Los Gatos' America's Forgotten Heroes Commissions Artwork

An airbrush artist's tribute to search-and-rescue, police and military dogs, rendered on the bodywork of an ambulance, is nearly ready for public viewing in Banning.

Mickey Harris, who flew from Tennessee last week to work on the project, stood by his creation Tuesday at on West Ramsey and looked straight-face modest—until his buddies started kidding him.

Then he allowed himself a slight smile. He had to be invited to come stand by the ambulance, and he was already at work painting another vehicle.

The ambulance will be on display Friday, March 23, 10 a.m. to noon at , 5261 W. Wilson St., and 4 p.m. at Banning Civic Center.

Organizers hope some local law enforcement K9 handlers will attend, Dingmasters manager Charles Young said.

Riverside County sheriff's Cpl. Todd Garvin of the Cabazon Station and his search bloodhound Inga will be there one way or another. They are already painted on one side of the ambulance.

"The public is welcome, and anybody with K9 experience is welcome, too," Young said. "Anyone who cares about dogs or works with dogs will enjoy it."

The job was commissioned by the Los Gatos charity nonprofit America's Forgotten Heroes, Dingmasters owner Rob Linn said.

Locals who helped detail include Oleg Ivaschuk, of Xenia Pacific Printing & Advertising in Banning, and Stan Houghton of Howtons Custom Pinstriping & Gold Leaf in Poppet Flats.

Young said project sponsors include Mickey Harris Art, Dingmasters, Smitty's Auto Paints, Wicked Colors and Badger Airbrush.