, loyalty and care.