Saturday 13 June 2009

A Dog at the Grave of its Mistress

Now, this is an exceedly rare item - a family snapshot, probably pre-1900, of a dog being taken to see the grave of its mistress and the flowers that cover it. I find it immensely sad and very, very moving. I have never seen another like it and think it is a very unusual example of social history. What do you think? Have you ever seen the like?


7 comments:

  1. Yes, Bookmanie has seen others, many others, there are others who run the streets. Photos like that, no. They are quite rare. History shows, for this social picture, that cycles have existed. The "courtesans" in the virility of man, through exibitionnisme light of 50 years (see photo of the last article on my blog), ending with a certain gender, more or less noticeable, as countries of course.
    Bookmanie.

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  2. Laurie ! What an exceptionally beautiful find... so closely in keeping with the on going discussion about the pet cemetery in Paris, and cemeteries in general, animals' devotion to their human keepers. I wonder if the dog knew his mistress was lying here ???

    I will have to put up more photos from the Dog Cemetery for you...

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  3. Very interesting picture.

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  4. I am always anxious to see what new photos you have. This one is extraordinary. Where did you find it?

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  5. This is such a touching picture. Those of us who own pets know just how deeply the bond is between our species. Just as we would sit beside our pet's resting place, so too would they.

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  6. I think we as humans have a very strong need to have our world and everything in it personify us. raindrops become tears, a teeth-showing pet is smiling, etc.

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  7. I remember reading a veterinarian saying to allow pets to see and smell the body of another pet in the household that had died because they would have less distress than if the other pet just disappeared.That animals innately understand death.It makes sense really.

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