The Dogs of Titanic

🐾 Did You Know? The Dogs of Titanic

For more than a century, the story of the Titanic has fascinated the world. Whether you first learned about it in history class or watched the unforgettable movie, chances are you know about the ship’s tragic sinking on April 15, 1912—a disaster that claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.

But what many don’t know is this: there were dogs on board, too. Twelve of them, to be exact.

First-Class Pets at Sea

In those days, it was common for first-class passengers to travel with their beloved pets. The Titanic even had a top-of-the-line kennel where dogs were cared for daily and taken out for exercise on deck. Still, many of the smaller dogs stayed in their owners’ cabins, pampered and protected as part of the family.

The Lucky Three

Only three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic. All three were small enough to be quietly brought into lifeboats—most likely wrapped in blankets or tucked into a coat or handbag.

These tiny survivors were:

• Lady, a Pomeranian owned by Margaret Bechstein Hays
• Sun Yat Sen, a Pekingese belonging to Henry and Myra Harper
• A second Pomeranian, smuggled aboard Lifeboat 6 by Elizabeth Jane Rothschild

Thanks to their small size and devoted owners, these dogs made it safely to rescue aboard the RMS Carpathia.

The Ones Who Didn’t Make It

Sadly, at least nine other dogs were also aboard the Titanic, most of them larger breeds housed in the kennel. As the ship began to sink, it’s believed that someone—possibly a kindhearted passenger—unlocked the kennels and freed the dogs. Witnesses later recalled seeing them running along the tilted deck in panic.

Some of the known dogs lost in the disaster include:

• A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and an Airedale Terrier, owned by the children of Philadelphia coal magnate William Carter
• Kitty, an Airedale belonging to millionaire John Jacob Astor
• Gamin de Pycombe, a champion French Bulldog purchased in England before the voyage

Gamin’s story has a haunting twist. His owner had been on his way to the French Bulldog National Specialty in New York, which went on just a week after the tragedy. One of the judges that day, Samuel Goldenberg, had also been aboard the Titanic and survived.

The Legend of Rigel

One often-told tale from the disaster involves a brave Newfoundland named Rigel, reportedly owned by First Officer William Murdoch. According to the story—published in the New York Herald—Rigel swam through the icy Atlantic and barked to alert the Carpathia to lifeboats nearby.

It’s a beautiful story, but there’s no record of Rigel in any survivor account, and historians believe it’s more legend than fact. Still, it’s a comforting image—whether it really happened or not.

A Heartbreaking Goodbye

Of all the dog stories from the Titanic, perhaps the most heartbreaking is that of Ann Elizabeth Isham. A first-class passenger who boarded at Cherbourg, she refused to leave the ship without her beloved Great Dane, who was too large for a lifeboat. Isham was one of just four first-class women who died in the tragedy.

According to some reports, her body was later found by a recovery ship—with her arms wrapped around her dog.

Remembering the Paws Onboard

It’s been 113 years since the sinking of the Titanic, yet the stories—both large and small—still move us today. As we remember the immense human loss, let’s also pause to honor the faithful companions who were part of that journey.

From the three tiny survivors to the loyal pups who never made it home, they remind us of a truth all dog lovers know: love—especially the love between humans and dogs—always finds a way to be remembered.