San Francisco Zoo
Entry to the Children’s Zoo
Barnyard Watchdogs by Burt Brent
This cute sculpture and climbing item is by Dr. Burt Brent. Dr. Brent is a reconstructive plastic surgeon best known for his work in reconstructing the absent outer ear. He has repaired ear defects in 1,800 patients, most of them children born with ear deformities such as Microtia. He also reconstructs ears lost or due to some form of trauma. Dr. Brent is now retired.
Brent grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and was highly influenced by his maternal grandfather who taught him cabinetry and woodworking. Although he considered a career in art, he was always surrounded by medicine, because his father was a physician who had an office in the basement of their home.
As an avid naturalist, Brent is a member of the Society of Animal Artists and has created sculptures of numerous of birds and mammals, two of which grace the San Francisco Zoo.