Dog owners can pick up pet portraits

Dog owners have been informed that they can finally pick up pictures of their pooches – four months after they were due for delivery from the troubled West Bromwich arts centre The Public.

The Arts Council is bailing out the attraction once again, after agreeing to pay £25,000 for portraits of dogs to be flown in from Canada.

More than 70 owners paid £50 a time to have their pets photographed as part of a project run by Public Gallery Ltd. The portraits were to be displayed in an exhibition in the gallery, and a copy sent to the owners.

After the company went into administration, it was feared pet owners would lose their cash and photographs.

Renowned Canadian artist Shari Hatt, who took the photographs in December last year, was also left thousands of pounds out of pocket when the company collapsed in February.

Now owners have been told the pictures are expected to be ready by this Sunday.

Helen O'Reilly, aged 43, of Stanley Road, West Bromwich, had her labradors Max and Paddy snapped at the gallery.

She said: "Fingers crossed they will be ready."

Judy Hanley, spokeswoman for administrators Baker Tilly, said: "The money has been sent over to the artist in Canada, and we are waiting for it to clear through the Canadian banking system."