American cartoonist Charles Schulz based his comic character Snoopy on his family’s Basset hound Spike. In later strips a dog called Spike appears as Snoopy’s brother.
Bobby was a Skype terrier who faithfully guarded his master’s grave at Greyfriars, Edinburgh, for 14 years from 1858. The true story of the devoted dog has been the subject of books and films.
The English poet’s cocker spaniel became famous from Virginia Woolf’s book Flush: A Biography (1933), which looks at the world from the dog’s point of view.
Millie, the springer spaniel belonging to US president George Bush (senior) had a bestselling “autobiography'” Millie’s Book, written by First Lady Barbara Bush
British artist Francis Barraud sold a painting called His Master’s Voice to the Gramophone company. It showed his dog Nipper listening to a gramophone. The company adopted it as its trademark and later changed its company name to His Master’s Voice or HMV.
In 1944, Lena, an American foxhound, produced 23 puppies all of which survived. Other dogs have equalized this record, but not all the pups have survived.
American psychology professor and pet trainer Stanley Coren ranked. 133 breeds of dogs for intelligence. He studied their responses to a range of IQ tests, as well as the opinions of dog obedience judges. The five top breeds were the border collie, poodle, German shepherd, golden retriever and Doberman pinscher.
Tabby was one of the first White House Cats. More recent examples include J.F. Kennedy’s Tom kitten, Ronald Reagan’s Cleo and Sara and Bill Clinton’s Socks.
Williamina was called William until she had a litter of kittens. One of these, known as The master’s Cat, used to put out Dickens’s candle with its paw.
A black kitten turned up at 10 Dowring Street on 10 October 1953 and Churchill adopted it. It was named Margate to commemorate an important speech Churchill was to make in the town that day. Later cats in Number 10 have included Harold Wilson’s Nemo and Margaret Thatcher’s Wilberforce. Humphrey, a stray cat, moved in with Mrs Thatcher and stayed o n with john Major and then Tony Blair.
These totals include cats, dogs, birds, fish, small mammals and reptiles. USA 363,,268,690 China 274,103,310 Germany 77,495,000 Brazil 72,026,640 France 67,150,000 Japan 66,451,000 Russia 60,075,000 Italy 59,850,00 UK 49,281,00 Turkey 41,001,580 Philippines 31,604,030 Netherlands 29,713,000 Mexico 26,978,440 Canada 25,463,00
There are several contenders for this little. The most reliable record is that of the French-born cat Grandpa Rex’s Allen. This was a Sphynx cat owned by Jake Perry of Austin, Texas, USA. The cat died in 1998 at the age of 34.
Himmy, owned by Thomas Vyse of Queensland, Australia, weighed 21.3 kg. He had a 38.1 cm neck and an 84 cm waist – similar to that of an adult human! He died in 1986 at the age of ten.
There are amazing stories of cats and dogs that travel great distances home after getting separated from their owners. Bobbie, a collie dog, made one of the longest journeys. He was lost on a family holiday in Indiana, USA, on 15 August 1923, Six months later, he arrived home in Silverton, Oregon, 4828 km away. He became known as Silverston Bobbie, the Wonder Dog of Oregon.
Just over half (52.3 per cent) of the households in the UK own a pet, ranging from dogs, cats and rabbits to the more exotic snakes and spiders. Cat 6,100,800 households (hh) Dog 5,232,800 hh Goldfish 2,033,600 hh Fish in ponds 1,711,200 hh Tropical fish 967,200 hh Budgerigar 694,400 hh Hamster 620,000 hh Bird* 520,800 hh Guinea pig 464,400 hh Fish in aquariums 372,000 hh Other rodent (rats, mice) 372,000 hh Reptile 258,000 hh Parrot 248,000 hh Horse or pony 223,200 hh Canary 198,400 hh * Other than budgerigars and canaries
Avian or bird flu is a disease that affects domesticated and wild birds. In recent years, a type known as H5N1 has killed many birds, and a small number of people who have been in contact with them. Experts fear that if the virus mutates it could start to pass from human to human.
The warhorse is one of the most familiar of all military animals, but elephants have also been successfully used in battles. Many military organizations use dogs, goats and other animals as regimental mascots. Message-carrying dogs and carrier pigeons have been used by armies. During the Iraq war in 2004, dolphins were trained to find mines.
Sheepdogs, hunting hounds, retrievers and guide dogs for the blind are among the best known, but other animals, such as monkeys, can be trained to aid the disabled. Search and rescue dogs help to find missing people, lost walkers and climbers, and earthquake victims. Less well-known human helpers include pigs used to find truffles (edible fungi) and cats kept by the British Post Office to prevent mice from eating the mail! Animals kept as pets also provide millions of people with championship.
Strong animals such as horses, donkeys, camels, reindeer and buffalo are used to pull agricultural equipment and carts, and to carry people. Elephants drag heavy logs, pit ponies once drew trucks in coal mines, and dogs – usually huskies – pull sledges
