Yesterday morning my sister put her dog to sleep. A beautiful 13 1/2 year old German Shepherd named Misha. It was time – but that never makes it any easier.
Lady, me and my brother – Christmas 1956
Misha was possibly the last of a long-line of German Shepherds in our family – two generations worth. The first was “Valiant Lady” who came into our family when I was about two years old. And we have been in love with this breed ever since, particularly my mother.
They have all been our protectors and our best friends. And my mother, sister and I spent several hours together yesterday afternoon retelling many wonderful stories about each and every one of them.
It got me wondering about all my ancestor photos I’ve come across that include family pets, both cats and dogs. What were their names? And how much were they loved and missed? Equally as much as ours, I’m sure.
We know very little about these animals. And yet, I feel certain they touched the lives and hearts of my ancestors just as surely as they have touched mine.
My plan was to share all the “pet” photos that I have but it turned out there were more than I remembered. Here are just a few – well, maybe more than a few.
My grandparents Jack and Nora with their new son, held by a family friend, and an unnamed dog circa 1923
My great grandparents George and Mary with an unnamed dog in 1898
My grandmother Georgie and unnamed dog in the chair circa 1903
Back of photo reads “Schenk’s cat 1900”
My grandmother’s brother Christopher Schenk with “his dog Bob” and “a baby coyote in his arms”
1922 photo , possibly of Bob
1947 photo with unidentified dog in the door
Photo of my grandmother Georgie, her siblings – and Bob?
My grandmother’s brother Christopher (right) with unknown friend and dogs
Albert Schaffer’s cat, Dec. 25, 1926
My Great Aunt Irene’s dog Duke, 1937
My great grandmother Mary with her dog Lullaby, 1939
A family photo taken with Lullaby, 1939
Lullaby circa 1939
Trixie, year unknown
1931 photo back reads “Clarence Beaver’s deer, 3 yrs old”
Undated photo my Great Grandfather George’s dog Ted and a friend
A little girl with Freckles, circa 1949
July 1945 photo of unknown dog, probably taken in Marysville, MT
My father’s Uncle Walter – with his pet geese?? Circa 1910
Muzetta Blacker and unknown dog
My dad with “Pooch”, circa 1942
My mother’s Aunts Zetta and Helen with unknown dog, circa 1910
My grandmother Georgie’s brothers John and Willie with Prince, Fido, Curley and Nero, circa 1898
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