Cats and Dogs All at Sea

In a life from which children and families are usually missing, and are often very much missed, pets provide a focus for emotions and affection.

Sydney photographer Sam Hood went on board countless ships between 1900 and the 1950s. He took hundreds of photographs of crew members for souvenirs of their visit or to send home to families. This selection of photographs shows how much pets meant to many seafarers. We do not know who most of the people are – detailed records have not survived. But their attachment to their little shipmates is very apparent.

Produced by Australian National Maritime Museum.