| Uga statues |
Who let the Dawgs out?
Bulldog statues spread through Tifton
Take a drive around Tifton and you’ re bound to see a familiar bulldog standing guard in several spots around the city— although he might not always be wearing the iconic red and black.
Statues of the University of Georgia’ s canine mascot Uga have become common sights throughout the Friendly City, taking up spots in front of several prominent businesses, organizations, and spaces on both the university’ s Tifton Campus and the greater community.
Currently numbering in the twenties and steadily counting, the pack of Dawgs began as the“ Call the Dawgs to Tifton” initiative, meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the university’ s local campus in 2018 and taking inspiration from the similar statues that decorate UGA’ s main campus in Athens.
Local artist Jill Whitley, the artist responsible for painting the bulldogs, reports that the university reached out to her to paint the original two statues, which would be stationed on the Tifton Campus, but she has remained involved with the project since then. by Davis Cobb
Artist Jill Whitley with TUGA, one of the first bulldog statues created and instated through the initiative. He sits at the front of UGA’ s Tifton Campus, standing guard over the historic buildings that sit along
Research Way. Photo by Davis Cobb
8 TiftonScene | JULY 2025