Pint-sized pups of the rich and famous are nothing new. Diminutive doggies have been occupying the laps of the wealthy since the dawn of civilization.
But what about the first-class Fidos of the RMS Titanic?
In a new exhibit, curators are putting a fresh spin on the tragedy by showcasing the dogs of the Titanic.
While researching families from Philadelphia who were on board the ill-fated liner, professor J. Joseph Edgette discovered and was touched by the tales of the ship’s four-legged passengers.
According to his research, there were 12 dogs who cruised on the Titanic alongside their first-class humans. Even then the rich took dogs with them everywhere! But because the dogs were considered cargo, there was no passenger list for them, until Edgette created a “pet manifest” from his research. Of the 12 dogs who set sail, only three survived.
“There is such a special bond between people and their pets. For many, they are considered to be family members,” Edgette says of the exhibit. “I don’t think any Titanic exhibit has examined that relationship and recognized those loyal family pets who also lost their lives on the cruise.”
The exhibit runs through May 12 at the Widener University Art Gallery in Philadelphia.
Image and story via Philly.com and Widener University
