Homing pigeons saved thousands of lives during both World Wars.  Despite amazing technological progress in warfare during the early 20^th century, there were times when the military needed to rely on other methods of communication. An estimated 500,000 homing pigeons were used in the first World War. It was an old “technology” for new warfare.

Sometimes the front line moved forward faster than the Signal Corps could string new wiring for telephones or telegraphs. At other points lines were severed, cutting off communication.  Messengers on foot, on horseback or traveling by motorcycle were open targets and were frequently injured or killed.

Homing pigeons were fast and reliable. They seemed to appear out of nowhere, and that helped them get through. Pigeons could also work despite bombardments, dust, smoke, fog, and bad weather.  But they were not totally trouble-free. The military needed soldiers who understood pigeon care and could assure that the pigeons were in good health for arduous flights through dangerous territory. The birds were sometime needed to fly 300-600 miles.

The key to pigeon use was getting them where they needed to be. Homing pigeons are a one-way communication system. The birds can be dropped off in many locations, but they only fly one direction—-home. That said, birds can imprint on a pigeon loft different from the one where it was born. The military tried to breed pigeons near where they would be needed, but often, they had to teach the pigeons to return to a new home.

Where Were Pigeons Used?

Pigeons served in every military branch. Tanks dispatched pigeons to relay locations of hidden machine gun nests. Pilots launched the birds midair to quickly transmit reconnaissance information. Ships and sea planes that traveled relatively close to shore carried pigeons. If there were radio failures or emergencies, the pigeons were released so the crews could be found.

During World War I, some reconnaissance was conducted via hot air balloon. Rather than trying to string a telegraph wire up to a balloon, it was easy and efficient to take pigeons. When a message needed to be sent, it was attached to the pigeon and the bird was released. After leaving the balloon, pigeons generally circled once to get oriented and then flew directly for its loft.

How the Pigeon Story Began

Homing pigeons have been used throughout world history. As far back as the Greeks, pigeons were used to carry messages as well as for the sport of pigeon racing.

Pigeon use expanded as the Ottoman Empire grew and stretched across vast territory during the 14^th century.  Pigeon fanciers developed a “pigeon relay.”

Towers were built at intervals of about every 30-40 miles with pigeon lofts atop each tower. Sentinels were on continuous watch. When a pigeon arrived, the message was taken off the bird and transferred to another bird to carry the message on the next leg of the flight. This process was repeated across the territory.

Reuters News Service

Even with the telegraph available, Reuters News Service, a prominent news agency, opted to use pigeons for transmitting the latest news and stock prices between Germany and Belgium in 1850. They determined that birds were faster than the railway and more reliable than the newly developed telegraph. Reuters maintained at least 45 working pigeons in the company lofts.

Siege of Paris

At few times in history were pigeons more important than in the Siege of Paris (September 1870-January 1871).  Napoleon was under the impression that the French Army was more powerful than the Prussian military. When he declared war on Prussia in July of 1870, he was quickly surprised.

The Prussian Army was unified and well-trained, and they quickly moved forward to surround Paris. They cut telegraph lines and closed all paths into and out of the city.

Parisians soon saw that the only way to communicate was via homing pigeon. They needed to get their pigeons out of Paris so that the French military could send back news to those under siege.

Small hot air balloons with baskets containing 2-3 pigeons were employed to send out pigeons and information. Those on the outside retrieved the pigeons and sent them back with messages.

Though the Parisians could receive news, the Prussians effectively blocked the food supply. The French eventually had no choice but to surrender. The people were starving.

The Source of Birds in World War I

The homing pigeon is a feral pigeon, descended from the Rock Dove (Columba livia). The Rock Dove weighs about 1 pound, and they are powerful fliers. These birds can fly 12-15 hours per day, covering 500-700 miles. The average speed of the motivated flier can range from 30-60 mph. In a sprint, some homing pigeons have been timed traveling 90 mph.

The wild Rock Dove has an inherent homing instinct, which is the basis for the abilities of its descendants. (City pigeons are also feral pigeons but the homing instinct has not been reinforced by breeding.)

In Europe in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, pigeon racing using homing pigeons was a popular hobby. Once the military realized they might need fliers, they contacted hobbyists. Belgian citizens were particularly involved in the sport, so they quickly began working with the military to build needed lofts for the birds and to increase breeding.

How Do Pigeons Navigate?

For birds that are bred for racing or message-carrying, scientists have developed several theories for the “instinct of orientation.” They recognize that these birds have an instinctive ability to know where to go, but scientists note that they also have heightened perception of atmospheric pressure as well as excellent sight. Pigeons seem to see in color and can focus telescopically.

The more recent understanding of homing pigeons comes from zoologist William T. Keeton (1933-1980). He worked with pigeons over a period of years and discovered that they have tiny magnetic particles in their beaks. Their sense of the earth’s magnetic field tells them where they are and shows them where they need to be.

Scientists say that as pigeons get closer to home, they switch from “compass” navigation to visual navigation. They have excellent memories.  Since their vision is good, they can use visual cues. They sometimes take a slightly longer route because it is a path that is familiar to them. 

The United States Makes Pigeon Preparation

One of the contributions the U.S. made even before they entered the war was commissioning mobile pigeon lofts for the Allies. They contacted D.M. Sechler Carriage Company in Ohio, to build mobile pigeon lofts that could be shipped overseas.  The intent was to have lofts that could be moved along with the fighting.

Next, the U.S. Signal Corps needed to find men who could work with pigeons. The ideal candidates were American pigeon racers. The sport was not as poplar as in Europe, but there were pigeon clubs in the U.S.

The need for birds was so great that the military purchased birds from American breeders, but they knew they needed to establish breeding lofts in Europe so that the birds would acclimate more quickly.

The first U.S. Pigeon Service eventually included 50 mobile lofts, nine officers, 324 soldiers, and 6000 pigeons.

How Are the Birds Trained?

The process of training homing pigeons is consistent. Young birds are given time to acclimate to the pigeon loft that will be their home base. Once they are suitably settled, they are sent out for short flights. Most pigeon handlers have whistles or calls they can use to help educate the birds as to how to come home.

As the birds become familiar with the sights, sounds and atmosphere of their area, the pigeon handlers take the birds farther and farther away. They may start with a release that is just two miles away. Over time the distance is extended until the birds are sufficiently trained.  

Occasionally birds become disoriented or pause for a time, but unless they are killed, almost all birds find their way home.

Traveling by Basket

Homing pigeons are accustomed to traveling by basket, so the military got to work at creating ways to carry them into the field.  Small baskets were appropriate for many situations (tanks and ships, for example), but soldiers in the infantry and bicycle messengers were given backpacks fitted with bird  baskets.

Because dogs were often part of message systems, special harnesses were crafted. Two baskets were attached firmly to each side of the harness. When seen from afar, the dogs appeared to have wings. These dogs often needed canine gas masks to get through war zones. Once outfitted with the mask and the baskets, the dogs could have been mistaken for flying monsters as they dashed through a battlefield.

Pigeons traveling with spies were the only birds that didn’t need baskets. These birds were used to being tucked under a coat or inside clothing.  When the spy carrying the pigeon was ready to send a message, he wrote the note, inserted it into the pigeon’s leg tube and released their bird.

Pigeon handlers were taught not to coop birds up for too long. If the bird was enclosed for up to 48 hours, they were not in good shape for flight.

Soldiers were also told not to feed the birds too close to flight time. They needed to be hungry enough to go home right away but not so hungry that they stopped for a snack.

Bird Threats and Enemies

Enemy armies were well aware of how important the pigeons were. If pigeons were in active use, the military knew that there were would be enemy gunfire. Because snipers on both sides of any fight were quite good at what they did, two pigeons were always sent carrying the same message. If one pigeon was killed, the other bird might escape with the information. 

In addition to gunfire, birds of prey were a danger. Some were birds that were simply out in the wild, but opposing military also brought in hawks and Peregrine falcons as part of the defense arsenal.

But there was a catch. Birds of prey were clueless when it came to identifying pigeon allegiances. The German army also used homing pigeons, so if their own birds were being sent out with messages, they had to hold off on releasing the birds of prey.

How the Messages Were Carried

Messenger dogs had collars that could hold messages, but pigeons were free of encumbrance. While there were some variations, most messages were carried in small aluminum tubes attached to a bird’s leg. The tube was closed at both ends to keep rain or water from seeping in.

Occasionally messages were tied to a tail feather, but these messages were more vulnerable to damage than those attached to a leg.  

Messages ranged from short, handwritten notes to multiple messages that were photographed and reduced in size so that a number of missives could be sent. It was not uncommon for a pigeon tube to hold 15 feet of film negatives. Occasionally, these could be viewed in the field using a magic lantern. Other times the film needed to be developed and sent on.

The soldiers responsible for sending messages carried pigeons and supplies as well as protective cloths to cover the pigeon baskets in case of gas attack. Every pigeon unit had message books with carbons so that copies could be made.

In the military, lofts where message-carrying pigeons returned were rigged with a bell system. When the bird arrived, the soldiers in charge were notified by the tinkling of the bell.

A Well-Known Dog and Pigeon Story

Perhaps one of the best-known stories of message-carrying during World War I involved a messenger dog as well as two pigeons.

In 1916, the ancient city of Verdun was under attack. Its location on the Meuse River was at a cross-roads where armies could travel north and south as well as east and west. The Germans felt if they could destroy Verdun they would effectively wipe out French resistance.

Fighting had gone on for almost 10 months, but the Germans seemed to be closing in. They had taken position on a ridge overlooking Verdun and were preparing for a final attack.

At French headquarters, officers wanted to send word that they were sending more military units. They hoped that there would be a way to get word from Verdun as to what they might expect.

Seventeen Messengers Killed

Seventeen soldiers had been killed carrying messages, so the French military turned to Satan, a messenger dog in their K-9 unit. One of Satan’s handlers was trapped in Verdun. If they turned Satan loose, he would head as directly as possible for his handler. A message was inserted in the tube on Satan’s collar, and he was outfitted with a harness carrying two pigeon baskets. He also wore a gas mask.

Satan was released, and he headed off on a zig-zag pattern as he had been trained to do to confuse snipers. There was underbrush on the battlefield for part of his run. As he neared Verdun, he had to cross an open field. A German sniper fired and hit him. Satan went down, then staggered up again. The men called to him. Finally, French soldiers were close enough to dash out to carry him in.

The message on his collar was received with relief, and the commander quickly wrote a return message. The pigeons in Satan’s baskets were taken out. Messages were attached, and the birds were released.

As they feared, one bird was shot immediately. The other pigeon fluttered at first, but ultimately rose into the sky, taking with him the hopes of the citizens.

 One hour later, the French successfully targeted and brought down the Germans on the ridge. At last Verdun was free.

After the War, What About the Pigeons?

After World War I, there was disagreement as to what to do with the pigeons. It was a difficult question, as there were thousands of pigeons that had been part of the pigeon brigade. Many thought that they should be left in Europe, but General Pershing’s Signal Officer Colonel Edgar Russel wanted to bring them home. Russel knew the pigeons told an important story.

Ultimately, the Signal Corps selected 32 pigeons deemed as heroes, 10 captured German pigeons, and 132 birds that were ideal for breeding.

The rest of the pigeons were available to be purchased at auction. Soldiers could bid on their particular favorites. Others would be given to French and British military.

Pigeons in World War II

By World War II, pigeons were still needed but in fewer numbers.

One of the primary needs for the pigeons was for information gathering.   Emergency communication needs still occurred but this was a day before drones, and the military needed help with reconnaissance.

When the United States put out a call for pigeons in January of 1942, they received enthusiastic support. The American Racing Pigeon Union and the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers both stepped forward to help. Many valuable birds were donated. One shipment from New York City consisted of 52,000 birds. Pigeon breeding stations were also set up in Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas.

Pigeon Cameras

Pigeon cameras were invented between the two wars, permitting pigeons to be the forerunners of drones. The birds could fly behind enemy lines and come home with a photographic record of what was happening.

Maidenform factories were already making parachutes for the war. They were soon commissioned to make camera-carrying vests. The vests were made of netting and were form-fitting for the birds, leaving wings, head, and feet all available for flying.

From April 1941-September 1944, the British used pigeons to track what was happening on the ground behind enemy lines. Pigeons were placed in containers with parachutes attached. Planes could drop them behind enemy lines. The  parachutes gave the birds a softer landing.

Resistance fighters as well as regular citizens picked up the birds, and sent back information. The Allies received everything from vital intelligence on Nazi plans to daily reality of life under Nazi regime.

D-Day News Reports

Author Cornelius Ryan wrote that correspondents on Juno Beach during WWII had no communication method until Ronald Clark of the UPI wire service came ashore with two baskets of carrier pigeons. The correspondents wrote their stories, inserted them into the aluminum capsules, and released the birds.

To read about some of the pigeons who were war heroes, click on Cher Ami and Other Heroes.

Use During Peacetime

Some homing pigeons were used long after the war.

One hospital in Granville, France, used pigeons to send blood samples inland to a test lab in Avranches. The drive time was about 30 minutes, and pigeons could deliver the samples in 25 minutes. They maintained this system until the pigeon keeper died in 1992.

Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901), grandson of William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), served as U.S. President from 1889-1893. When he moved to Washington, D.C. most of Harrison’s grown family also moved in to the Executive Mansion with him. They also brought pets. Dash was the most-often mentioned dog who came in with the family, but there were other mixed breed dogs, and two opossums named Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection. There was also a good-sized goat called Old Whiskers.

Who was Benjamin Harrison?

If you draw a blank when you think of President Benjamin Harrison, you are not alone. Here is a bit of background:  Benjamin Harrison served as a Republican senator from Indiana from 1881-1887. He was then chosen to run against the incumbent president, Grover Cleveland. Cleveland took strong stands against the “spoils system” of governmental job distribution, and he felt the railroads needed to be regulated. Cleveland also believed tariffs needed to be lowered to get more U.S. money back into circulation. Cleveland’s initiatives angered men who benefitted from the spoils system as well as from fewer regulations.

Those men stepped forward to back Benjamin Harrison. Harrison intended to run an honest campaign but the powers behind him encouraged vote-buying and worker intimidation. Republican National Chairman Matthew Quay set aside party money to buy votes in two important states—Indiana and New York.

Harrison lost the popular vote by 100,000 votes, but he won the Electoral College by a huge margin. Harrison had 233 electoral votes to Cleveland’s 168.

Moving to the Executive Mansion

Today extended family members don’t usually live with the First Family. This was not the case with the Harrisons. Harrison moved in with his wife, Caroline, his father-in-law, John Scott, and his and Caroline’s two grown children. Both of them were married with children of their own.

Son Russell Benjamin Harrison (1854-1936), may have only lived there with his family for only the first year or so. In 1890, he bought the Helena Daily Journal and moved to Montana where they had lived previously. The goat, Old Whiskers, was said to belong to him. Perhaps he didn’t transport the goat when the rest of the family moved.

Harrison’s daughter, Mary “Mamie” Scott Harrison McKee (1858-1930) lived in the Executive Mansion with her family for the full four years her father was in office. Her children, particularly, Baby McKee, became very popular with the press.

Caroline, Harrison’s wife (1832-1892), was very committed to charity work while her husband was president. She also wanted to enlarge the home, perhaps because of the number of people they had living there. Caroline Harrison had applied to Congress for funds for expansion. Congress do was appropriate $35,000 for updating.  She installed new floors, added more bathrooms, and painted and papered. In 1891, she had electricity installed (the latest home convenience for the wealthy). But both she and the President feared being electrocuted. They left the lights each night until a building engineer arrived in the morning and could turn them off.

Toward the end of Harrison’s term, Caroline became ill and died unexpectedly. Daughter Mary filled in as First Lady during this time.

The Animals in the Executive Mansion

Of the dogs that lived with the family, Dash was the best known. He was a mixed-breed collie that may have actually belonged to Caroline. The president had a fancy doghouse built right next to the mansion.  Though Dash was definitely a family pet, writers note that Dash often wanted attention from the President. Harrison was reportedly uncomfortable playing with the dog.  He feared “his colleagues would think of him as less of a man.”

The Opossums

The opossums were said to be gifts for the grandchildren, but their names were clearly chosen by an adult: They were called Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection, clearly taken from the Republican platform. “Protection and reciprocity are twin measures of Republican policy and go hand-in-hand.”

According to the Library of Congress, many local newspapers carried a mention of the oposssums’ arrival at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. A newspaper in Clifton, South Dakota, (June 25 (page 2 column 1), 1892, carried a more detailed story: “Some time ago President Harrison expressed a wish to Uncle Jerry Rusk (secretary of agriculture) for two good ‘possums as soon as frost set in. The other morning two fine young ‘possums were received at the White House. These were delivered by Adams Express Company, and were in a box marked: ‘To the President: Two citizens of Maryland—Mr. Protection and Mr. Reciprocity—with the compliments of John R. Howlett, No. 1411 N street northwest.’ Each of the animals had a red, white, and blue ribbon round his neck, one marked “protection” and the other “reciprocity.”

Old Whiskers on the Run

One day while President Harrison was waiting at the North Portico to be picked up by his carriage and driver, Old Whiskers pulling a cart carrying the grandchildren, bolted through the White House gate. A newspaper reporter described Harrison holding on to his top hat and running down Pennsylvania Avenue in active pursuit of the goat and cart. Dash ran right along with him. 

The scene must have had a happy ending as there is no further newspaper story.

More of Family Life

An article in the February 15, 1891 issue of The New York Times wrote about life at1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with the Harrisons. The reporter clearly had a source on staff who must have complained about “Indianapolis simplicity.” The article described the family’s love for codfish balls and flapjacks, Indiana specialties. The woman brought in to cook for the Harrisons noted that her people “couldn’t abide by fancy cooking.” Tthe Times’ reporter writes that the breakfasts now being served (hot bread, strong coffee, and fried steak) would not meet with the approval of an “effete New York epicure.”

While I hoped I might find more information about the family pets, I am still laughing at the final paragraph of the story:

“[Harrison’s} devotion to his grandchildren has even allowed them to participate in the observance of state occasions.  He invited the Brazilian Admiral Silviera to luncheon one day. He attended. So also did the President’s young grandson.  The three were at table, the grandson in his high chair.

“During a conversation between the two gentlemen it occurred to the grandson that he might possibly add to the gayety [sic] of nations by thumping vigorously on the table. He made the dishes jump. Silviera frowned. The President didn’t mind it, but he directed the child to be quiet. Thereupon the grandson leaned back in the chair, raised his feet in the air, and brought them down repeatedly on the table.

“See,” cried the President in gleeful simplicity. “See how well he obeys me!”

Harrison One-Termer

Ultimately, Benjamin Harrison lost the next election. Grover Cleveland regained the presidency.  Harrison passed the McKinley Tariff, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and saw the admittance of six states to the union. He also advocated for protecting the voting rights of African Americans, though nothing happened at that time.

There was one amazing first during the Harrison era. He was the earliest president whose voice has been preserved for posterity. The recording was made on a wax phonograph cylinder in 1889 by Giuseppe Bettini.  Click here to listen to this 36-second recording.

One Final Family Note: William Henry Harrison

Benjamin Harrison was not the first family member to serve as President. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison (1889-1893) was elected to be the ninth president of the United States, taking office in March of 1841. Unfortunately, he caught a cold around the time he took office. He soon had pneumonia, and he died on his 32nd day of office.

Because the stories on my website try to note the animals that the presidents brought with them, I should mention that William Henry Harrison would have moved in with horses and also a goat and a Durham cow named Sukey.

Harrison’s vice president was John Tyler. Tyler served as president from 1841-1845.

Calvin and Grace Coolidge had many pets throughout their lifetimes, but not all of them were suited for life in Washington, D.C.

When President Warren G. Harding died of a heart attack in the summer of 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as president on August 3, 1923. The Coolidge family’s move into the White House happened quickly.

As any family would, they moved with the pets they had. For those that were not suited to life in the presidential residence, the Coolidges found other homes.

The American public soon learned that the Coolidges were “pet people,” and from 1923-1929, various animals were presented, delivered, and dropped off to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

As for Coolidge’s term in office—the public welcomed him as a breath of fresh air. Warren Harding’s administration was plagued by scandal (the Teapot Dome Scandal among them).

Coolidge brought in a sense of propriety. He was a quiet man, and he oversaw a time of rapid and expansive economic growth (the “Roaring Twenties”). He also signed into law the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans.

The Early White House Dogs

Peter Pan, a terrier, came with the Coolidges to the White House. He did not like the hustle and bustle of Washington life, so the Coolidges found a quieter home for him.

Paul Pry, an Airedale, was the next dog to arrive, and he was fiercely loyal to the Coolidges. He was so protective that he would not permit the housekeepers to enter a room where the President was. This clearly didn’t work.

The animals that had staying power were two white collies named Prudence Prim and Rob Roy. Both were acquired during the presidency and were frequently photographed with the President or First Lady.

The White Collies

Prudence Prim was acquired first from Shomont White Collies, a kennel in Monticello, Iowa. About a year later, the Coolidges wanted another dog from the same breeder. This time, they obtained a male collie who had been working on a farm in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Known as Oshkosh to the farmer, the dog helped herd the cows as needed.

When the collie arrived at the White House, Grace Coolidge gave him a new name: Rob Roy, inspired by the popular cocktail. Since the the Prohibition era continued, this was perhaps a playful nod to the times. Rob Roy quickly adjusted to his new life and became a favorite of President Coolidge.

Many of the photos of the Coolidges show them with a white collie. Research accompanying the photos most often specify Rob Roy as the dog pictured. But perhaps Prudence Prim was sometimes the white collie in question. She was said to be constantly by Grace Coolidge’s side.

Still More Dogs

After the white collies were in place, the Cooldiges acquired Beans, a Boston bulldog. Beans had the temperament of a top dog, and this caused friction with Rob Roy who felt that he was in charge. The Coolidges soon sent Beans to Mrs. Coolidge’s mother who lived in Northampton, Massachusetts.

A chow whom Grace Coolidge called Tiny Tim moved in for a time, but the President found him to be more aptly titled “Terrible Tim.” He too was given to a good home.

King Cole, an all-black Belgian Groenendael, was a gift to the Coolidges. However, King Cole was skittish around new people. A schoolteacher in Kentucky was chosen to be the new owner of the Belgian sheepdog.

A Trip to the Black Hills with Pets

In 1927, when the Coolidge family planned a summer journey to the Black Hills, both Rob Roy and Prudence Prim were chosen to go along. During the trip, the family acquired yet another dog—this one was an all-black chow they named Blackberry. When they arrived in Washington, they presented Blackberry to the woman their son John planned to marry.

Sadly, Prudence Prim became ill during the trip and died. The press wrote of Mrs. Coolidge’s sadness.

One family responded by sending their white collie to the Coolidges. They somehow arranged for the dog to travel on an airplane (this was 1927). Air transport for pets must have been even worse then than it is today. The dog—named Calamity Jane—and later called Diana, was covered in grease. According to The New York Times (8-28-1927), early photos of the dog revealed a spotted collie. When the grease was washed out of her coat, she was indeed a white collie.

Rebecca the Raccoon

In 1926, a live raccoon—later named Rebecca—was sent to the White House from Nitta Yuma, Mississippi. The sender hoped it would be served for Thanksgiving dinner at the White House.

Before the animal could be taken to the kitchen, Grace Coolidge stepped in. She felt the raccoon was docile and seemed affectionate. Though Rebecca often had the run of the White House, they also created an outdoor pen around a tree for her. Reuben, another raccoon was acquired as a companion, but he soon escaped.

This loss of Reuben did not dampen their commitment to Rebecca. The President was said to sometimes walk with Rebecca around his neck. Grace Coolidge was frequently photographed with Rebecca in her arms. (Rebecca was less popular with the staff. She sometimes used her long claws to shred furniture and even ladies’ stockings.)

When plans were made for the family to visit the Black Hills, Rebecca was included along with Roy Roy and Prudence Prim.

When they returned, Rebecca seemed restless and left the White House grounds a time or two. The family eventually decided she needed to be placed at the zoo.

Cats That Came and Went

Felines came and went in the White House. Then, as now, it’s not easy to keep track of a cat’s whereabouts. The two cats who began in the White House, Tige and Blacky, were not “keepers.” Tige liked to wander and when he was eventually found, he had gone as far as the Lincoln Memorial.

The President decided Tige should wear a collar with a brass label engraved with “White House” on it. However, this may have just been an attraction for someone. The next time Tige disappeared, he never came back.

Blacky lasted for a couple of years but was prone to hunting and bringing home his catch. That soon became tiresome for Grace Coolidge and White House staff.

Birds Came, Too

During the early part of the twentieth century, birds were common household pets. Wealthy families kept their birds in elaborate cages, and everything from canaries to parrots and more exotic pets were treasured.

The Coolidge family had at least two canaries at the White House. There may also have been a mockingbird and a blue and yellow bird that was brought to  them from South Africa. This bird was also a favorite of the First Lady.

Other Animals

In addition, the Coolidges received a wallaby, a bobcat (“Smoky Bob”), a black bear, a donkey, a duiker (small antelope) and two lion cubs (named Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau). The President hoped the cubs could be kept at the White House for a time. However, when they arrived, they were half-grown. He quickly saw they belonged at the zoo.

Billy, the Pygmy Hippo

Billy the pygmy hippo was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1927. Firestone had a rubber plantation in Liberia. When he came upon a pygmy hippo, he thought it would be a perfect gift for Coolidge.

Pygmy hippos are actually not so “pygymy.” Billy was 6 feet long and weighed about 600 pounds. There were only eight other pygmy hippos in the country at the time, so the zoo was delighted. Not only was Billy famous as an exotic presidential pet, he proved to be a wonderful mate for Hannah, a hippo acquired for Billy. Together they had fifteen calves. Billy fathered a few more with another mate at the zoo. 

Make Room for Ducklings

During his presidency, Coolidge received 13 Pekin ducks (a type of domestic duck from Long Island). The Coolidges loved all sorts of animals and thought they might have some luck at raising the ducks.

They dedicated one of the White House bathrooms to the ducks so they could paddle in the tub and still be easily fed. However, they soon became too large and were sent off to the zoo.

Calvin and Grace Coolidge loved walking through the National Zoo, so they often visited their former pets as well as all the other animals.

The other presidential household that provided homes for many pets was Teddy Roosevelt’s. Click here for the story.

The first dogs used for police work in the United States were introduced in New York City and Glen Ridge, New Jersey, during the first decade of the 20^th century.  Before this time, dogs were used occasionally for “crime control” in the South by plantation owners who sent the dogs after runaway slaves.  

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New York Murder

In 1907, the brutal murder of 15-year-old Amelia Staffeldt in Elmhurst, New York, inspired the New York police administration to consider using dogs for police work.  The man who murdered young Amanda was caught a few days later, and they learned that Henry Becker remained in Elmhurst for a day or so after the murder. If they had caught him then, they could have prevented his other crimes.

The police commissioner wanted to investigate whether a dog could have helped. He knew that a man on his force, Lt. George R. Wakefield, was also very interested in using dogs on the police force. Since the murderer remained in Elmhurst, the commissioner and Lt. Wakefield speculated that if they had a bloodhound, they could have caught Henry Becker sooner.

A kennel near Poughkeepsie, New York, specialized in raising and training bloodhounds. The commissioner sent Lt. Wakefield to investigate whether they should add a bloodhound to the force.

Wakefield returned from Poughkeepsie with depressing news. Based on what he learned about bloodhounds, he determined that the dogs would not be well suited to work in the city. The streets are layered with smells, and since criminals sometimes escaped by subway, it would be difficult for dogs to retain the scent. This would leave the bloodhound and policeman at a dead end.

The Ghent Dog Program

But the commissioner and Wakefield remained hopeful about using police dogs. A program in Ghent, Belgium, was receiving attention for the job they were doing training dogs to accompany constables for night patrol.

The commissioner funded Wakefield to go to Belgium to learn more.

The training program in Ghent started in 1902. The school created a four-month training program. The dogs were taught the tasks they would need: seek, attack, and then stop and hold. At that time, the dogs were not expected to bite their victims so they wore loose-fitting muzzles so they could still bark but not bite.

Since the dogs wore muzzles, they needed to learn another way to catch and bring down their victim. Most used a system that involved chasing down the person and wrapping their front paws around the fellow’s leg to bring him down. The dogs were then trained to stand on the person, barking to alert their dog handler.

Preferred Dogs

In Ghent, Belgian sheepdogs were the preferred dogs. They were known for their loyalty, courage, intelligence, and endurance. The breed at that time featured dogs that weighed about 50 pounds. They were barrel-chested and stood about knee-high to most men. They had short fur so upkeep was not an issue.

The Groenendael dog was a close second. These dogs matched the sheepdogs in temperament, but they had long silky black hair. This meant some grooming was necessary. (Poodles were not used as war dogs for the same reason. Their hair became matted when wet.)

Wakefield in Ghent

When Lt. Wakefield had the “okay” to bring dogs back to the U.S., he was disappointed to learn that there were no trained dogs available for purchase. The Paris police department was a big proponent of police dogs and had just purchased 400 of them.

Wakefield’s next step was locating dogs that could be trained. He finally made a deal for five six-month-old dogs. Four of the dogs were Belgian sheepdogs. One of them was a Groenendael.

He paid $10 for each pup, and another $10 for transatlantic travel for each dog. There was also an import tax of $2. This brought the grand total for each untrained dog to $22.00.  (Trained dogs today cost between $12,000-$50,000. The dogs themselves are monitored carefully as both police departments and the military consider them valuable assets.)

To New York by Ship

George Wakefield used transatlantic travel via shipboard to work on training the dogs. They were still young. The dogs still needed to learn basic commands and have them reinforced.

Unfortunately, one of the dogs died before the end of the trip. There were no vaccines for distemper at that time, and many young dogs did not survive it.

Establishing a School in New York

Upon landing in New York, Wakefield and his charges were sent to a dilapidated mansion in Fort Washington Park in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Since they were short one dog, Wakefield replaced it with a young Airedale named Jim.  The other dogs were Nogi, (the Groenendael), Max, Dona, and Lady.

Lt. Wakefield organized a 3-month training program to operate from Fort Washington Park. A patrolman known to be good with dogs moved into the mansion with his family to assist Wakefield. The dining room was set up with stalls where the dogs lived when they weren’t working or in supervised play.

The program, like the one in Ghent, featured positive reinforcement. Care and feeding of the animals was only done by men in uniform. That way the dogs learned that people in uniform were their friends and authority figures. People in civilian clothes were potentially suspect.

Training Commences

The initial plan for these dogs was for night patrolling. They were taught four commands: “Search!” “Attack!” “Heel,” and “Down.” Down was the command for the dog to back off and let the police officer take over.

When searching a house, the process was for the policeman to take the front of the house, sending the dog to search the yard, fields, and hedges.

An added benefit to the program was that police saw that the dogs were intimidating to the public. This alone helped reduce crime because people were nervous about what the dogs might do.

As training methods advanced, sound was one of the elements added. When the dogs were housed in kennels, audio could be piped in. By playing recorded sounds of thunderstorms, roaring car engines, and exploding bombs, it helped the dogs acclimate to what might happen on the street.

Muzzles

While today’s police dogs are often expected to attack with teeth, the first police dogs were muzzled. The muzzles were spacious enough that dogs could easily bark to sound an alarm. The muzzles also were equipped with snap catches. The dog handler could unmuzzle the dog quickly if more force (biting) was necessary.

Program Grew

By 1911, New York was using sixteen dogs for patrol in residential districts on Long Island. The dogs were assigned territories and could run on their own with their police handler nearby.  From 11 pm to 7 am, the dogs brought down civilians (potential thieves) in the area. The dog was to stand on the person, barking until their handler arrived. (There may have been outcry from residents who were simply coming home late, but to my knowledge no reporter of the day wrote that story.)

By 1929, New York was using 23 dogs. There were many specific anecdotes where they proved their worth. One of the first was with the “Pants Burglar.”
 

The Staten Island “Pants Burglar”

In the 1920s, Staten Island was plagued by a robber who acquired the nickname, “the Pants Burglar.”  The fellow climbed up porch trestles in his socks and snuck into upper floor windows. While the family slept, he moved quietly and quickly, leaving most possessions in place. He knew that if the family had cash, it was likely to be in the husband’s pant pockets.  In the dark, he located the trousers, often draped over a chair or a bench. He then stole the items in the pockets. If he felt rushed, he sometimes climbed back out the window carrying the trousers with him.

Because the Pants Burglar struck so often, the police department finally selected four of their finest dogs to put on the case.

Within a few days, the dogs found their man.

Other Success Stories

One of the arguments against using dogs concerned the fact that more people were traveling by car. How could a dog help catch then?

That question was answered when policemen stopped two men in a car. The men got out as instructed, but within a few moments, one of the men turned to run.  Fortunately, the policemen had a dog with them. Their dog immediately set off to chase the man and bring him down.

In another instance, a dog saved a child’s life. Bum was trained to work around the scene of fires. When a little girl bumped into a street vendor’s charcoal cooker, she fell against it, and her clothing caught fire. Bum was nearby and immediately approached and ripped off the burning fabric. She survived.

Guarding Warehouses and Department Stores

During the late 1940s and ‘50s, department stores began posting dogs for guard duty. Dobermans were popular for this work and were used in both stores and warehouses.

A security officer still needed to be on premises, but the dogs were trained to walk a beat alone. At Marshall Field, the store’s warehouse had special buttons along the route. The dogs were taught to press each button as they passed it.  The security guard knew if the dog did not signal every 15 minutes or so, then the scene needed to be investigated.

Detection Dogs

Not all police dogs are used for apprehending the “bad guys.”  Many are used for detection. Dog handlers now know that all breeds of dogs have extraordinary ability to smell their environment and make sense of it. As police departments worked with dogs, they found they could choose the breeds that are easiest to work with as they can all be trained to sniff out drugs and bomb-making materials.

In the 1970s, the U.S. experienced a rash of bombings around the country, so bomb-sniffing dogs were in high demand.  The Washington (D.C.) Bomb Squad provided a demonstration for reporters, showing that the dogs could clear a corridor lined with closed lockers (like in a school or a train station) in 2 minutes.

For a time, bomb makers tried adding pepper to disguise the odor of the bomb materials. Officers quickly realized that a sneezing dog is a sure sign of something that needed to be investigated.

Horror of Dogs in the South

In the late 1950s and ‘60s, the image of police dogs suffered greatly in the South. Birmingham public safety commissioner Theophilus “Bull” Connor was in his position for more than two decades. He was a segregationist who was fervently against any demonstration that protested his belief in white supremacy.

When the Freedom Riders and civil rights marchers came through Birmingham, Bull Connor stopped at nothing to halt the protesters, setting a poor example for the South. Photographs from the era show unarmed people (many children as well as adults) being brought down by attack dogs. The photos and videos from these days are horrifying.

One Last Story

A more heartening story of a police dog took place in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1980. Rags was out on patrol with a policeman in a dark parking lot. Rags sensed danger from someone who was prowling in the area. He pushed the patrolman who accompanied him out of the way. When the gunman fired, Rags took the bullet himself.

Rags suffered a spinal injury, so a full recovery was not possible. But as he improved the veterinarian recommended him for a desk job where he could be in charge of milk bone procurement.

He became the department’s official mascot and was given a medal of honor. 

Dogs Today

Today there are approximately 50,000 active police K-9s in the United States. In police work, dogs are being used for everything from drug and bomb detection to helping locate missing people and uncover forensic evidence at a crime scene. (Dogs are also trained for many other purposes, ranging from medical needs such as sensing diabetes to aiding the blind. Scientists have also found numerous ways to use dogs to preserve the environment.)

When a police dog is ready for retirement, most dogs become pets, often with their handler’s family. Those who have been wounded present additional challenges for their owners. How can the family pay for ongoing medical care? The National Police Dog Foundation does what it can to raise funds so that these dogs can be with a family  they love and have the care they need.

The dog, Lassie, that inspired books, movies, and television shows was first featured in a short story in the Saturday Evening Post in 1938. The story was by author Eric Knight who soon expanded the story to be a full-length novel, Lassie Come Home, published in1940.

Eric Knight grew up in England, and the story was set there. The plot concerned a family who is forced to sell their dog when they encounter hard times. The dog and family are separated, and the book tells the tale of the dog’s adventures as he journeys to find his young master.  When Lassie Come Home was published, it was an instant best-seller. MGM rapidly snapped up the film rights for $10,000, and made Lassie Come Home starring Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor.

Casting Lassie

When the casting call went out for a rough-coat collie, about 300 applicants submitted photos of their dogs. (To read more about the dog that got the part, “The Dog That Played Lassie.”) The director wanted a rough collie–also known as a long-haired collie–to play the part. (In Scotland, this breed of dog is raised for herding.)

Though Lassie was a female character, the dog selected was male as the dog—Pal– had the thick, beautiful coat the director was looking for. In addition to Pal’s silky coat, he had a distinctive white blaze on his face.

The dog belonged to animal breeder Rudd Weatherwax who was hired to board the dog and see that he was properly trained. After Pal was well-behaved, the family decided not to pick him up.

Having Weatherwax on board for the film was a definite asset. He and his family were soon among the top animal handlers for the entertainment industry.

Lassie Come Home was quite popular. Several sequels were made including Son of Lassie, a full-length movie starring Peter Lawford and June Lockhart (1945).

Lassie on Radio and Television

By 1947, Lassie had a radio program. The original radio show used Pal for the barking segments, but all other animal vocalizations were performed by humans.

Lassie made the transition to television in 1954. The show went through various iterations, but it remained popular until 1975. The part of Lassie was always played by an offspring of the original Pal. However, selecting the right pup with a matching blaze of white on his face remained a constant challenge.

Lassie is one of only three real dogs to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (The other two are Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin. Cartoon character Snoopy is also featured.)

In 2005, Lassie was named one of Variety magazine’s “Icons of the Century” for the impact she has made on young people around the world since 1938.

A Little-Known Story Behind Lassie

Less than ten years ago, British author Nigel Clarke was at work on a book about shipwrecks. He came upon a story about an incident that occurred in Dorset during World War I that involved a dog named Lassie. Clarke believes that Knight’s inspiration for the story was based on the real-life collie who saved the life of a British seaman.

On New Year’s Day in 1915, the Royal Navy battleship Formidable was torpedoed by a German submarine off Start Point, a promontory in South Devon. More than 500 men were lost.

In a storm that followed the accident, a life raft containing bodies blew along the coast to Lyme Regis. The raft was pulled ashore there. Clearly, the community wanted to help deal with the crisis. The local pub in town offered its cellar as a mortuary.

A Surprising Rescue

When the bodies were laid out on the stone floor, Lassie, a crossbred collie owned by the pub owner, found her way down amongst the bodies. She stopped near one of the victims and began to lick his face. She stayed by seaman John Cowan, nuzzling him and keeping him warm.

Finally, someone came down the stairs and noted that Cowan was trying to get up. He was taken to the hospital. He went on to make a full recovery.

A few weeks later, he returned to thank all who saved his life, particularly Lassie.

Inspiring Story

The sinking of the ship was a severe blow to Britain during these early years of the war. This story was inspirational and heart-warming. When the officers heard the story of Lassie and what she did to rescue Cowan, they told it again and again to any reporter who would listen.

Because the story was widely reported, Clarke feels that the odds are that Eric Knight read the story during the war years or came upon it later on. While Knight had moved from Yorkshire to the United States and served in the U.S. military, Clarke’s suspicion seems well-founded. In addition to both dogs being named Lassie, the story of her rescue of the sailor also bears a resemblance to the Lassie rescue stories.

What Happened to Knight?

After World War I, Eric Knight became a critic and a film writer. He moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, hoping to make his name in the movies. He met with many rejections, and eventually returned to Yorkshire to be a journalist, where he wrote his story about Lassie, eventually expanding it into a book.

Unfortunately, he never knew the level of success the book achieved. In January 1944 Knight was helping Frank Capra film a documentary about the war when he was killed in a plane crash. He was only 45. His death came shortly after MGM’s release of the film. It was too early for anyone to know that Lassie Come Home would become a classic.

Arthur Walden’s experience during the Yukon Gold Rush gave him a lifelong passion. He loved working with dog teams, and he soon saw that hauling freight to the miners by dog sled was more lucrative and interesting than hunting for gold. 

During this time, Walden developed definite ideas of what qualities made the best sledge dog for hauling materials. When he returned to his home in New Hampshire, Walden wanted to develop a dog that was both powerful enough to pull heavy loads and gentle enough to be approached by children.

In 1917, the first puppies were born, and they are now known as the Chinook breed. The AKC approved it in 2013. It is one of thew few breeds created in America.

Walden went on to make a name for himself and his Chinook sledge team by being chosen by Admiral Byrd as the best person (and dog team) to haul men and supplies when Byrd undertook his first land exploration of Antarctica in 1928.

About Arthur Walden

Arthur Treadwell Walden was born in 1871 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father was an Episcopal clergyman, Reverand Treadwell Walden, and the family was often expected to relocate. When Arthur was of school-age, Reverand Walden was at a church in central Minnesota. Arthur attended the Chattuck Military School in Faribault, about 50 miles south of Minneapolis.

The next family assignment was to Boston, but Arthur quickly found he didn’t like the feel of a city. He was old enough to live on his own. The family had a small home in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and he went there to live.

Wanted More Excitement

As a young man, Walden liked the rural life but also wanted to travel. Some hardy adventurers were going to Alaska, and in early 1896, he decided that was a worthy trip. Six months later, gold was discovered in the Yukon, making the region a destination for would-be miners.

Walden briefly considered hunting for gold, but he needed a job that provided a weekly income. He took a position working for a freighter that carried supplies and mail down the Yukon River. While there, he also gained experience taking loads overland by sledge using dog teams.

After the gold rush slowed, Walden returned to New Hampshire, and in 1902, he married Katherine Sleeper, a young woman he met before he left for the Yukon. Her family was well-to-do, and she had health problems.  When a doctor recommended that living in the country would be better for her well-being, she bought the 1300-acre Wonalancet Farm just outside the village of Tamworth, New Hampshire.  

Arthur Walden was a perfect partner for her ownership of the property. He was happy to manage the farm, but the farm gave him the space and the time to set up a kennel for the dogs he wanted to raise.

Favorite Dog

In addition to managing the farm, Walden wanted to breed a dog like those he met in Alaska. One of them, Chinook, was his ideal. He was strong and fast with great endurance. He was also a gentle dog to be around.

With his return to New Hampshire, Arthur Walden began assessing what dogs would give him the right qualities. His first choice was a mastiff-type dog named Kim. Kim was a good-sized mixed breed that was powerful and sweet-tempered. Walden’s choice for the female was Ningo, a dog that was a direct descendant of Admiral Peary’s Greenland Huskies. These dogs were much like wolves with intelligence and an innate understanding of the wild.

In some accounts, writers note that Ningo descended from Polaris from Admiral Byrd’s breeding stock. The dogs may have shared blood lines, but Polaris came to New Hampshire as a puppy in 1914, so perhaps Ningo was part of one of his first litters of dogs. (Polaris was an amazing bundle of energy. To read his story, click here.)

The First Litter

With Ningo and Kim’s first litter in 1917, there were seven pups. Three of the dogs were larger than the others, so Walden kept a close eye on the bigger puppies, assuming they would be the best for future breeding.

Walden’s wife, Katherine, named them Rikki, Tikki and Tavi (after the characters in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book). “Rikki” was the pup that showed more of the qualities that Walden was looking for, so he renamed the dog Chinook and declared him the foundation dog of this new breed.

When Chinook was fully grown, he was said to be 100 pounds and an excellent lead dog. Walden bred him with various females, experimenting with Belgian Malinois, huskies, and German shepherds to see what brought the best results.

Walden Introduces the Breed

Each year Gorham, New Hampshire, held a winter carnival that attacted huge crowds. In 1921, Arthur Walden decided to introduce his new breed at the carnival. With affection and admiration, Walden referred to his dogs as “husky half-breeds.” He pointed out that the dogs raced well, were strong enough for hauling, and yet, gentle enough to be around people of all ages. 

Walden was eager to establish sled dog racing in New England. In 1922, he gained the support of a local paper company to sponsor the first Eastern International Dog Derby. As planned by Walden, the Derby was 123 miles. Only 4 teams entered the race that first year. Walden’s team easily won, and in 1924, he founded the New England Sled Dog Club, which took over sponsorship of the Derby.

Walden’s dogs did well for the first few years. Then in 1927, Leonhard Seppala, the dog team driver whose dogs included Balto and Togo, came to New Hampshire to visit. Though Seppala was not familiar with the route and encountered difficulties on the trail, his dogs still won handily over the Chinook teams. (That would have been one of Seppala’s last races with these dogs. When he returned to Alaska, he determined that the group of dogs was too old to return to the trail.)

Making a Name for Himself

In the meantime, Walden continued to promote dog sledding, both as a sport and also as a useful tool for logging businesses. He reminded woodsmen that dogs with sleds offered the perfect conveyance for hauling wood out of dense wooded areas. The dogs could also bring all types of supplies for the loggers.

Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Eastern part of the United States (6,288 feet) is located in the White Mountains of Vermont. It had never been climbed by anyone using a dog team. Arthur Walden knew he could make a name for his new breed by attempting the ascent. In the winter of 1926, Walden attempted the climb but was turned back by a blizzard. But next time—with Chinook in the lead—they traveled eight miles to the summit in eight hours time.

In the process, he made a name for himself and for the new Chinook breed.

Admiral Byrd’s Planned Exploration of the Antarctic

Later that year, word filtered through “dog circles” that Admiral Richard Byrd was planning a major Antarctic land exploration. This would require at least two ships, three airplanes and several teams of sled dogs for hauling goods to a camp, and later for exploring the area.

Though he was almost 56 years old when Admiral Richard Byrd began planning for his first land exploration of the Antarctic, Walden put in his name to be the chief dog handler for the expedition.

After interviewing others, Admiral Byrd clearly saw wisdom in adding Arthur Walden to his team. Arthur Walden became lead driver and dog trainer for Byrd’s 1928-9 Antarctic Expedition. He was in charge of recruiting other drivers and their teams and managing training and all supplies. Among men already committed to the expedition were three Harvard students who were so eager to accompany Admiral Byrd that they volunteered for whatever jobs would be helpful. Byrd put Norman Vaughan, Freddie Crockett, and Eddie Goodale under Arthur Walden to help with the dogs.

In late 1927 and early 1928, Walden put out the word on what types and dogs he was looking for. Walden found that seven-dog teams were best with his Chinooks. He would need 8-10 dog teams for the trip. Some of the dogs needed to come in well-trained by their drivers, but supplemental dogs could be added from the Eskimos. Because the Eskimos guided the dogs by running alongside the team themselves, the dogs were not lead dog material, but they were strong.  They were perfect when added to the back of the pack.

The selected group assembled at Wonalancet Farm for training. They also reviewed everything from survival gear to tents and supplies.

The Expedition

In September of 1928, Walden, his drivers, and 97 dogs (16 of them his own Chinooks)  boarded the ships Byrd booked for the trip to Antarctica. Once there, Walden’s job was hauling supplies from the water’s edge to the base camp, “Little America.”  It was late in the season, and Walden was well aware that they had very little time to haul everything to camp.

Walden and nine other drivers hauled 650 tons of gear from the ships to the base camp nine miles inland.

Darkness would descend sometime in March, and then there would be no daylight until September. The ships were said to be carrying 500 tons of supplies. Walden and his teams had to work fast and hard to get men, supplies, dogs, and teams settled.

Later Admiral Byrd wrote: “Walden’s team was the backbone of our transport.”

Personal Loss

At the time that Walden was hired for the Byrd assignment, his beloved dog Chinook was 12 years old. He was too old to be in the harness full time, but he was extraordinary at leading the team if the going got particularly rough.

One day Chinook had a run-in with another dog. Walden and some of the other men had to stop the dog fight (dogs fight for dominance.) That night, Chinook was bedded down near Walden. It was reported that he came and pawed Walden’s shoulder once or twice. Walden said he reassured the dog and thought the dog had gone back to sleep.

The next morning Walden got up to assemble the team and discovered that Chinook was gone. Walden searched as much as he could, but there was no sign of the beloved dog. Some on the expedition thought Chinook had some type of terrible accident; others felt Chinook knew he couldn’t go on as before and went off to die.

No matter what the explanation, the men on the trip said that it aged Walden considerably. 

Trip Concludes

The Antarctic expedition ended in 1930, and Walden returned to New Hampshire.

Admiral Byrd later wrote about how grateful he was for Walden and the dogs. “On January 17^th, Walden’s single team of thirteen dogs moves 3500 pounds of supplies from ship to base, a distance of 16 miles each trip, in two journeys. … Seeing him rush his heavy loads along the trail, outstripping the younger men, it was difficult to believe he was an old man. He was 58 years old but had the determination and strength of youth.”

In 1931, Arthur Walden received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor available to a civilian, for his part in Admiral Richard Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition.

Return to New Hampshire

When the expedition concluded in 1930, the men returned to a difficult time in the United States. Most parts of the country were struggling through the Great Depression. And thought Katherine’s family had been well off, and Walden had prudently banked most of his earnings from his work in the Yukon, Wonalancet Farm was in poor shape financially.

Katherine’s health had deteriorated, so Walden’s partners took advantage of her, moving her out of main farmhouse—her home–and placing her in a cottage on the property. The farm and farmhouse were leased out. When Walden returned, he was denied the right to go into his barn to retrieve tools that were clearly his.

Walden was beside himself with grief. He opted to sell the remainder of the kennel to his partner so that he could start again.

Starting Over

Fortunately, Walden had taken protective measures to maintain the bloodline. In 1922-23, distemper almost wiped out the Chinooks. At that time, there was no cure for the disease and no vaccine. Many of Arthur Walden’s dogs came down with the illness and died from it.

This lesson taught Walden to protect himself. From that time forward, he began a new practice. Each time a litter was born from his dogs, he gave one or two pups Julie Lombard, a local woman who also bred dogs.

When he needed to start again, he and Lombard agreed to call the new kennel, Wonalancet-Hubbard Kennels.

New Arrangement

Julie Lombard and her business partner Ed Moody were happy to tend to most of the kennel work. Walden also took over the care of Kate, who was no longer able to care for herself.

Writing was Walden’s other pursuit. Because he was older and the outdoor work was more difficult, Walden began telling his story. He knew he had lived through fascinating experiences that others couldn’t even imagine. His first book, A Dog Puncher on the Yukon, met with success. He tells a harrowing tale of what it was like for the first adventurers to travel to Alaska and the Yukon. (The book is quite interesting. There is very little about dogs in it, but Walden provides an incredible picture of how difficult it was to travel through Alaska and the Yukon at that time.)

Arthur Walden Died Saving Wife

In 1947, a household fire broke out when Kate Walden was in the kitchen. Walden heard her screams and ran to save her. He carried Kate to safety and then began drawing buckets of water from a well to try to save the house.

When the fire was finally extinguished, the neighbors went in to look for Arthur Walden. Waden’s body was found on the floor of the kitchen. He died while trying to rescue what was theirs.

Breed Eventually Dwindled

Due to Julie Lombard and her partner, the Chinook breed continued to do well. Then in 1939, Perry Greene and his wife Honey took over the work of Julie Lombard and devoted the rest of their lives to the breed.

Other breeders, Nell and Marra Wollpert from Ohio, Kathy Adams (from Maine, Peter Abrahams came in from California to take dogs. By spreading out the breeding stock, they increased the odd of the Chinook breed continuing on.

But by the early 1980s, there were only 11 breedable dogs. When the breeders realized what happened, they worked together to trade dogs and improve the numbers.

State Dog of New Hampshire

In 2009, Jennifer Wells, a Chinook owner and a teacher at a middle school in Bedford, suggested a project to her class: New Hampshire had no state dog. Why not encourage the governor to name the Chinook? It was unusual to create a new breed, and the Chinook was a native to the state through and through.

A bill was eventually passed in the New Hampshire legislature stating that the Chinook would be the state dog. The students and their teacher were elated to have brought this about. 

Remembering Walden’s Chinooks

In South Bend, Indiana, the Tribune ran an article about Arthur Walden. In it, he was quoted as saying, “Say what you will, there is no more faithful friend in the world than dog. No matter what your physical or financial condition may be, you may depend on your dog to stand by. If you go hungry, he goes hungry with you. If the road be long and dark and the elements assail you, he is ever by your side. Be you up or be you down, he is unchangeable. He is not a fair-weather friend who vanishes when the storm clouds race upon you. He asks but little and unstintingly gives all that he has—yes, even his life.” (South Bend Tribune, September 18, 1927.)

But perhaps the best way to remember the Chinook dogs is by quoting from Time Magazine from January 15, 1945 regarding the dogs in the Antarctic.

“To All Noble Dogs whose lives were given [in] Little America … to further science and discovery.”

***Another dog on the Antarctic Expedition was Igloo, a terrier. His story remarkable.