Lansingburgh's Notable Dogs and Cats (1891)

Very few residents of the 'Burgh know how many noted dogs and cats are owned here. Prominently among them is Mr. McMillan's thoroughbred black and tan bitch "Dot."

We begin with "Dot" because she is the smallest of the lot. "Dot" weighs just one pound and three ounces and would often be taken for a rat except for her beautiful color. During the winter Mr. McMillan brings "Dot" out in his pocket, but during the pleasant weather "Dot" runs on the sidewalks. Mr. Simmons' Scotch terrier "Tippy" is a thoroughbred, but he is quite a crank. If he is ordered out of doors he runs under a bed. If you coax him to follow you in the street he will go home, but if you tell him to go home he will follow you all day. He is naturally cold blooded, having been brought up on ice. Mr. Van Schoonhoven's dog "Jerry" and Mr. Peebles' dog "Jack" are brothers, and very fine types of a cross between a mastiff and St. Bernard. Mr. Shaw's dog "Pat," a thoroughbred pug, is one of the finest in this section. Mr. Lea's two dogs, "Useless" and "Worthless," are among the notable dogs. Mr. Tarbell's "Jack" is well known all over the village. "Jack" is a thoroughbred bull terrier, perfectly white, and is now eleven years old. Mr. Tarbell has offered $100 to any man who will find a colored hair on him. A stranger, meeting Mr. Tarbell and "Jack," said he was an awful savage looking dog, and asked if he was a good watch dog. Mr. Tarbell said he was one of the greatest watch dogs in the world. "Why," Tarbell says, "Jack sleeps right in my front hall by the door, on a velvet Turkish rug, and if any thief or burglar comes into the house and steps on "Jack" he will never stop running or howling 'till he reaches the back summer kitchen. You see he awakens the whole family and the thieves get out. Talk about a watch dog, he beats all." "Jack" is the only dog we ever knew that would climb up a man's back and take a cracker from the rim of a man's hat. He has the reputation of being the greatest cracker eater and free lunch fiend in America. Everybody likes "Jack," and well they may. He cannot be bought. The greatest dog in Lansingburgh is Commissioner Gallagher's "Grover."

He is a superb mastiff, presented to Mr. Gallagher by the Irish princess "Beatrice." The princess' proper name was Mulkahay and she lived in Dungannon, county Sligo, Ireland. "Grover" is nearly eight months old and weighs 126 pounds and 10 ounces. His dam was Sarah Bernhart and his sire was Brian O'Grady. At Christmas "Grover" was presented with an elegant collar with a heavy silver plate for his name to be engraved on. The collar measures just 35 inches—one inch larger than ex-President Cleveland's collar. Mr. Gallagher has been offered $500 for "Grover" and refused it. He will undoubtedly take the first prize at the "bench show" in Troy, where all the above dogs are entered. We have not time this week to give you any more dogs, but will extend the list next week. We will, however, give you a very few cats. Mr. Gillette's tiger cat "Tom" is a beautiful specimen and weighs 14 pounds and a half. He is very intelligent, but not particularly friendly. Mr. Hopkins has the largest cat in the county. He calls him "Ahasuerus" and he weighs exactly 16 and a half pounds. "Ahasuerus" was found in the woods near W. C. T. Campbell's house during a snow storm, and one of the gentlemen got out of the sleigh, rescued the cat and gave him to Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins brought "Ahasuerus" up on pop-corn and milk and no money will buy him. The greatest cat in seventeen counties is Mr. Strunk's cat "Tom." "Tom" is a beautiful white cat with the exception of his tail and ears, which are tortoise shell. "Tom" knows more than many human beings. Sometimes there will be a game of euchre going on. "Tom" will jump up on a chair and watch the game. If anyone denies suit he will make a terrible fuss. He knows the game. The guests of "The Brunswick" all make a pet of him, and there is nothing too good for him in the house.

All through the country cats are attracting more attention than formerly and deservedly too."Lansingburgh's Notable Dogs and Cats." Lansingburgh Courier. March 10, 1891: