These 16 Vintage Pet Photos Show How People Have Always Been Nuts for Their Animals

The most adorable thing about vintage photography? Definitely the pet photos!

With all the pet videos and memes online, it’s hard to imagine that we’ve ever been more pet-crazy than right now. But, we have photographic evidence that people have always been wild about their pets. It’s so wonderful to see these old photos of women in hoop skirts with their dogs, or what tiny dog sweaters looked like almost a century ago. Photos were a luxury for many up until WWII, so if you spent the time and money to take a portrait of your pet or even have them in your shot it either meant that you had beaucoup bucks or that you were really smitten with your pet (or both).

Via/ Library of Congress
Just taking the rabbit for a walk. Via/ Library of Congress
If there’s anything cuter than a baby, it’s a baby with a dog. Via/ Flickr
Via/ Flickr
Via/ Flickr
Via/ Flickr
First lady Grace Coolidge holding her pet raccoon. Via/ Library of Congress
Tiny dog sweaters have been around for a long time. Via/ Library of Congress

For the loyalty they show us, and for all the hours they spend cheering us up, our pets are absolutely worth all the effort. They always seem to know when we could use a good laugh or a cuddle. It seems like a no-brainer to some that if they are part of the family, they get to be in the family pictures.

This dog looks absolutely devoted to this young woman. Via/ Flickr
Pete, President Warren Harding’s pet squirrel, being fed a nut. Via/ Library of Congress
Via/ Flickr
Important business dog takes his lunch at his desk. Via/ Library of Congress
Via/ Flickr
You know they are family when you hire a professional to take a portrait of your beloved pet. Via/ Library of Congress
It seems unlikely that the goose is doing much of the pulling on this rig. Via/ Library of Congress
Via/ Library of Congress

We hope you enjoyed these wonderful vintage pet photographs as much as we did. They prove that pet-owners have always been gaga for their pets. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

To see the world’s best jumping dog, click here.
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