Maine Memory Network

Perry Greene with his Chinook sled dog team, Portland, ca. 1940.

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1940 Location: Portland; Wonalancet; Waldoboro; Warren Media: 16mm film

Best Friends: Mainers and their Pets

Humans and their animal companions began sharing lives about twenty-five thousand years ago, when, according to archaeological evidence and genetic studies, wolves approached people for food scraps. As agriculture grew and people began storing grains around ten thousand years ago, wild cats helped keep rodents at bay and feline populations thrived by having a steady food source. Over time, these animals morphed into the dogs and cats we know today, becoming our home companions, our pets.