PETS IN PAST AND PRESENT

In November 1997 the then President of the USA acquired a dog, just an ordinary dog, and it was the first time the man had ever had one. The animal made headlines all over the world, and the acquisition was seen rather cynically as a major attempt by Bill Clinton to improve his image amongst the populace. One remembered President Truman's observation that ‘if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog’. Only a few presidential terms before Clinton, pictures in the media of Lyndon Johnson pulling the ears of his canine companion had contributed significantly to his subsequent loss in the election. George Washington owned 37 dogs, and almost every president since then has had at least one. Also, the British royal family is often pictured surrounded by an entourage of corgis. Obviously, image-makers are in no doubt that pets have a very significant influence on the perception people have of each other at all levels of our society, and Clinton was a late learner.

All this is based on people's deep love of pets. Of course, they are not to everybody's liking, but for most of us dogs or cats are almost as close to our hearts as are other people, and someone who is nasty to a dog is an enemy. We look them in the eyes, love the feel of their coat, and we play with them almost as with children.