This collection of illustrations was created for the video series Mossback’s Northwest, hosted by Knute Berger, broadcast on Crosscut and KCTS9 Public Television. This segment describes several historic dogs whose stories have become part of the legendary tradition of of the Pacific Northwest.
Cameo portraits of the Hero dogs of the Northwest.
Seaman was a Newfoundland that accompanied Lewis & Clark on their journey to the Pacific.
Like the explorers, Seaman encountered many dangers along the journey, including a notable fight with a beaver.
Unlike many of the dogs along the trail, Seaman fortunately escaped becoming food for the hungry explorers.
Owney was a sociable mascot for the US Postal Service, traveling all over the world.
After his untimely death, Owney was stuffed and preserved for display at the Seattle’s world’s Fair in the early 1900s.