An Edinburgh dog trail – April 2020 (Hosted on Pet Histories: The AHRC Pets and Family Life Project Blog site).
There are so many lovely pet statues and memorials in Edinburgh. See how many you can find.
It’s all in the genes: is there a genetic component to the desire to have pets? – March 2020
Research has noted that pet-keeping seems to run in families. Of course, this might be an environmental or learned response. It may be that people who have grown up with pets simply repeat the experience in their own homes since that is what they’ve been used to. And yet, according to some research done in the US it seems that some people are still predisposed to seek out companion animals even if they weren’t brought up with them. Read more…
A London pet trail (about 4 miles by foot and tube) – January 2020
Our capital city is full of unexpected and quirky wonders and some of these are pet related! In the trail below you can encounter a small selection of cat and dog statues, as well as many other memorable sights along the way. Read more…
Four Talking Hounds – November 2019
Tucked away in a quiet, shady courtyard near to the bustling city centre of Leeds are four lovely hounds sat around a large and ornate bowl. The hounds form part of a fountain and the water spouts in their mouths almost make them look as though they’re smoking! Not only do these hounds form part of a water display, they can also talk! Read more…
The wolves (and dogs) of Inverness – October 2019
The Town House in Inverness was constructed around 1880 in the beautiful Flemish-Baronial style. However, until recently its grandeur was largely hidden beneath a covering while it underwent extensive refurbishment. As part of this restoration, a pair of wolf statues were carved by stonemasons, Derek Cunningham and Ivan Navarro, to replace two stone dogs that had once graced the house, but were believed to be lost forever. Read more…
A hidden gem and a discovered dog – August 2019
Down a little path, by some flats and opposite a rather inviting looking pub called The Fox under the Hill is one of those intriguing secret gems you can find all over London – unexpected, understated but wonderful! This is the Old Blue Cross Pet Cemetery. Read more…
New PM but same Chief Mouser? – July 2019
Yesterday Boris Johnson became our new Prime Minister. Needless to say he received wall to wall news coverage – it was Boris, Boris and more Boris. Will he stick to his pledges on Brexit? What is his domestic policy agenda? And, perhaps most importantly, what are his feelings on cats?! Read more…
Churchill’s feline legacy – July 2019
Churchill was a big fan of animals of all shapes and sizes and he maintained something of a menagerie at Chartwell with black swans, pigs, horses, cats and dogs, not to mention a Butterfly house. Towards the end of his life, he was given a ginger cat with white chest and socks as a birthday present from his private secretary, Jock Colville. Read more…
National K9 Memorial – July 2019
Around the world and particularly in countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, fallen service dogs are often commemorated with impressive ceremonies and memorials. It may surprise you to know that in the UK, until recently there was no national memorial to dogs lost on duty, save that is for a small plaque at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Read more…
Finn’s Law: a triumph for police dogs and their handlers – June 2019
It’s hard to believe but up until June this year if a police dog was injured on duty it was classed simply as criminal damage – much in the same way as damage to a car or radio. Now, thanks to the ceaseless campaigning from PC Wardell a new law has come in to protect service dogs and horses. Read more…
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