Dogs create works of art at Sonoma winery

Dogs pant.

Everyone knows that. But what a rare and endearing and colorful spectacle it is to see them paint.

Guests of a canine-friendly Sonoma Valley winery were charmed on Saturday as dogs created art with paint applied to their paws or the tips of their tails.

This was Day of Wine and Wags, a benefit that Meadowcroft Wines hosted for the Santa Rosa-based Paws for Love Foundation.

Created by artist Ellyn Jaques Boone, the nonprofit raises money that it donates to animal shelters and rescue operations and for emergency veterinary surgeries, spay-and-neuter services and efforts to find homes for elderly pets.

Saturday’s wine and dog-art event happened in the art garden at Meadowcroft’s tasting room at the Cornerstone Sonoma marketplace.

Meadowcroft invited its wine club members and other guests to bring their dogs and to see if they cared to paint with Boone. If she sensed the pet was open to it, she dipped or dabbed a bit of nontoxic, water-based paint onto a paw or tail tip.

Boone then guided the guest artist to apply the paint to an 8-by-10-inch sheet of paper. Oohs and aahs followed.

There was a raffle and mingling, wine-tasting, a kiss-a-pooch booth and yummies for both species.

A good many guests left with artwork worthy at least of prominent display on the refrigerator.