Pets & their People
11 March to 27 September
About Pets & their People
We have been domesticating animals for over ten thousand years. But why do we want tame wolves in our homes or wild cats on our laps?
This exhibition explores the relationship between humans and their pets – or pets and their humans.
Pets & their People draws on depictions of pets in stories, imagery and poetry in the Bodleian’s collection – from one of the earliest recorded depictions of an assistance dog for the blind to a rare copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that has never been displayed in the UK before.
The exhibition asks how the special bond between owners and their pets has evolved over time, and what that evolution tells us about who we really are.
Are we taming our pets, or are they bringing us back to our wild roots?
Exhibition book
Pets & their People
By Charles Foster
Bestselling author Charles Foster provides an extraordinary mix of psychology, science and cultural history as he explores the fascinating relationship between humans and their pets.
These wonderful images are actually postcards, collected by the artist Tom Phillips (1937–2022) and part of the archive donated to the Bodleian Libraries.
Dating from the c1890s – 1960s, they capture different relationships between people and the animals around them.
Call for submissions
As part of the exhibition, the Bodleian Libraries are inviting members of the public to contribute to a contemporary record of people and their pets. Participants are encouraged to submit photographs featuring themselves and their pets, either by recreating images from the Tom Phillips postcard collection or by sharing original photographs inspired by the theme.
Send them to socialmedia@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. When you submit, please include:
- Your name/handle
- Your pet’s name
- A rough geographic place and date
Terms and conditions
By submitting an image to the Bodleian Libraries, you confirm that:
- You have taken the photograph or have permission from the copyright holder to share it.
- All individuals featured in the image have given their consent for it to be used, or if under the age of 18, consent has been obtained by a parent or guardian.
- You are happy for the Bodleian Libraries to share the image across its website, social media channels and other digital channels.
Participants may withdraw their consent at any time by contacting socialmedia@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
Free admission. No ticket required.
Dates & times:
Wednesday 11 March to Sunday 27 September 2026
Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday from 9.00am to 4.30pm
Sunday from 11.00am to 5.00pm
Location:
ST Lee Gallery, Weston Library