Sunny Ray hosts sculptor Susan Bahari, founder, chair, and selected sculptor of the National Service Animals Monument, the first national monument planned to honor the deeds and sacrifices of service animals and their handlers throughout American history. Congress authorized the project in December 2022, and the organization is now raising private funds to build on federal land, with a second bill pending in Congress to secure a site on the National Mall Reserve near the park police horse stables. Bahari traces her path back to breeding and showing Afghan Hounds as a child, and to 1994, when she sculpted Always Faithful, the first official US War Dog Memorial, after being discovered by William Putney, head of the World War II War Dog Platoon, for the United Doberman Club. She describes how military, police, guide, therapy, and detection animals, from dogs and horses to dolphins and even a sea otter, continue saving and changing lives today. The conversation covers the upcoming Purple Poppy Awards, ongoing legislation, and how supporters can get involved through advice, introductions, and donations.
Sculptor Susan Bahari on building America's first national monument to service animals, from war dogs to guide horses and detection otters.
Can you explain the National Service Animals Monument to someone who has never heard of it?
I'm the founder, chair, and selected sculptor of the National Service Animals Monument. We're building the first national monument honoring the deeds and sacrifices of service animals and their handlers throughout American history, from George Washington's horses to today, across military, law enforcement, search and rescue, guide, and therapy roles. Congress authorized the project in December 2022, and we'll receive federal land once we raise the necessary funds.
Why hasn't this kind of national recognition existed until now?
I really don't know why. In 1994 when I created our first war dog memorial, Always Faithful, it was such a novel idea that no other memorial like it existed, and the media embraced it immediately. It's less new now, but people still don't understand the depth of service and all the kinds of animals that serve. The ways these animals help humans just keeps growing.
You bred and showed Afghan Hounds long before any monument. What did those years teach you about the human-animal bond that still shows up in your sculptures today?
I showed Afghan Hounds from childhood into my mid-20s, training, traveling, breeding, and judging them, which taught me the anatomy and the way these animals should look. Having that love and passion, and feeling the bond myself, planted a seed that let me explore it further in my art. Even as a little girl I felt dogs knew more and had more ability than we give them credit for.
How did the commission for Always Faithful find you, and what did you know about war dogs going in?
I was exhibiting a Doberman head study at the National Doberman Show in San Diego when William Putney, head of the War Dog Platoon in World War II, approached me with a briefcase of records on the dogs who served. The United Doberman Club was looking for an artist, I applied, and I was selected. It opened my eyes to the service these animals gave and the lifelong bond handlers felt with them.
How do you help people see that service animals are still shaping lives right now, not just honoring the past?
Military working dogs protect soldiers on the front line, alerting to danger and saving lives. Police dogs and horses protect officers and communities. Guide animals, which can officially be a mini horse or dog, give independence to people without sight or with other disabilities. Service dogs can detect illnesses and seizures, and often become the reason veterans with PTSD keep living. Therapy animals and even dogs detecting cancer and COVID keep expanding the story.
What are the next 90 days about for the National Service Animals Monument, the site, the money, the design?
We have the Purple Poppy Awards on September 17th in Washington, and two days before that we're holding an educational event for Congress about our second bill, which would let us locate on the National Mall Reserve near the park police horse stables. The bill was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans with Don Davis co-sponsoring, and we're seeking a lead Senate sponsor, alongside ongoing fundraising.
If a business leader watching wanted to help, what's the single most useful thing they could do this month?
I would say advice and introductions would be very useful. We are slowly building more adviserships to our organization, and we certainly need to get in front of the right people who want to support our project.
Why does America need this monument now, and what does it say about us that it doesn't already exist?
I try to take a positive view. There's a time for everything, and I think its time has certainly come. What matters is that it happens, because once it's there it will be there for generations. It's important now because we've waited too long to recognize this service. There's no time like the present to make it happen.
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