Small dachshund of Mrs. Clara Lea sunbathing on brick path.

From September of 1942 until the end of March, 1947, 713-15 Commerce housed USO #2, a club reserved for the entertainment of servicemen and women of color. One of the unique activities in the club took place each year during "Be Kind to Animals" week. Servicemen assisted in the planning and production of a dog show with the pets of local children. Ribbons were presented to the best in each catagory. In this photograph dated September 16, 1945, unidentified children and servicemen pose with a variety of dogs at the club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

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;

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;

ca. 1940. Artichoke plant. Mrs. Reynolds is holding her Boston Bulldog while standing in a garden beside a large artichoke plant in this circa 1940 photograph. Steep shingled roof of house in background.

Dogs; Artichokes;

Boy poses with his dog and trophy cup on steps to house. For Pet Parade held on Commerce Street on May 18, 1940.

Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pets; Children & animals--Tacoma; Awards;

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;

German Drahthaar dog owned by W. F. Kerr. "Max von Lowenberge," a German Drahthaar pointer, would be exhibited at the Tacoma Kennel Club show at the Greenwich Coliseum on March 30-31, 1940. The Tacoma Times noted that he was the only one of his breed on the Pacific Coast. Drahthaars are the leading hunting and pointing dogs of Germany and are also good on big game. This rare dog was born in March of 1939 in Nebraska. (T.Times 3-29-1940, p 15)

Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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

Animals - Domestic Animals - DogsPeople - Men

Best Cocker of dog show trophies awarded to "Windridge Melani", a Cocker Spaniel owned by Miss Arline Swalwell of Everett, Washington, at the Cocker Spaniel Club's exhibition on November 5th, 1939 at the Greenwich Coliseum. Pictured with Melani are Ray Grummel, club president, and her owner Miss Swalwell. There were 71 entries in the 10 hour dog show, with proceeds going to purchase a "seeing eye" dog for a Tacoma blind person. (T. Times 11/6/1939, pg. 11)

Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cocker Spaniel Club (Tacoma); Swalwell, Arline; Grummel, Ray;

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 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.;

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;

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;

The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, held on April 22, 1939. Children walking with their dogs in a parade on Commerce Street. One child dressed in a clown suit, straw hat, & beard, is holding two costumed dogs on leashes as they pass by the Roxy Theatre. (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;

1939 Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade. Judges pose for portrait on the flatbed of a truck. Prizes, including a "Hi Speed" wagon, are lined up on the front of the wagon. The Red Rooster Cafe's neon sign is prominent in background. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Judges--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Toys; Red Rooster Cafe (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Kids and dogs of all shapes and sizes turned out for the April 22, 1939, Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade sponsored by the Commerce Street Business Men's Club. Entry rules were simple: be 16 & under, fill out an entry form and bring your dog. Some wore costumes to catch the judges eye. Overall, the parade attracted nearly 1,000 participants and many thousands lined Commerce Street from 7th to 17th to applaud the marchers. Over 70 prizes were awarded but no youngster - or - dog went without some sort of award. Each child got free ice cream, a baseball cap and balloon and a special treat for his or her dog. (T. Times, 4/24/39, p. 1; T. Times 4-22-39, p. 1-article; T. Times 4-21-39, p. 1-article).

Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Contests--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade. The April 22, 1939, parade has ended, sidewalks clear, and parents, children, and dogs wait for the judges' decisions. Proud children pause to pamper their faithful pets. (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;

Commerce Street Dog (Mutt) Parade. Several children are standing and holding onto their dogs as they wait for announcement of winners. Although some were disappointed, all received baseball caps, ice cream, and doggy treats.(T. Times, 4/24/1939, p.14).

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

The Commerce Street Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. A young girl with her puppy, tagged number 73, receives a Tacoma policeman's admiration. Another girl holds her sleeping puppy and does not seem to approve of the attention. Any child 16 and under could parade with their dog and over 1,000 turned out to compete for over 75 special prizes. (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; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

Commerce Street Businees Men's Club Dog Parade. Lining-up and receiving last minute instructions, adults and children with their dogs are backed-up on Commerce Street north of the Winthrop Hotel for the dog parade. 1000 dogs were entered and marched before crowds estimated in the thousands. (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;

Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade. A cluster of girls walk with their dogs in the April 22, 1939, parade. One, wearing a nurse's costume, is pushing her pet in a doll buggy. Smiles on faces in the crowd show it was a fun day for all. Several of the girls wear the baseball caps given to each participant. (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;

Commerce Street Dog Parade passes in front of two flatbed trucks parked end to end. Standing and seated on the back of the trucks are judges, announcers,children, and a photographer. Restaurant signs visible. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

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

Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. A large crowd of spectators line the sidewalks along Commerce St., north and south of Ninth St. "Dave's Lunches/Billiards" sign projects over the sidewalk in the foreground, Winthrop Hotel on left. (T. Times 4/24/39)

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

Commerce Street Business Men's Dog Parade, April 22, 1939. View of the dog parade moving down the 800 block of Commerce Street. The clock tower of (Old) City Hall is prominently in the background. A large crowd of delighted spectators, numbering in the thousands, line the sidewalk. (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; Spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

1939 Commerce Street Dog Parade. Clowns carry a banner announcing "Dog Show, Sat. Sun. April 29th. 30th." This was an advertisement for the upcoming all breed dog show to be held on those dates. A large parade of children and dogs follow behind the banner along Commerce St., south of Ninth St. (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;

1939 Commerce Street Dog Parade. Children and their dogs follow a marching band and "Dog Show" banner in front of Jacks Griddle Restaurant at 912-14 Commerce St. Two children wear signs on their backs: "Berg's Tavern" and "Booths for Ladies." (T. Times, 4/24/39)

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

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;