Today is Patriots’ Day. A state holiday observed in Massachusetts and Maine commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775. That night the British Army set out from Boston to capture rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington […]
Did you know the first dog to star in movies came from Maine? Long before Air Bud, Lassie and even Toto, there was Jean, the Vitagraph Dog! Jean, a Collie from Eastport, Maine, was the first dog to have a leading role in a US motion picture during the silent film era. Not only that, […]
In honor of Presidents Day we’d like to pay tribute to two Presidential Golden Retrievers, Liberty and Victory. One lived at the White House during President Gerald Ford’s administration, and the other served as President Ronald Reagan’s personal confidant. Both stole the hearts of an entire nation. But of course they did. After all they […]
February 3rd is National Golden Retriever Day! To celebrate I’d like to share some fun facts about our favorite breed. The first Golden Retrievers were bred in 1868 by Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, also known as Lord Tweedmouth, at his Scottish Highlands estate of Guisachan. In his quest for the prefect gun dog and retriever for […]
I was watching Pilgrims: American Experience on PBS, when the narrator made a profound statement. After arriving at Cape Cod, a small group of Pilgrims set out to explore the area. On the beach in the distance they saw 6 men and a dog. The Native Americans stood and watched the Pilgrims for a moment, then “whistled […]
The Salem witch trials have captured the attention of historians for centuries. However, despite all the research and retellings, one fact often gets glossed over. Namely dogs were included among the innocent victims executed for being witches during the hysteria that gripped Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. Spoiler alert: the Salem witch trials had nothing […]
It is estimated that 35 million drivers will be hitting the road for Labor Day Weekend, and no doubt many of them will be traveling with their dogs. So today I share with you the story of Bud, an American Pit Bull Terrier, who is the first dog to go on a car ride across […]
In September 1961 Betty and Barney Hill, along with their dog, Delsey, were heading home to Portsmouth, New Hampshire after spending time in Montreal, Canada. It was late, and they were tired. However, after getting lost trying to find a dog friendly hotel on the outskirts of Montreal, they decided to head straight home. Little […]
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, I would like to pause to remember and give thanks to the fearless dogs who were among the first animals launched into space. Before humans could be sent into orbit, both the Soviet Union and the United States used animals to determine if space flight […]
As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, I’d like to pause to acknowledge the patriotic dogs that helped shape our country. After all, as every dog knows, behind every great human is an even more awesome pup. From being the constant companions of patriots during the early days of our country, to […]