| "Painting the Painted Dogs"
 "Painting the Painted Dogs" is now hanging at the Darien Nature Center in Connecticut. It will be on display until June 26. On June 12th at 7pm I will give an Artists Talk. So please come along if you live in the area. Once again I will be raffling a framed, original sketch with all proceeds donated to the Painted Dog Conservation project. The draw will be held after the talk on June 12th but if you can't attend and would still like tickets (only $10 each) please let me know. Darien Nature Center is located at 120 Brookside Road, Darien, Connecticut 06820. After this show finishes I will take a break for the summer before looking for new venues for the Fall.
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A little more about my AFC Flag Expedition to the Painted Dog Conservation project in Zimbabwe... Painted Dog Collars Painted Dog wearing Collar. PDC collars Painted Dogs in order to track their movements. In addition to collaring wild, healthy Painted Dogs they also collar sick and injured dogs in the Rehabilitation Facility, so that when they are released their progress can be monitored. Each collar emits a unique signal, allowing the collar (and the dog) to be located. But each collar also contains other important features. Painted Dog collar (new) In the photo above you see a new collar. The flourescent orange material allows motorists to see the dogs if they venture onto roads at night. Hwange National Park is not fenced and the dogs frequently move across park boundaries so deaths on the roads are quite common. Being caught in a snare is another serious problem for dogs in Zimbabwe (poachers are not trying to catch dogs but many are accidentally caught and killed). The tracking collars have been adapted to try and prevent snaring fatalities. The metal plate on the front of the collar is an anti-snare device, consisting of several rows of metal prongs. If the dog is caught in a wire snare the prongs catch the wire, stopping it from slipping above or below the collar and cutting the dog's throat. A collar from a dog caught in a snare. The photo above shows a collar taken from a dog caught in a snare. The metal prongs have been bent out of shape and the material torn as the dog fought to escape. Although the damage to the collar may be extensive these collars can save a dog's life. They are a valuable tool for PDC staff, with many uses besides locating dogs. |