Lesley Hindman, a Bellshill resident supported by Maggie's Lanarkshire during her cancer treatment, is among six winners of a competition that saw her pet German Shepherd, Roscoe, incorporated into the design of a giant Scottie dog sculpture in Glasgow. The sculpture, titled "Ground Control to Major Canis," is part of the Scotties in the City trail, running until August 16 and raising funds for Maggie's.
Competition and Sculpture Design
The competition, run by leading pet portraiture artist Jina Gelder, selected six dog owners to have their canine companions featured on the artwork. Lesley's dog Roscoe inspired the canine astronaut design, which references Laika, the first dog in space. The sculpture is located at Rottenrow Gardens on the Strathclyde University campus, one of 40 painted dogs across Glasgow and beyond.
Personal Story and Fundraising
Lesley began attending Maggie's Lanarkshire at Monklands Hospital in February 2024 after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She described the centre as a "sanctuary" where staff understood her experience. "I was so emotional when I was diagnosed with cancer, but I didn’t want anyone to see me cry. It was coming to Maggie’s that allowed me to open up; the staff there just made me feel so comfortable," she said.
Lesley has raised £8,700 for Maggie's through two hoedown events in her local area. She expressed joy at having Roscoe featured: "Having Roscoe picked out to have his portrait really was the icing on the cake, especially with this being a competition for Maggie’s. I’m so keen to give back for all the support they have given me."
Artist and Charity Perspectives
Artist Jina Gelder said: "I am so delighted to be taking part in this Wild in Art Scotties in the City trail to raise money for Maggie’s, and it was great to be able to feature some portraits of real live dogs as astronauts on my big Scottie. Hopefully, this will give their owners who entered my competition and a lot of other people who come to see the trail a lot of pleasure."
Maggie’s project manager Hayley Smith added: "Each Scottie dog has been beautifully designed and painted by talented artists. Following the trail, the Scotties will then be auctioned in September to raise much-needed funds to support as many families going through cancer treatment as possible." She noted that Maggie's is celebrating its 30th anniversary and relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to provide specialist cancer support, psychological support, and benefits advice.
Trail Details and Impact
The Scotties in the City trail features 40 painted dog sculptures across Glasgow and beyond. Lesley looks forward to completing the trail with friends and seeing the other sculptures. The sculptures will be auctioned in September to raise funds for Maggie's, which offers free support to anyone affected by cancer without the need for an appointment.
