Category Archives: Blog

Producing an animal history is a tricky endeavor.  It is sometimes very difficult to find animals in historical archives – and if they are there they are often left anonymous and passive.  Animals only make the archive when they are written about by humans, and as someone interested in producing a history of animals I oftenContinue reading “Writing about Gigi”

Dogs have been the ultimate animal companion to humans for thousands of years.  Dogs are said to be the first animal domesticated by humans, well before cows, goats, or sheep.  Anthropologists argue that dogs were used by early hunter-gatherers, with the divergence of “dogs” from “wolves” thought to occur sometime around 35,000 years ago.  TheContinue reading “Vegan Dogs”

For those still hiding in an underground burrow after the “big snow” last week, you may not have known that yesterday was Groundhog Day.  Every February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil (the Pennsylvania groundhog) emerges from his den and his Inner Circle of humans interpret his weather prediction for the weeks to come.  Phil can either announceContinue reading “Candlemas and Furry Weathermen”

Public comment dockets have become an interesting space for policy makers and the public to engage in conversations with one another about various issues in public health.  The ever-developing internet has allowed dockets to take on a life of their own – public comments submitted in almost a blog post format for perusal.   If youContinue reading “Defining Natural”

Livestock shows have provided an opportunity for farmers to come together and appreciate their shared knowledge of animals since the 18th century.  Though arguably initially organized to promote ideals held about animals by the aristocracy, particularly in England, by the end of the 19th century shows were spaces where ordinary farmers could trade information aboutContinue reading “Farm Show Features Families: Both human and animal”