Dogged but doomed

Animals and children always carry a health risk for publicists and “Pastorale Kennels” realised this to their cost in the 1930’s. “Pastorale Kennels” was a well known breeding kennels in Minnesota in the 1930’s, who commissioned a clever idea for a picture to advertise themselves in other American States.

Before one of the biggest kennel club shows in the U.S, as a publicity stunt, seven Old English sheep dogs were harnessed together to pull a sled, instead of the usual huskies.

However, the sheep dogs got loose from the sled and ran off. Unfortunately, they ran onto a train track in front of an oncoming train, and as they were still harnessed together, they were all killed, destroying a whole dog stud lineage in one fell swoop. The photographer who had come up with the idea was sued by the kennels, but the case later collapsed and the kennels were forced to close down.