WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police on Sunday (May 10) arrested a man on several charges, including the attempted theft of a dog sculpture that is part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project. Police also recovered one of two sculptures previously reported stolen.

Adam Sachs, 20, a sophomore in the College of Engineering from St. Louis, was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail on preliminary charges of public intoxication, consumption of alcohol by a minor, criminal mischief and attempted theft.

According to a police report, an officer saw Sachs shortly before 3:30 a.m. attempting to steal the dog sculpture “El Perro” that was located on campus near the intersection of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue. Sachs was carrying a toolbox with him when he was arrested, according to the report. The statue was not damaged.

In addition to Sunday’s attempted theft, two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9). Police do not believe Sachs was involved in the previous thefts.

On Sunday afternoon, police recovered one of those sculptures – “Give a Dog a Bone, an X-RAY View” by artist Liz Rainey. A passerby called police after spotting the artwork behind foliage outside the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine’s Lynn Hall, near the location from which the dog was originally taken. Nicknamed “Oliver” by students, the sculpture was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in honor of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th anniversary.

“It’s great that Oliver has been recovered,” said Kevin Doerr, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Everyone loved this beautifully painted dog, and having it back safely at the school is a tremendous encouragement. It appears to be in excellent condition except for the leg that was broken by the person who removed the sculpture from its mounting location.”

Police are still attempting to find the final missing dog. “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas, was taken from the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

Doerr said a reward of up to $250 was being offered for its safe return.

Anyone with information related to the thefts is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784.

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and benefits both equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional dog forms. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs.

Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9).

One called “Give a Dog a Bone” by artist Liz Rainey was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary. Nicknamed “Oliver” by the students, it is missing from the Harrison Street side of Lynn Hall, the school’s home on Harrison Street on the south side of campus.

The second missing sculpture, “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” was decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas and had been standing watch on the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

“These dogs are priceless, not just because of the imagination and talent that went into producing them but also because of the community spirit they represent,” said Kevin Doerr, the school’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Our students, faculty and staff are enormously disappointed since this was a highlight of our anniversary celebration.

“Anyone who has information that might help us get them back or who knows where they might be located is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or call the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784. If a reward would add needed encouragement, we are prepared to offer up to $250 for their safe return.”

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, and both benefit equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional fiberglass dog forms. The finished dogs will be on display from May through September. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs, which will go home with them when Dog Days are over.

At the end of the exhibition, a few of the decorated dogs will go on the road as part of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s traveling exhibit in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Other dogs will be auctioned off to the public on Oct. 4, when they will find a permanent home. Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ranging from artistic to scientific, life-size decorated dog statues are popping up throughout the Greater Lafayette area as part of the Dog Days of Summer art project.

The project, which officially opens on Saturday (May 9), is a partnership between the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. It highlights the 50th anniversary of the School of Veterinary Medicine and the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, both of which are being celebrated this year.

Lowe's employee Roger Beaver fastens down 'Dog Tagged' on Main Street between 10th and 11th streets in Lafayette. It is the first dog in the Dog Days of Summer exhibition in Lafayette, West Lafayette and on the Purdue campus. The dogs are mounted on 600-pound bases, which were placed in their designated locations by crews from Purdy Concrete and Fairfield Contractors. (Photo courtesy of Dog Days of Summer)

The exhibit’s opening is scheduled to coincide with “Mosey Down Main Street,” a free festival that will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday on Lafayette’s Main Street between Sixth and Ninth streets. The festival will feature music, performers, food and vendors. There will be Dog Days of Summer merchandise for sale, raffle tickets to win one of the dogs, and the opportunity to paint dog magnets and to decorate your own dog on a T-shirt.

The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project also is inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

As part of the project, artists from Indiana and other areas decorated three-dimensional fiberglass dog forms, which will be displayed in Lafayette, West Lafayette and on the Purdue campus through September. Many sponsors supported the project at a level sufficient to have their name associated with a specific dog. Plaques placed with each dog identify the artists, title and the sponsor.

Two of the painted dogs have special associations with the veterinary school and art museum. “Give a Dog a Bone” by artist Liz Rainey, was adopted by the School of Veterinary Medicine as its official 50th anniversary entry in the exhibit. Faculty, staff and students raised the $5,000 sponsorship, which means the school will keep the dog permanently after the exhibit. Similarly, the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and the Art League adopted “Centennial Dog” by artist Louie Laskowski to recognize the museum’s 100th anniversary. Board members raised the $5,000 sponsorship to enable the museum to keep the dog permanently.

In addition to the exhibit itself, numerous events are planned in which children and adults can learn more about dogs, veterinary care and produce their own works of dog art. The Dog Days of Summer project also will have a presence and offer activities at local community events such as Round the Fountain Art Fair and Gallery Walk. The public also will have the chance to vote on its favorite dog and to win one of the dog sculptures through a raffle.

In conjunction with the exhibition, a few of the decorated dogs will go on the road as part of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s traveling exhibit in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Other dog sculptures will be auctioned off to the public on Oct. 4. Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

Major Dog Days sponsors include the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and Art League; Awards Unlimited; the city of Lafayette; clients of the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Lyn Freeman, doctor of veterinary medicine; DeFouw Chevrolet; Fairfield Contractors Inc.; Farm Bureau Insurance; Haywood Printing; Henriott Group; Holder and Fehrenbach Law Offices; Jones and Phillips Associates; the Journal & Courier; Lafayette Bank and Trust; Lafayette Life Foundation; Lafayette Limo; Lafayette-West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau; Laird Therapy Dog Rescue; Lausch Photography; Lilly Tippecanoe Labs; Lowe’s Home Improvement; Muinzer Moving & Storage; Old National Bank for WBAA; Paw Prints Animal Hospital; Purdue Beat Society; Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union; Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumna Deborah Breitstein, doctor of veterinary medicine; Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 1964; Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff and students; Purdy Concrete; Regions Bank; Sheila and Vic Klinker; Sovereign Catering & Events; Spiris Inc.; and W.H. Long Companies.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As part of the upcoming Dog Days of Summer project, lesson plans created around the theme of dogs are now being offered for teachers of students enrolled in kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Project organizers said all of the lesson plans take Indiana’s core academic standards into account and are offered in areas including art education, English language arts, math, social studies and science. The plans can be used to supplement already existing curriculum, so area schools will be able to take part in the upcoming Dog Days of Summer events. The Dog Days of Summer project will place decorated, life-size dog statues throughout the area in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine and the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.

More than 40 dog sculptures have been painted by artists and will be displayed from May to September in downtown Lafayette, West Lafayette and on the Purdue campus.

Participating schools also will be able select some students’ dog art projects to be on display at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette as part of a special exhibit called Dogs Rule. This exhibit will run from June 26 to July 24, with an opening reception for participating students and their families on June 26.

In addition to the lesson plans, a variety of events and activities are planned to enable children to participate in the Dog Days of Summer sculpture project. These include a summer event at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette where children can produce dog art and learn about veterinary medicine and basic dog care; an event at the School of Veterinary Medicine’s annual open house in April where children can paint dog-related items; events at two local pottery stores in which participants can decorate dog-related items; and activities at local community events such as the Round the Fountain Art Festival, Gallery Walk and Mosey Down Main.

More than 40 dog sculptures have been painted by artists and will be displayed from May to September in downtown Lafayette, West Lafayette and on the Purdue campus. Area businesses and individuals are sponsoring many of the dogs. Sponsors at the top level will keep their dogs permanently. All other doges will be auctioned to the public in October.

Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.