Well, it has happened. . We are out for a long Christmas break and Mrs. Olsen is home with the two cats, two rabbits and two dogs that occupy her house.
We have been learning about the Progressive Era in Social Studies 9, and part of that Era was the formation of the Humane Society in 1866. Earlier animal societies had been formed in Europe, but now Americans joined groups that were concerned about the treatment of animals: including domestic pets and livestock and transportation animals. Here is a picture of the Dorothea Dix Fountain in Boston that was created for horses to drink out of. Dorothea Dix was a popular supporter of animal rights, but she is best known for her pioneering work with the mentally ill.Mrs. Olsen shares her home with Joey and Bumbles. They are not owned by her, but they live with her, and actually just kind of tolerate her.
The most famous cat was Petrarch's cat. Petrarch was an Italian poet, who was very attached to his cat. He actually wrote a poem to his cat, which has made that cat very famous. It was even put on a tomb. Mrs. Olsen did grow up in Salem, but her family dogs are buried out at the family farm near Turner. It makes her sad to think of her animals that have passed on, but happy to think they can hear the calls of the Canadian Geese in the fall as they fly over their final resting place. Many students also have animals and have adopted them from Humane Societies. Mrs. Olsen's two dogs are rescues.
