Artist aims ‘urinating dog’ statue at feminist icon, gets stream of abuse (PHOTOS)

A statue of a dog urinating on New York’s ‘Fearless Girl’ bronze cast is causing uproar online – yet the man behind the statue says it’s simply a protest against “corporate nonsense.”

Artist Alex Gardega provoked the backlash when he positioned his ‘Sketchy Dog’ effigy beside the leg of statue symbol of female strength Monday, with many people taking exception to the fact that the dog appears to be relieving itself on the little girl’s leg.

Commissioned by the financial services firm State Street Global Advisors, the bronze ‘Fearless Girl’ statue was first placed near Bowling Green in Manhattan to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.

The location of the girl means it’s facing down the famed ‘Charging Bull’ sculpture, which was unofficially installed by Arturo Di Modica in downtown Manhattan in 1989.

Following Fearsome Girl’s installation in March, the statue raised eyebrows after its plaque appeared to promote State Street’s ‘SHE’ gender diversity index.

Gardega says his guerilla art was in solidarity with Di Modica and to oppose the fact that Fearsome Girl was commissioned by a corporation.

“[Fearsome Girl] is corporate nonsense. It has nothing to do with feminism, and it is disrespect to the artist that made the bull,” Gardega told the New York Post. “That bull had integrity. I decided to build this dog and make it crappy to downgrade the statue, exactly how the girl is a downgrade on the bull.”

Not everyone is in agreement, however, with Gardega branded “misogynistic” by some social media users.

Charging Bull creator Arturo Di Modica previously argued that the image of the young girl has turned his piece into a “villain.” He called for the State Street statue to be removed last April.