News / Millennium Square
Much-loved dog goes walkies from Millennium Square
For more than two decades, two dogs have entertained visitors to Millennium Square.
Bill and Bob are bronze life-size sculptures by artist Cathie Pilkington of a pair of Jack Russell terriers swimming in a puddle.
Commissioned in 1999 as part of a programme of public art for the Harbourside area, Pilkington – now professor of sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools – intentionally wanted to make something very small which might get overlooked.
But after 21 years of swimming contentedly in his puddle of blue rubber, Bob has been dognapped, with his theft reported to the police.
Science centre and educational charity We The Curious – the custodians of Millennium Square – are promising “eternal gratitude” for Bob’s safe return.
Bill and Bob’s sister sculpture, Jasmine, remains on four legs in the foyer of We The Curious.
Bob – described on a missing poster as a dog who “loves sticks and a rub behind the ear” – was last seen at around 7pm on Friday, October 15.
The two sculptures are set in resin, with a We The Curious spokesperson saying that it would have “taken quite some force or a heavy blow” to remove Bob from his favourite puddle.
Brothers and best friends Bill and Bob have been in Millennium Square for 21 years – photo: James Harris / Bristol City Council
Main photo: Alan Levine / Wikimedia Commons
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