Suffolk Libraries PAWS-itivity dogs find their forever homes

Suffolk Libraries' biggest-ever fundraising campaign, PAWS-itivity, culminated in a successful fundraising auction at Trinity Park last month which raised over £26,000.

Around 40 dog sculptures dubbed the ‘Library Labradors’ all featuring designs individually created by local artists were auctioned on 12 October.

A few weeks later and with the dog sculptures all having found new homes, many can still be seen in public and enjoyed across the county. 

Marjoke Henrichs’ Readador, celebrating a love of reading, was purchased by Suffolk Building Society and can be seen in their Woodbridge branch in the town thoroughfare.

Joel Millerhip’s Poppy’s Garden will be just up the road at Woodbridge Books and the beautiful Labralore, depicting Suffolk folklore, will be at Woodbridge Library.

Other local groups bought dogs so they could be displayed at their local library too. Bungay Library will be home to James Mayhew’s creation Dog-Eared Book Dog and Leiston Library will display Pooch Pawfect, which was created out of 1940’s sheet music. Stradbroke Library will be home to La Perrita by Hannah Weeks, which is based on the dog sculpture that stands outside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Lily Hammond’s little tropically coloured puppy Leopardor will be proudly on display at Debenham Library.

Smart Garden Offices who were also a sponsor of the campaign, are giving a forever home to their wonderful Yesterdog, created by Anne Marie Byrne. The sculpture features The Beatles and can be seen at their Thurston showrooms.

The PAWS-itivity Auction raised over £26,000 for Suffolk Libraries vital work in the community and thanks to local sponsorship also provided funding to support the work of several local artists.

Bruce Leeke, Suffolk Libraries Chief Executive, said:

“We’re thrilled that so many of the Library Labradors have found homes where the public can still enjoy them. We’re equally delighted to have been able to fund local artists to create such novel and special pieces of art. We want to thank all our sponsors, artists and winning bidders that have helped to make this campaign such a huge success.

“The funds raised from the campaign will help our charity to fund crucial services that reduce social, digital and rural isolation across Suffolk. A great example is our Warm Welcome cost of living campaign which we’ve just relaunched which will make a big difference to many people in the months ahead.”