Prepare to paw-se for a moment and take a “hiss-torical” journey with our Pets in History section. Forget Cleopatra and Napoleon; we’re digging up the real power players, like the royal dogs that actually ran the palace or the cats that may have out-schemed Machiavelli. From ancient Egyptian felines worshipped as gods to World War II hero pups, we’re shining a light (or should we say, a laser pointer?) on the unsung fur-heroes who’ve shaped the world as we know it. Dive into “tails” of political intrigue, romance, and yes, the occasional dumpster dive, all featuring the four-legged companions who were the real MVPs—Most Valuable Pets. It’s the history lesson you wish you had in school, minus the snooze factor. Get ready for a wag-nificent time-travel experience!
Pets in History
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Flossie is officially the World’s Oldest Cat at 27 years old
Just a few weeks from her 27th birthday, Flossie has been crowned The World's Oldest Cat by Guinness World Records.
The Three Most Famous Dog Heroes of World War II
There are more canine heroes than we can count who have helped humans in times of war. We’re going to share the stories of three war dogs that are considered among the most accomplished dogs of World War II.
A tribute to Eclipse – Seattle’s bus-riding dog
Eclipse, Seattle’s Bus Riding Dog was one lovely and smart doggo that brought joy to her community and the world. And she didn’t have to save a boy stuck in a well or any other heroic feat to do this. It was something much more simple to us humans, but still incredibly inspiring – She would regularly take a city bus, all by herself, to visit her favourite dog park.
Meet Reas the Whippet, America’s fastest dog!
After coming in first last year, Reas the Whippet successfully defended his title after winning the Fast CAT competition at the 2022 Fastest Dogs USA. And Reas wasn’t born and star and actually started from the bottom. He was the last puppy to find a human after his four siblings four years ago.
Owen the hippo and Mzee the tortoise: A one-of-a-kind friendship
One uniquely heartwarming story that came from the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, is the story of Owen the hippo and Mzee the tortoise. Also known as the Boxing Day Tsunami, this tsunami resulted from the third-largest recorded earthquake in history. While it happened in Asia, it was so strong it even affected the east coast of Africa 4,000 miles away.
Behold! The Royal Swedish Lion of Gripsholm Castle!
This is the Royal Lion of Gripsholm Castle, found in Sweden. He was one of the first lions to end up in Scandinavia when he was gifted to King Frederick of Sweden in 1731. He lived at the Royal Game Park in Stockholm, along with other large wild cats and exotic animals.
The Story of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog that stayed by his owner’s grave for 14 years
Image via Wikimedia / Public Domain Born in 1855, Bobby, better known as Greyfriars Bobby, was a very very good boy and a Skye terrier (With recent news suggesting he was actually a Dandie Dinmont terrier). His story starts with a gardener named John gray and his family moving to the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. Gray couldn’t find work as a gardener and ended up working as a night watchman.
The Story of Mike, The Bartending Dog
Mike, a sheep dog-terrier mix, whose bartending skills made him a legend that’s still remembered after 80 years! He worked at the tavern at the Bowser Hotel on Vancouver Island in the late 1930s/early 1940s. (Via Vancouver Archives) And what we want to make clear is Mike was a LEGIT bartender, not just some dog who hung out at the bar getting free treats and pets. On command, Mike would deliver a bottle of beer to a table and place it upright.
The Inspiring Story of Peabody – The World’s Smallest Miniature Horse
Born on May 7, 2021, and growing to only 16.5 inches tall and 19 pounds, Peabody was the world’s smallest horse. He had a rough start to life, born with dwarfism, misshapen legs and jaw, along with being completely deaf. He was so short he wasn’t able to reach up to drink milk from his mother.
Great Dane Named The Tallest Live Male Dog By Guinness World Records
Just last month TobyKeith was named the oldest living dog in the world. This month, Zeus, a Great Dane, takes the title of “the tallest live male dog” by the Guinness World Records. ” Zeus has absolutely changed our family,” Brittany Davis told Guinness World Records about Zeus, who is 3 feet and 5.18 inches tall standing on all four paws.