Molly Fairhurst created this playful image to accompany an article entitled “The Dog Park Is Bad, Actually,” published in February of 2020. In the article, various dog specialists make the case against dog parks, arguing that they are not in fact good places for socialization but pose numerous risks, including “playground bullies,” injuries and diseases. Fairhurst’s spirited imagining of a dog and its owner at the center bring to life and humanize the chaotic and stressful elements our pups might face at the park.

Molly Fairhurst is an artist, illustrator and animator from Yorkshire based in Bristol, U.K. The Times commissions thousands of original illustrations from freelance artists around the world, enhancing stories with thought-provoking images that enrich the reading experience.