On a mission to find Fido
als as possible to help us understand how changing attitudes towards dogs have spread through society, and how the role of dogs has changed throughout history,” he says.
“Whether it’s a gravestone marking where a service animal has been interred, or a plaque on a park bench dedicated to the memory of a beloved pet, we want to create a sort of virtual book of remembrance that helps us understand the historical significance of the relationship between humans and dogs.”
Council permission for the Northumberland Park cemetery was given in the 1940s.
Although dogs dominate, Monty the tortoise (died 1953) appears on one headstone while another is to “Our darling cat Snooky, 10 years of love and happiness.”
An orphaned fawn which was adopted by the RSPCA and who became a local favourite called Bambi after the Disney character, has a headstone with the inscription: “In memory of Bambi, a beautiful lady, died 1957. Angels guard you.“
There are headstones to “Sammy, our wonderful lad”; “treasured memories of Billy & Jean, beautiful ladies”; “Bimbo, a faithful friend; in memory of Twinkie”; “Toby, a loving protector”; “darling Monty, 1944-56”; and Teddy, our pal”.
Dogs afforded full names include Sandy Allan (1963), Radar Graham 1945-57 and Trixie Blacklock (194358).
Another headstone bears the inscription: “treasured memories of a beloved Pekingese lady Goldie Haigh, died 1958, aged 12 years. Closed for aye, the sparkling glance, that dwelt on me.”
The RSPCA also erected a headstone to Pop the Alsatian, who detected landmines during the Second World War and was demobbed after suffering leg wounds. He was found dead at the foot of a cliff at Cullercoats in 1949.
Another memorial was to a dog saved from the Dunkirk beaches and who served as mascot on board a minesweeper based at North Shields.
Eric has also visited the stuffed sheepdog at the Turk’s Head pub in Front Street in Tynemouth. Known as Wandering Willie, he is believed to have become separated form his master while driving a flock in 1873.