Pets in History
Dogs in Literature:
From dogs on the battlefield to dogs in the White House, “The Pawprints of History” by Stanley Coren tells the tales of canine companions who have been on the front lines of history. Coren, a doctor who specializes in dog-human interactions, examines the dynamics between humans and dogs with examples taken from all over the…
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The Cat Show of 1871
Author Mimi Matthews has a brilliant blog that includes articles on the history of dogs and cats. Check out this terrific report about the first cat show, an event which took place 145 years ago at the Crystal Palace in London… by MIMI MATTHEWS In 1871, at the instigation of cat fancier Harrison Weir, the first ever…
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Morris
Looking back at the legend of a famously finicky feline… from HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY It is the quintessential American success story… a gentleman down on his luck, who achieves fame and fortune through hard work and ingenuity. In this case, the gentleman happens to be Morris, the most recognizable cat in the world. And Hinsdale Humane Society was the…
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In Search of Dogs
The New York Times reports that the modern canine may have originated in Asia, 15,000 years ago… by JAMES GORMAN Where do dogs come from? Gray wolves are their ancestors. Scientists are pretty consistent about that. And researchers have suggested that dogs’ origins can be traced to Europe, the Near East, Siberia and South China. Central Asia is…
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Cats in Literature:
If your cat’s priority is to help you succeed, good chance it’s a fairy tale… “Puss in Boots” — sometimes known as “The Booted Cat” — is a beloved fairy tale that’s been told countless times in books, on stage, in television and film. The original story, dating back to 1550, was written by Italian author…
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Dog Mummies
CNN filed this report on an amazing archeological find… by GREG BOTELHO For centuries, dogs have been humans’ loyal, domesticated companions. They’ve been wild animals, doing what’s needed to survive. And in ancient Egypt, they served as bridges to the afterlife, with the hope that they’d intercede with the god Anubis on their owner’s behalf. But…
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Dogs in Art
An ancient Egyptian carved ivory dog toy, circa 1400 b.c., housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City… The museum describes its features: “this leaping hunting dog can be made to snap it’s mouth using the lever beneath the chest. Originally secured by means of a thong tied through the hole in the back of…
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Dogs in Art:
An ancient Egyptian carved ivory dog toy, circa 1400 b.c., housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City… The museum describes its features: “this leaping hunting dog can be made to snap it’s mouth using the lever beneath the chest. Originally secured by means of a thong tied through the hole in the back of…
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Old Drum
The story behind Senator George Graham Vest‘s “Eulogy on the Dog”… from WIKIPEDIA George Graham Vest (December 6, 1830 – August 9, 1904) was a U.S. politician. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, he was known for his skills in oration and debate. Vest, a lawyer as well as a politician, served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate Congressman during the…
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K-9 History
An in-depth post by Jim Engel at Angel Place about the origins of Police dogs… by CHEIF KIMBALL P. VICKERY I have been an active police service dog handler and trainer for the past 16 years and have, during this time, given numerous presentations on police service dogs to school children, civic groups, and other interested organizations. One…
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