Emily Carr, a Canadian artist, writer and affirmed dog lover, suffered her first heart-attack in 1937, a second in 1939, a stroke in 1940, another heart attack in 1942, and her final heart attack on March 2, 1945. Though she is remembered largely for her paintings and was one of the first artists to attempt to capture the spirit of Canada in a modern style, her health caused her to shift from painting to writing.

“Emily Carr and Her Dogs” is made up of twenty-five vignettes which tell the story of her joys and tribulations in raising Old English Sheepdogs in Victoria, particularly the dogs named, Flirt, Punk, and Loo. Critics said her writing was direct and honest, a breath of fresh air laced with humor and wry self-awareness. Good qualities for an Old English Sheepdog owner, we think, and perhaps for Belgian Griffon owners, as well, for that’s the breed to which she later switched when she “downsized” her dogs. 

Image: Emily Carr and the passel of dogs she lived with in her caravan she dubbed, “Elephant” on a sketching trip in 1934. Image found on Pinterest and happily attributed upon receipt of information.