Noble Alliance Presents Susan Bahary
Before there was Noble Alliance—before the name, before the formal structure, before the articles were even drafted—Vera and I would often find ourselves returning to an idea. What if artists could help us tell the story we were trying to tell? What if they could use their gift not only to capture beauty, but to give shape and voice to the timeless bond between humans and animals? It was alongside Frehel, our beloved golden retriever – whose remarkable journey reminded us every day of the power of that bond – that this idea truly took root. And its answer came in the work of Susan Bahary. It is with enormous pride and no small humility that we present and celebrate her work.
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There are artists who refine technique, who dazzle the eye, who win accolades for the ingenuity of their masterpieces. And then there are the very few who do also something rarer and far more essential: they restore to us a truth that we risk forgetting. Susan Bahary belongs to this select company.
An internationally acclaimed sculptor, she has devoted decades to giving tangible form and voice to the bond between people and animals. For more than thirty years, Bahary has stood at the vanguard of honouring this bond, crafting sculptures that interpret this bond with a language beyond words. From striking memorials to war dogs to tender tributes to service animals across continents, her work unveils stories of sacrifice and devotion too often left untold. But Bahary’s sculptures do more than memorialize—they reclaim. They assert the timeless significance of a partnership as ancient as humanity itself.
Bahary draws from real history: forgotten military files, old photos, eyewitness accounts. In doing so, she insists that animals who served—who saved lives, delivered messages under fire, searched rubble for survivors—deserve not just our affection but our recognition. She brings the dial back to where it should have been all along—Mettre les pendules à l’heure, as we say here in Geneva.
And whereas some of her most iconic work may emerge from a particularly American narrative, it resonates far beyond the borders of any particular nation or time. Because the bond it evokes—the glance between a soldier and a dog, the understanding between a child and a therapy animal—is a universal one. And in an increasingly fractured world, that universality matters more than ever.​
© Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
About
Susan Bahary
Susan Bahary is one of the world’s foremost sculptors honoring the -human-animal bond, renowned for her powerful tributes to service animals and their handlers. In 1994, she created the United States’ first official war dog memorial, Always Faithful, unveiled at the Pentagon and now standing at the Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery in Guam.
Since then, her bronze sculptures—depicting canine, equine, and human figures—have been installed in museums, military bases, and public spaces across the U.S. and internationally, from Arlington National Cemetery to the Western Front of WWI in France.
Her work has received wide media attention, featured on CNN, FOX News, NBC, and The Discovery Channel.
From Sgt. Stubby, America’s most decorated war dog, to Sully, President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, to the fallen SEAL Team 6 handler John Douangdara and his K9 partner Bart, Bahary captures the enduring bond between humans and animals.
In 2022, her dedication helped launch the develoment of the National Service Animals Monument (NSAM) in Washington, D.C., ensuring these heroes and their sacrifices are forever honored.
Art as a Tribute to the Human-Animal Bond
Please tell us a little about yourself, your journey, and your training. How did you come to dedicate yourself to art that celebrates the bond between humans and animals? Were there any particular moments or experiences that led you to pursue this path?
I have been an animal lover since my childhood, and used to exhibit and breed my Afghan hounds growing up. Art and music are highly valued in my family and resulted in several family members who very successfully pursued their interests. It was the commission of Always Faithful, our country’s first official War Dog Memorial, to the valiant war dogs and their handlers of World War II, that truly showed me the heart of those who serve and demonstrated the amazing bond between our service animals and their handlers. After 50 years, in a very moving unveiling ceremony, the war dog handlers of the greatest generation, returned to the island of Guam to honor and remember the dogs that saved their lives. This experience put me on the trajectory that I am on today.
Having also been an art lover all my life I feel blessed to be able to combine my passion for art with my passion for animals. After the creation of the Always Faithful War dog Memorial I knew that honoring those who serve, both human and animal kind, would be a most worthy focus of my work and was close to my heart. I am inspired by those who risk their lives for the rest of us asking very little in return and feel they are especially deserving of recognition and compassion.
© Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
© Susan Bahary
"Always Faithful": A Monument Like No Other
Unveiled at the Pentagon and later installed at the National War Dog Cemetery in Guam in 1994, Always Faithful is the first official U.S. monument honoring military working dogs. Sculpted by Susan Bahary, the bronze Doberman pays tribute to the 25 Marine Corps dogs who died during the 1944 Battle of Guam—among them Kurt, whose lifesaving warning of an ambush cost him his life. In Bahary’s words, “Always Faithful was inspired by the spirit of these heroic dogs who are the embodiment of love and devotion.”
Castings of the sculpture now stand at several prominent institutions across the U.S., including the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where the memorial continues to educate and inspire new generations.
Honouring Heroic Animals
Do you feel that sanctuaries are the ideal setting to capture and cultivate public awareness regarding animal dignity?
Yes, absolutely. Sanctuaries allow animals to be seen beyond labels such as ‘farm animal’ or ‘product’. They exist as individuals with dignity and emotional depth. Photographing them in these environments creates space for reflection and invites viewers to reconsider deeply ingrained cultural norms and traditions.
© Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
A Sculptor of Impact
Your sculptures carry profound symbolic value. What reactions have you received from those who have encountered your monuments? Is there a particular moment that deeply touched you?
What has moved me most is the reciprocity. These relationships are not based on domination, utility, or profit, but on care, patience, and mutual trust. Many caregivers speak of animals as teachers, mirrors, or companions. Witnessing how healing flows in both directions has been profoundly moving.
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Many members of John’s family came to the unveiling ceremony including his wonderful parents and loving sister Chan who spoke so eloquently about the meaning of service and sacrifice, including its effect on family. Yet even having lost their beloved John she expressed how grateful her family was to have been able to come to America from Laos to have the freedom and life they dreamed of here and that they were grateful that John did what he truly loved and served our great country. They were so thrilled that he would be remembered in such a way and at such a meaningful memorial in the nation’s capital.
A Universal Message
Your work transcends cultures and countries. How do you perceive the evolution of global sensitivity towards the relationship between humans and animals?
I think we are growing closer every day to a full appreciation for animals and how they help us, as well as the importance of treating our animals well. We’ve seen this in science, in memorials, in actions by rescue and adoption groups, and in terms of dollars spent for the welfare of our animals.
There are more groups now than before dedicated to the human-animal bond. Since I created they Always Faithful War Dog Memorial in 1994, which was the first of its kind, there have been countless memorials in the United States and abroad that have been created to the subject of war dogs and other service dogs. I’m very hopeful for the future.
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
Art as a Tool for Change
What is your greatest dream for the future? What do you hope your works will inspire in others?
I believe that animals have a way of opening our hearts and bringing us together. They bring out the humanity in us. It is my hope that through my monuments people will be moved and have a better appreciation and understanding of those who serve. I hope it will raise their level of compassion for those who serve, and for all people and animals. Ultimately, I believe love is the greatest force on earth, and if people can feel through my work the love inherent in the human-animal bond, then I believe it can have a positive effect through generations.
A Timeless Bond
Is there a sculpture to which you feel particularly connected, or one that best represents the meaning of your work?
While all my creations are like my children in a way and hold a special place in my heart, one that stands out in my mind is the life-size bronze entitled “The Pledge’, located at the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. It depicts a female combat soldier kneeling face-to-face and bonded with her military working dog just as they are about to go into battle together. It is their pledge to each other to be a successful team and remain safe through their mission, and their pledge of faithful allegiance to our country; to protect and defend our freedom.
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
Image courtesy of Susan Bahary
"National Service Animals Monument":
A Dream Takes Shape
Susan Bahary’s dream of a national monument honoring service animals and their handlers is moving closer to reality. Authorized by Congress and planned for Washington, D.C., the landmark National Service Animals Monument (NSAM) will celebrate the courage, loyalty, and sacrifice of military dogs, law enforcement K-9s, assistance animals, and others. Blending Bahary’s signature sculpture with immersive elements, the monument will stand as a powerful tribute to the enduring bond between animals and those they serve.
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Now entering the critical site selection phase, the project has gained strong backing from leading service animal organizations and visionary donors. As a privately funded initiative, it now calls on the public to help bring this bold vision to life. For Bahary, this is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to honor the silent heroes who have shaped and protected lives across the nation in a first of its kind memorial.