A Nation of Animal Lovers
"Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem." ― A.A. Milne
Do you have a pet? It is no secret that British people love their pets to bits and according to the RSPCA, in 2017, about one in two households in the UK own a pet; that is over 8.5 million dogs and 8 million cats!
Our love of animals is reflected in our moving images, from newsreels from the 1920s through to home movies from the 1940s to '60s and pet videos on social media today. This gallery brings together a small selection of our popular pets and animal films, including a collection of Topical Budget newsreels, a home movie of a trip to the zoo and a close encounter with a very cute bunny!
Films in this gallery
Bruce Robertson collection: Bruce Robertson Reel 2, Merton Park (1940s)
Lion cubs and London babies.
London Zoo and little babies feature in this home movie that shows domestic life in south…
School Sports Day 1955; London Zoo Aug 1955; Ruislip Lido 1955
From egg-and-spoon races during the school sports day, to the local lido via London Zoo, this film captures a young…
Good Friday 1938
A cherubic baby survives a wrestling contest with dad to go nose-to-nose with a pet rabbit.
Topical Budget: Auctioning Dogs For Middlesex Hospital, Crystal Palace (1926)
Topical Budget's camera is on hand to capture this odd spectacle of auctioning dogs For Middlesex Hospital at Crystal Palace.
Topical Budget: Tallulah Bankhead At The Dogs, Wimbledon (1928)
Footage of Greyhound Racing at Wimbledon, 1928, featuring American actress Talluah Bankhead
Topical Budget: Canine Beauties, Alexandra Palace (1927)
North London goes to the dogs, as Alexandra Palace hosts a dog show for Ladies Kennel Association Members.
Topical Budget: The Dog Days At Richmond, Richmond (1926)
The Richmond Championship Show was first held in 1895 and is one of the oldest shows of its kind in…
Topical Budget: Precocious Youth, Richmond (1928)
Young riders show ability in children's pony class at Richmond Royal Horse Show.
Topical Budget: Dogs Of High Degree, White City (1922)
Beauties Great and Small at Canine Show.
Topical Budget: Horses New Year’s Feast, Cricklewood (1913)
This short film shows animals at the Home Of Rest For Horses during the
annual New Year feast at a charity…
Topical Budget: A Cat And Dog Life, Alexandra Palace and Crystal Palace (1928)
Dogs and cats go on show at two princely London venues – among them some of the fluffiest kittens London…
More galleries
Joan Littlewood - The need for Fun Palaces
A selection of Joan Littlewood's films documenting Londoners' leisure time activities in the 1960s.
It's Your Story!
A curated selection of family films and amateur adventures from our archives in celebration of Home Movie Day and UNESCO…
Easy as ABC
Skip class today and immerse yourself in our carefully selected films covering nearly a century of school-going.