July 2023
The song “Martha My Dear” by The Beatles was an ode to Paul McCartney's Old English Sheepdog Martha although some lyrics may have been about McCartney’s ex, Jane Asher.
A recent study sponsored by the Selective Insurance Group found that 82 percent of people who drive with their dogs said having an unrestrained dog in a moving vehicle can distract the driver. However, 70 percent admitted their own dogs were unrestrained in their vehicles. About 40 percent confessed to driving recklessly as a direct result of having their dog in the vehicle.
A Papillon with dropped ears is called a Phaléne.
Legend has it that Sir Isaac Newton had a Pomeranian named Diamond who was responsible for accidentally destroying his research notes by knocking over a candle and causing a fire. In another tale, Newton is said to have credited Diamond with discovering two theorems in a single morning, but that "one had a mistake and the other had a pathological exception.” Still other historians claim Newton never had any pets.
In 2022, a Japanese man named Toko-San spent more than $15,000 on a realistic Collie costume to fulfill his lifelong dream of transforming into an animal.