I don't disagree with you, but in this case they are identifying the type of statue: > The licking dog is an example of a healing statue, and may be linked to

I don't disagree with you, but in this case they are identifying the type of statue: > The licking dog is an example of a healing statue, and may be linked to a Roman healing temple at Lydney. I have not heard of a "healing statue", so a bit of searching found this in Wikipedia: > Some healing temples also used sacred dogs to lick the wounds of sick petitioners. So it is an interpretation of the statue - not a bad interpretation, but some explanation would be nice.