Visitors to Peterborough Museum can discover more about man's best friends and their beloved family pets with a new exhibition 'Perfect Pets'.

 

The exhibition looks at the history of pet ownership going back to ancient times, when the Romans kept dogs for hunting and as guard dogs and the Egyptians used to worship cats! It looks also at how people have had portraits painted of their pets over the centuries, superstitions about different creatures, and how animals have been used in peace and war and have even saved lives.

 

The exhibition also comes up to date by looking at different sorts of pets that people own today, how people dress pets and even where pet food comes from! For children there are a number of hands-on activities including a pet hospital and a chance to find the missing budgies hidden around the exhibition!

 

The exhibition will be supported by a number of events and activities over the coming weeks, including a chance to meet some unusual pets - from giant rabbits to spiders - during the afternoons of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April. On Saturday 14 June there will also be a pet show, with a chance for children to bring along their favourite pet and they may win a prize. Details and entry forms for the pet show are available from the Museum.

 

Karen Verdegaal, Museum Exhibitions Officer for Peterborough City Council says 'Many people have at least one pet, which is a valued and much-loved member of their family. This colourful and hands-on exhibition highlights that many people over the centuries have had similar pets, !'

The 'Perfect Pets' exhibition is at Peterborough Museum from Saturday 19 April until Sunday 15 June and is open 10am 5pm Tuesday Saturday and 12noon - 4pm on Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Admission is free of charge.