South Africa is home to many indigenous animals, including over 200 mammal species. South Africa is best known for the “Big Five”: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. South Africa is also home to cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, kudus, wildebeest and zebra. There are eight whale species in South African waters. The most commonly seen whale […]
History and Culture
Pets have been around since ancient times, although the pet industry has grown and changed over time. Pets have an ancient history as well as a broad geography. They play a role in religion, art and politics.
Our treatment of animals varies from society to society and has changed a lot throughout history. The articles in this category tell the story of pets in our history and culture. Special attention has been given to countries around the world: the history and attitudes toward animals in each one.
Places:
- When euthanasia goes wrong
- Australia
- South Africa
- Italy
- Afghanistan
- Egypt
- Middle East
- Iran
- China
- Poland
- Spain
- Canary Islands
- Great Barrier Reef
- Indian Ocean
- Finland
- Israel
- Wales
- United States of America
- Tibet
- Thailand
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Russia
- Scotland
- Portugal
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Ireland
- Hungary
- Germany
- France
- England
- Canada
- Brazil
- Belgium
Famous People and Pets:
- George the Guinea Pig
- Rest in Peace Sam Simon
- Exotic Pets in History
- Well-Known Animal Trainers
- Movie/TV Cowboys and Their Horses
- Nathan J. Winograd
- Emperor Caligula and Incitatus
- Famous Veterinarians
- Beatrix Potter
- C.S. Lewis
- Anna Sewell
- U.S. Presidents and their Pets
- Alexander the Great and Bucephalus
- Pets in the Civil War
- Comanche – a Horse
- Black Jack
- Steve Irwin
- Winston Churchill’s Pets
General History and Culture:
- U.S. State Animal and Bird Symbols
- What Makes an Animal a Pet
- Why Do People Keep Wild Animals as Pets?
- Westminster Dog Show
- Horses in Warfare
- History of Pet Fish
- When Were Farm Animals Domesticated?
- Most Popular Cat Names in 2010
- Most Popular Dog Names in 2010
- History of Pets
- Poseidon and the Horse
- Single Women and Cats
- Pets in Literature
- Pets in Art
- Native American Animal Symbols
- Idioms Relating to Animals
- History of Pet Parrots
- Anthropomorphism of the Family Pet
Famous People and Pets
Animals and pets have formed a large part of our history and culture. We celebrate the roles of pets and their humans in our civilization. Alexander the Great and Bucephalus Anna Sewell Beatrix Potter Black Jack C.S. Lewis Comanche – a Horse Emperor Caligula and Incitatus Exotic Pets in History Famous Veterinarians George the Guinea […]
Iditarod Dog Sled Race
The Iditarod Dog Sled Race has been called the last great dog sled race. It covers 1,131 miles beginning in Anchorage, Alaska with a ceremonial start and ending in Nome. The official start is in Willow and the race is run yearly beginning on the first Saturday in March since 1973. Competition is high and […]
K9 German Shepherd
Your Vote Counts – American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards Sgt. Combs and 9 year old German Shepherd K9 Maxx have been working together for the last 7 1/2 years. Sgt Combs spends more time with Maxx then he does with his family. Maxx goes wherever he goes including vacations when permitted. He has been […]
Dogs in the Military
Dogs have been used in warfare since ancient times. In 628 BC, the Lydians deployed a battalion of fighting dogs and in 525 BC Cambyses II used huge fighting dogs against Egyptian spearmen and archers. The Romans trained dogs specifically for battle and equipped them with armor. During the Medieval period, royalty gave each other […]
Movie/TV Cowboys and Their Horses
In the heyday of the Western, the horses cowboys rode were as famous as their riders. Hopalong Cassidy played by William Boyd rode a white Arabian stallion named Topper. Hopalong’s original horse was King Nappy, but when injured, Topper took over. Clayton Moore played the part of “The Lone Ranger” in early TV. Many of […]
Amazing Creations Inspired by Animals
Amazingly, inventors and scientists have more often than not been inspired by studying animals and their habits. Many things we take for granted today we owe to these creatures. Artists and clothing designers have drawn inspiration by nature’s color schemes and designs. Here are some creations inspired by studying animals and that have benefited mankind. […]
Emperor Caligula and Incitatus
Incitatus was Roman Emperor Caligula’s favorite horse. The name is Latin for impetuous. Because Caligula took cruelty to extremes and his behavior was so bizarre, it is thought he may have been suffering from a mental disease. But the one thing Caligula did love was his horse Incitatus. Stories about his treatment of Incitatus abound. […]
Famous Veterinarians
James Herriot was the pen name of James Alfred Wight, a Scottish veterinarian who was born in 1916. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet. This book and some of his other stories were collected in a book called […]
Chinese New Year and Animals
Legend tells us that Buddha called all the animals to his side before he left the Earth. Only 12 animals responded and came to say goodby. Buddha rewarded these 12 by naming a year after each one in the order of their arrival. The Chinese belief is that the animal in the year of a […]