I wouldn’t have thought so, with the cramped conditions, but from what I’ve read, there were dogs and some other livestock on the Mayflower.

There are no reports that the Pilgrims brought any large livestock animals with them on the Mayflower.  But at least two dogs are known to have participated in the settling of Plymouth. In fact, the only animals known with certainty to have come on the Mayflower an English mastiff and an English springer spaniel, who are mentioned on a couple of occasions in the Pilgrims’ journals. 

Edward Winslow writes that a female mastiff and a small springer spaniel came ashore on the first explorations of what is now Provincetown. There may have been other animals on the Mayflower, but only these two dogs had been specifically mentioned.

Although not specifically mentioned, it seems likely that they had with them some chickens, because chicken broth was given by Mayflowerpassenger Edward Winslow to the Wampanoag sachem Massasoit when he was sick in early 1622; and it is also likely they brought some pigs, and perhaps even a few goats.  In 1623, Emmanual Altham visited Plymouth and reported there were six goats, fifty pigs, and many chickens.

I hope you have a safe and happy holiday with your family/pets, and friends… Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Tags: dog, dog friendly, Family Pets, pets