In 1905, Sarsaparilla, the pampered pooch of the Tacoma police force, was famous for using his ugly mug to "sweat" a confession out of suspects. "Sas," as he was known, had been left at the police station when only a few days old and was raised on a bottle. The bull dog was soon known as the ugliest dog in Tacoma. When a suspect was brought into Police Chief Malony's office for questioning, "Sas" only had to be called from his blanket in the Chief's office, fix his slanted eyes on the criminal and the information began to flow. (TDN 10/28/1905, pg. 17)

Bulldogs; Dogs--Tacoma--1900-1910; Police dogs;

May 31, 1924, photograph of an unidentified woman kneeling on lawn with two dogs. Houses in background are draped with flowers, including climbing roses. Photograph ordered by Dr. Albert W. Bridge.

Dogs; Flowers;

Wild Bill Shannon brought his famous Alaskan "wolf dogs" (huskies) to the Colonial Theater in March of 1925. Perhaps puzzled at the lack of snow, the team of sled dogs, with their master, stopped outside of the theater for a brief look around. Shannon was advertised as the man who saved Nome, Alaska, during the dreaded diphtheria plague. He had rushed antitoxin from Nenana to Nome. The Pantages would counter with the appearance of Soloman Basco, Alaska native, who mushed into Nome with his seven malamute dogs. Basco also delivered antitoxin and claimed the fastest time, 3 hr., 59 min., at temperatures 50 degrees below. (TDL 3-19-25, p. 8, TDL 3-23-25, p. 6) Photograph ordered by Moore Amusement Co. G66.1-001

Dogsledding; Dog teams; Shannon, Bill; Colonial Theater (Tacoma);

The first Thursday in April, 1926, was a busy day for telephone number Main 4515. All day the phone rang for "Mr. Towser," "Mr. Barking," and "Mr. K.Nine." Lee Kane took messages for the missing Messrs. advising callers that they would call back shortly. Mr. Kane was a Tacoma police officer stationed at the dog pound. And the missing Messrs.? They were all one entity: a regal pooch named Mr. Barker. The first Thursday in April, 1926? April Fools Day. Here a patient Mr. Barker "speaks" to a bewildered caller. (TNT 4-1-26, p. 1) (Bowen 26224)

Two young boys stand next to a dog that is harnessed to a model circus wagon in this April, 1929, photograph. There is a pup (maybe two) in the wagon. Note on original negative sleeve says, "Newman builds circus wagon for boy & dog parade. Made at Kuehn residence near Lakeview." Bowen # 290-091

W.L. Feeney, the manager of the RKO Pantages Theater, organized a very special "real old fashioned mutts" dog show on April 19, 1930 to welcome the Weaver Brothers comedy team to Tacoma. The winners of the show were: (l to r) Earl Robinson with his two month old puppy Spot, second place; Dickie Dale Simmons with first place winner Bud; and Harold Hilderman with his $1.00 cash prize winning pooch Jiggs. Four year old Dickie made sure that no one could run off with his prize winning pet; Bud was tied to his arms with a thick rope. The dog show was followed by a blackberry pie eating contest and a parade down Broadway. The Weaver Brothers, Charlie, Abner and Cicero, were most famous for introducing the musical handsaw to vaudeville as a musical instrument. They were appearing in Tacoma on a bill with the Richard Dix all talking comedy "Lovin' the Ladies." Seats were 25 cents before 1p.m. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4/20/1930, pg. A-7)

Robinson, Earl; Simmons, Dickie Dale; Hilderman, Harold; Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Along with daffodils and April showers, children and their pets have been a sure sign of spring in the Puget Sound area for generations. Photographer Chapin Bowen captured young Bobby David with his beloved dog, "Rags," seated in front of the Rialto Theater in 1931. Bob and Rags attended Tacoma's pet parade, held April 9, 1931.

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; David, Bobby;

Along with daffodils and April showers, children and their pets have been a sure sign of spring in the Puget Sound area for generations. Photographer Chapin Bowen captured young Bobby David with his beloved dog, "Rags," seated in front of the Rialto Theater in 1931. Bob and Rags attended Tacoma's pet parade, held April 9, 1931.

Young Mary Hooker, the daughter of Ellen and Albert H. Hooker, Jr., curled-up in a chair with her pet dog.

Dogs; Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker, Albert H.--Family; Hooker, Mary;

In June of 1935, Champion Bulldog Sir Bolivar Buckshot poses steadfastly with his many trophies. Bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Bjorklund of Spanaway, Sir Bolivar Buckshot was an English Bull, with a champion rating. He was declared both International and Pacific Coast Champion Bulldog. At four years of age, he was ranked second to none in this country or Canada. The famed champion died in 1942 at the age of 14, having sired many offspring around the country. (T. Times 6/22/1935, pg. 11; TNT 2/5/1942, pg. 16-memorial article)

Bulldogs--1930-1940; Awards;

A young woman in a tweed coat reaches to pet her dog's head. The dog rests its front paws on her coat and stands at full length on his hind legs. Photograph ordered by the Bremerton Sun.

Dogs; Pets--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Andy Anderson (Andreson) with a Cocker Spaniel puppy on his lap.

Animals - Domestic Animals - DogsPeople - Men

ca. 1936. Five Scottish Terrier puppies in a box on a high-back, winged, over-stuffed leather chair. The black pups are peering over the edge of the cardboard box in this circa 1936 photograph. (Studio stock negative).

Dogs; Chairs;

The Tacoma Spaniel Club held their field trials for 1937 in the prairie lands west of the Northern Pacific car shops in South Tacoma on March 21st. The "prairie lands" were just south of the South Tacoma Swamp. "High class" cocker and springer spaniels, including Pepper the defending champion, a red male cocker owned by Robert Wadsworth (center), competed for the prize trophy. Club members, with their dogs, are: (l to r) Crist Keffler, Ralph Lougheed, C.J. O'Connor, Robert Wadsworth, William J. Lonergan, Everett Metzger and Robert Sloat of Puyallup. (T. Times 3/21/1937, pg. 12)

Dogs; Hunting dogs; Tacoma Spaniel Club (Tacoma);

In September of 1937 the Tacoma Humane Society was able to purchase a new ambulance with donations by a number of generous Tacoma animal lovers including Mrs. Norton Clapp and the estate of Sarah J. Mink. Harold A. Dennison, the caretaker at the society's shelter, gave the first ride in the new truck to a little white dog that had been found beaten and tied in a gunny sack lying in a ditch. The truck was equipped with four metal cages of various sizes and a monoxide chamber that could be used to put badly injured animals to sleep. (T.Times, 9/22/1937 p.4)

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dogcatching--Tacoma; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dennison, Harold A.;

Humane Society officer Harold A. Dennison and the little white dog that he rescued; the dog had been beaten, tied in a gunny sack and left in a ditch. The little dog was the first to ride in the Society's new ambulance made possible by generous donations from animal lovers. (T.Times, 9/22/1937 p.4) TPL-8399

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dogcatching--Tacoma; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dennison, Harold A.;

In September of 1937, Vivian Sherman was pictured having a talk with her "lucky dog" Sport. The three year old setter was lucky to be alive. The year before in the winter, he caught his right front paw in a trap. He was stuck for eight days in the frozen trap until he broke the chain and crawled over a mile home. The Shermans had the leg operated on and Sport made a full recovery. He was an excellent hunting dog, despite the fact that he was left with only one toe on the damaged foot. Mrs. Sherman and her husband Frank were the owners of Tapps Fishing Tackle on South Tacoma Way. (T. Times 4/6/1937, pg. 13)

Dogs; Hunting dogs; Sherman, Vivian;

ca. 1937. Ed Griffin's champion English Mastiff "Broomcourt Nell" and her litter of puppies. The puppies were born in September of 1936, 7 females and 3 males. The puppies and their sires were the only English Mastiffs in the NorthWest.

Dogs;

ca. 1937. The puppies of Ed Griffin's champion English Mastiff "Broomcourt Nell." In the beginning of September of 1936, there was only one mastiff in the Northwest. By Sept. 9, 1936, there were 11 with the addition of 10 puppies. The father was Roxbury Boy. Seven of the pups were female and 3 were male.

Dogs;

Toy Terrier standing on its hind legs with its paws around a bottle of beer that it's drinking or opening. Woman seated at kitchen table holding beer bottle for dog. (T. Times).

Dogs; Beer--Eating & drinking;

Toy Terrier dog drinking beer from a bottle. Dog is standing on his hind legs with his paws around the beer bottle. A young woman is seated at a kitchen table holding the beer bottle for the dog. (T. Times).

Dogs; Beer--Eating & drinking;

On April 26, 1938, Humane Society officer H. A. Dennison presented a medal to "Frisky" Bedford, 6-month-old German Shepherd dog, who saved 2-year-old Leon Bedford from drowning in a small pond near his home at 5112 So. 10th St. Leon, seated in front of the Humane Society's "Be Kind to Animals" panel truck, accepted the medal for his friend. The medal originally read "To Frisky Bedford, for saving his master's life." When Leon pointed out to the Society that his dog was a lady, the red faced Humane Society had it re-engraved. (T.Times 4/26/1938, p. 3).

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dennison, Harold A.; Bedford, Leon; Lifesaving--Tacoma;

To Frisky Bedford the medal reads, "for saving her master's life." Pierce County Humane Society uniformed officer H. A. Dennison holds 2-year-old Leon Bedford while petting "Frisky" Bedford. The 6-month-old German Shepherd saved Leon from drowning in a small pond near the Bedford home at 5112 So. 10th St on April 8, 1938. Leon gratefully accepts the medal for his friend while she sits inside the back of the society's panel truck. (T.Times 4/26/1938, pg. 3)

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dennison, Harold A.; Bedford, Leon; Lifesaving--Tacoma;

Gunnar Anderson, pianist, with his German shepherd, Duke. The two will ride in Anderson's Austin convertible from Tacoma to Cincinnati where he will study at the Cincinnati Conservation of Music under Dr. Karol Liszniewski. Mr. Anderson is considered one of the superior young pianists on the Pacific Coast. He has worked in Hollywood, on radio and as an organist. His goal is a career as a concert pianist. (T. Times, 7/13/1938, p. 2).

Anderson, Gunnar; Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianists--Tacoma--1930-1940; Convertible automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Austin automobile;

In July of 1938, Gunnar Anderson and his German shepherd, Duke, were preparing to drive to Cincinnati where Gunnar was to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. A popular radio pianist and organist, and member of the KVI staff, Mr. Anderson had won a scholarship to study under Dr. Karol Liszniewski. Later, while serving in the Navy in San Diego, he played the organ for services and special occasions, and assisted in the chaplains office. Gunnar Anderson was a member of the American Theater Organ Society, and he died June 5, 1984 in Bellingham at the age of 76. (T. Times, 7/13/1938, p. 2).

Anderson, Gunnar; Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianists--Tacoma--1930-1940; Convertible automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Austin automobile;

Margaretbelle Leslie holds Cocker Spaniels from her father John C. White's kennels at Alderton. Left to right:Toby, Western Girl, White's Carmen Glo, and White's Aggravating Aggie will be entered in the December 11 dog show. The Tacoma Cocker Club Speciality Show was held at the Greenwich Coliseum. More than 70 Cocker Spaniels were on display. (T. Times, 12/2/38, p.14).

Dogs; Dog shows; Leslie, Margaretbelle;

Cocker Spaniels from the John C. White's kennels at Alderton. Left to right:Toby, Western Girl, White's Carmen Glo, and White's Aggravating Aggie will be entered in the December 11 dog show. The Tacoma Cocker Club Speciality Show was held at the Greenwich Coliseum. More than 70 Cocker Spaniels were on display. (T. Times, 12/2/38, p.14).

Dogs; Dog shows;

ca. 1938. Dogs were apparently welcome at this eating establishment as a large black Cocker Spaniel gets a treat from a man stting on a soda fountain stool. Begging on his hind legs appeared to have paid off for the pooch in a 1938 stock photograph. Although a touch of elegance is present with the rattan counter stools which slope back, hamburgers were still an affordable 10 cents each.

Dogs; Eating & drinking;

Commerce Street Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. Children and dogs anxiously wait to hear the winners' numbers announced for 70 prizes awarded after the parade. Nearly 1,000 dogs were shown. Participants wear baseball caps they received. Each participant received a cap, an ice cream treat and a treat for their dog. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;

Nearly 1,000 dogs and their masters participated in the Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade on Saturday morning April 22, 1939. Sponsored by the Commerce Street Business Men's Club, over seventy prizes were distributed to the winners in various catagories. No youngster went without some award, as each participant received a free ice cream bar, a baseball cap and a balloon - and every dog received a special treat. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals;