All the News That's Fit to Bark!
Different angles on one enduring subject. Follow the sources in each story, compare the evidence, and make room for a surprise.
Historical collection imageUnknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
In 1928, a German shepherd originally named Kiss became Buddy and helped launch guide dog work in America after training at a Swiss center with her blind partner Morris Frank.
Historical collection imageCopyright: Copyright © Carrie McLain Museum / AlaskaStock · CC0 1.0
A veteran Siberian husky and his musher completed an 84-mile nonstop push over fractured sea ice during the relay that delivered diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska.
PhotographSmithsonian Institution · CC0 1.0
Preserved by the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, Owney’s story offers a glimpse into the working lives of late-19th-century postal clerks and the bonds they formed with an adopted stray.
PhotographUSDAgov · Public domain
Specially trained beagles and their handlers inspect international luggage for prohibited fruit, vegetables, and meat, reducing risks to American agriculture from pests and diseases.
PhotographThe formation of the United States Border Collie Club in 1975 and the first handler clinic in 1976 helped bring structured herding events to a country that previously had almost none.
PhotographConquistadors brought large mastiffs to the Americas in the early 1500s. Contemporary accounts describe the animals creating fear among Indigenous fighters.
Historical collection imageFrank H. Nowell · Public domain
Centuries-old sledding methods once used to carry mail and supplies across Alaska continue to influence working traditions and cultural pride among northern dog teams today.
PhotographRecognized by international kennel organizations, this unique hairless breed has ties to South American history, though its precise role in pre-colonial textile traditions remains uncertain.