Little Garnet

Former President Harry Truman once said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” While Little Garnet, the dog believed to be memorialized in this quilt, was not a presidential pup, clearly this dog was still loved the way that all pet owners treasure their furry family members. 

With an estimated 90 million dogs owned in the United States, it’s clear that our four legged friends are important companions in many homes. Beyond being beloved family members, dogs’ essential need to please people has made them valuable in countless settings both in and outside of the home.  

Dogs are brought to scenes of tragedies like the World Trade Center on 9/11 or mass shootings to comfort traumatized people and first responders. They are trained to help people with disabilities. They are companions to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Their sophisticated noses can detect anything from bombs to human illness. 

While a dog’s lasting memory after their too-short life may be felt strongest by the humans who loved them, creating this charming memorial to Little Garnet who may have loved getting the mail every day has allowed this particular dog to live beyond its years. We don’t know the name of this quiltmaker, but we know Little Garnet’s name and that this dog was adored.

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