American Dog

American Dog is patiently standing at the entrance to the 1.5-acre off-leash Cubby Dog Park at 3200 West Lagoon Rd., Pleasanton. Made of rust brown Cor-Ten steel the sculpture is 3’H x 4’W x 4”D mounted on a concrete base. According to the sculptor Dale Rogers, “The profile of the dog is very much of a muttigree (a non-pedigree collection of various breeds)” and thus the ‘American dog’. Cubby Dog Park honors the Pleasanton Police Department K9 officer Cubby, whose human handler was Officer Jay Graves.  The department’s K9 unit was established in 1974, and Cubby was the first to join, serving not only Pleasanton but the entire Tri-Valley.

Massachusetts Sculptor Dale Rogers chose Cor-Ten steel because it is a corrosive-resistant alloy steel with tensile strength. It was originally developed in the 1930s to help build coal wagons for the railroad and was later patented by US Steel as Cor-Ten. The rich brown patina formed by oxidation rust seals over time offering a thought-provoking work that is sophisticated and yet sometimes whimsical. The cut-out bone at the center of American Dog adds to the playful nature of the sculpture.

Rogers came to metal sculpting from a childhood interest in art and experiences on the family farm repairing farm implements. His work encompasses simple clean lines and is thought-provoking, often offering a simple element that evokes a smile. Dale’s concept idea of a sculpture evolves from idea to sketch, to transference via 3-D software to an image laser cut into workable welding pieces. It is a six-month process from concept to completion.

Donated by the Harrington Art Partnership (H.A.P.P.Y) and installed in 2017, American Dog is the second Dale Rogers artwork donated by Gary and Nancy Harrington. The other sculpture is Goldy, a cat, in front of the Valley Human Society at 3670 Nevada Street, Pleasanton.

Jan Coleman-Knight