Adoption Party
February 21, 2003

Mayor Doc Eldridge welcomes the artists and patrons to see "the bulldawg" for the first time.

Athens was the first city in Georgia to join the national animals on parade phenomenon. The first hint most Athenians really had of what this event would be was at the Adoption Party.

On February 21, 2003, Mercury Art Works and Gallery in downtown Athens, hosted artists, patrons, and organizers as they got their first glimpse of a BIG "naked" dawg. When the artists finally saw their canine canvas, they could hardly wait to adopt their dawg and start the creative process.

Barbara Dooley and Doc Eldridge share in the excitement of the evening at Mercury Art Works and Gallery.

It was a fun and festive evening with everyone sharing design ideas. This was the first opportunity many patrons had to meet the artists. Artist Martha Johnson, who got a head start on one of her THREE dawgs, shared sanding and painting tips with other artists. Mayor Doc Eldridge praised the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman's Club for their initiative, thanked the patrons for their support, and marveled at the design submissions of the artists. Everyone knew that their excitement would be contagious as soon as the dawgs appeared on Athens streets.