One of the foremost artists specializing in honoring the animal-human bond, Susan Bahary, is a leader in raising awareness for the contributions and sacrifices of service animals and their handlers. In 1994, Susan created our country’s first official and iconic war dog memorial, “Always Faithful,” unveiled at the Pentagon and installed at the Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery at the U.S. Naval Base on Guam.

Susan’s sculptures of human, canine and equine subjects have been featured most notably on CNN, FOX news, NBC, and The Discovery Channel. Since 1994, her Service Animal related works have had the honor and distinction of being located in museums such as the National Museum of the Marine Corps, UC Davis College of Veterinary Science, military bases such as Quantico, and other noted public installations worldwide. Her works have been featured in many books and films including the first war dog feature film, MGM’s “Max.”

Her international monuments include the War Animal Memorial, the first monument in the world to honor the nine million animals that died in the Western Front in WWI located in Pozieres, France; The Australian War Animals Memorial located in the State’s Heritage Rose Garden, Queensland, Australia; and the New Zealand War Animal Memorial at the National Army Museum of New Zealand.

Nationally, Susan’s bronze sculpture of our country’s first and most famous service dog, Stubby, with “Stubby Salutes”, can be viewed at the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Middletown, CT and a second casting is on display at the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York City.

In December 2019, Susan completed a life-size bronze of President George HW Bush’s service dog “Sully” for the permanent collection of his Presidential Library and Museum. In 2020, her monument “The Pledge”, featuring a woman soldier connecting with her devoted service dog as they ready themselves for their upcoming mission, was unveiled to great acclaim where it resides in the permanent collection of the Women’s Memorial in Arlington Cemetery.

On Veteran’s Day 2021, Susan’s bronze monument of the brave, fallen lead dog handler to SEAL Team 6, John Douangdara and his war dog, Bart, entitled, “Service and Sacrifice,” was placed permanently at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington D.C., honoring all the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present, and future.

Susan Bahary is excited to be the sculptor selected to create the National Service Animals Monument, which is working its way through Congress to be designated as a national memorial for our nation’s capital! Ms. Bahary accepts selected commission work and works out of her Bay Area Studio.