‘Dogs Of Del Ray’ mural to be finished next month

It’s no secret that Del Ray loves its dogs, and next month a new mural will be unveiled in their honor.

For the last month, local artist Patrick Kirwin has been working on the “Dogs Of Del Ray” mural, which is on the north side of Stomping Ground, facing the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square in the heart of Del Ray.

“It’ll last forever, or as long as the siding lasts,” Krwin said. “The trick is balancing the eyes, getting them right according to the axis on the head gives them their personality.”

Del Ray is full of personalities, like Dodger, Olive, Sadie and Aspin. Sue Kovalsky’s dog, Barley, for instance, will walk right up and lean on strangers on Mount Vernon Avenue — just to get a friendly pet.

Pat Miller came up with the idea with neighbor Karen Johnson.

“Dogs bring a lot to Del Ray,” Miller said. “When you’re out walking your dog, you always stop and talk to the next person that has a dog, so you get to know the community. And the dogs start liking each other and they start like being together.”

Miller says that the waiting list for dog portraits is completely full, and that some of the paintings are from dogs who have passed on.

“It was a tear-jerker, a way to memorialize their dog,” she said. “And that’s important because dogs are all about love and fun.”