4. A museum to celebrate the history of dog collars
Another contributor to the condition of grassy lawns and fields is man’s best friend, the humble dog. And what do people do with dogs when they acquire them? They collar them. Evidently, they’ve collared dogs for centuries, as the Dog Collar Museum attests. Situated on the grounds of Leeds Castle, a centuries-old Norman stronghold in Kent, England, the museum is called the “world’s only dog collar museum” by the BBC. The museum, which opened in 1977, is quite small. It is based on a collection of dog collars donated by Gertrude Hunt, in memory of her husband, historian John Hunt. The collars, of which there are more than 130, cover a period of human-canine interaction going back nearly six centuries. From them, visitors learn of the earliest collars, worn by shepherd dogs for protection against wolves and bears.
Numerous other donors have expanded the museum’s collection, which occupy former stables in Leeds Castle. Some of the collars feature large and pointed iron spikes. Such would have been worn by shepherd dogs, as well as hunting dogs throughout Europe. Others are gilt and ornately etched and decorated. One such intricately decorated collar bears the dog who wore its owner’s coat of arms. Some collars bear quotes of significance to the dog’s owners, and some bear the name of the dog itself. According to the museum, about 500,000 visitors examine the dog collars each year, as part of a visit to Leeds Castle which features other attractions. Among them are the castle battlements, the Gate House, and amusements such as miniature golf and play areas for children. Pets are not allowed.