Rebecca’s War Dog of the Week: Paulo in the streets of Paris, circa 1920

By Rebecca Frankel

Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent

Over the holiday weekend I saw this image posted on a Facebook page that features a wonderful selection of eclectic and charming images from a worldwide archive of photos past. And though it’s a little late, this photo taken in 1920 seemed a fitting Memorial Day tribute. The provided caption (somewhat bluntly mistranslated from the French) gets the basic information across. The man identified as Andrivet had lost the use of his legs and the dog, who appears to be pulling him along a Paris street, is called Paulo. But what caused Andrivet’s injuries or what bonded this pair is not explained, though given the date, one could make a decent guess.

After a little digging, I found another photo of Andrivet and Paulo (likely taken the same day even) in a collection of old Popular Science magazines. While the details are still scant, the small clip dated May 1920 reports that during battle in Argonne both Andrivet and Paulo were wounded. The dog would make a full recovery but his master would not. And because he could no longer get around on his own, Paulo would pull Andrivet in this three-wheeled cart while the WWI veteran steered.

"Paulo," the article notes, "is an excellent motor, and he never stalls."

Also this week we remember, among others, Keaton Coffey, Sean Brazas, Michael Brodsky, and Joshua Ashley.

Rebecca Frankel is away from her FP desk, working on a book about dogs and war.