The Fascinating and Unusual History of New Yorkers and Their Relationships with Animals
### Pets and the City: A Historical Exploration of New York’s Fascination with Animals
If you’re a fan of Charlotte York’s beloved cocker spaniel Elizabeth Taylor from *Sex and the City*, you’ll be intrigued to learn the New-York Historical Society has opened a timely and cheeky exhibit entitled *Pets and the City*. Running through April 2025, the exhibit delves into the long-standing love affair between New Yorkers and their pets. Located in the heart of Manhattan, this exhibition comes on the heels of a recent City Council proposal allowing paid sick leave to care for pets, adding relevance to the show amidst ongoing legislative changes.
#### A Curated Respite from Present-Day Woes
Roberta J.M. Olson, curator of drawings emerita at the New-York Historical Society, spent three years organizing *Pets and the City*. Aiming to offer some solitudinal relief from current global crises, Olson hoped to remind visitors of the ASPCA founder Henry Bergh’s sentiment that “men will be just to men when they are kind to animals.” The exhibition not only highlights our affection for animals but suggests that our treatment of them reflects our moral compass.
#### Pets in Early New York: Stewards of Harmony
The exhibition begins with artworks documenting how Indigenous communities and early settlers interacted with animals. Among the inaugural pieces is a 1729 land deed featuring a turtle icon representing the signature of an unnamed Indigenous woman, underscoring animals’ significance in both New York’s economy and its spiritual life. Another fascinating work is a large 1827 drawing by Tuscarora artist David Cusick, depicting a mythological Iroquois hunter with a deer and bear suspended from his belt. From early on, wildlife shaped the cultural and physical landscapes of the region.
Colonial settlers also viewed animals as symbols of peace and harmony. In early 18th-century portraiture, children were often depicted alongside animals such as lambs, symbolizing innocence and tranquility, thus aligning their subjects with moral virtues. Further along the exhibition’s timeline, Victorian portraiture begins to reflect more conventional European themes of children posing with cats or puppies as household pets.
#### Extraordinary Tales of New York’s Pet Lovers
One exhibit honors Brooklyn-born birdkeeper Emma Thursby, who in 1893 secured permission to transport her domesticated Myna bird on a luxury train. This quirky detail highlights how deeply pets were intertwined in the lives of urbanites, well before the current popularity of small animal carriers and pet-friendly travel amenities.
Pigeon lovers will appreciate a section devoted to revered war pigeon Cher Ami, who delivered a life-saving message to New York’s 77th Infantry Division during World War I, flying 25 miles with critical communication tethered to her leg. This evokes the utility and companionship animals provided during challenging times. In fact, guide dogs for the blind also feature prominently in the exhibition, acknowledging the important work of Seeing Eye, the organization that trains service dogs for the visually impaired.
#### New York and the Animal Rights Movement
*Pets and the City* also sheds light on New York’s critical role in the animal rights movement. Henry Bergh’s founding of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 1866 marked a cornerstone for animal welfare advocacy. That same year, the New York state legislature passed the nation’s first law banning animal cruelty, setting the stage for future legal protections and organizations like the Humane Society.
#### Pets and Politics: When Man’s Best Friend Joins the Campaign
In a deeply democratic twist, even political campaigns have long been intertwined with pet culture. Campaign memorabilia on display, from dog-sized bandanas reading “Obama Pride” to dog collars emblazoned with political slogans, highlights how politicians have cleverly leveraged pet imagery to appeal to voters’ familial and emotional bonds. While largely playful, this section raises interesting questions about how animals serve as symbols in major cultural and political narratives.
#### Exploring Strangers Parts of the Human-Animal Relationship
In a more bizarre section dedicated to *Pets at Work*, the exhibition features depictions of K-9 units from the New York Police Department, including dogs sniffing luggage and aiding in police investigations. The primary takeaway illustrates how animals like German Shepherds came to represent public safety. However, this is coupled with an unsettling historical note about how such dogs were used in the Civil Rights era, when officers unleashed them on peaceful protesters, particularly in Southern states.
#### Honoring Contemporary Animal Celebrities
The exhibit concludes with references to contemporary urban fauna and beloved animal influencers. Most notably, there’s a tribute to Flaco, the eagle-owl who captivated New Yorkers after escaping from the Central Park Zoo. Flaco lived freely around the city for months before his untimely death in early 2024. His story has sparked renewed efforts by advocates and lawmakers alike to create safer urban environments for birds through new legislation.
In the final stretch before exiting the exhibit, visitors are greeted with