Dogs in Early Bakersfield

Bakersfield’s population almost doubled between 1890 and 1900 after the value of the area’s oil was realized. As the human population grew, so did the pet population. Faced with an overabundance of stray dogs, Bakersfield began requiring its citizens to pay $2.00 ($50.00 in today’s money) to license their animals; unlicensed dogs were impounded at the city pound, which had primarily been used to house stray horses and cows.

Fortunately for history, three of the early dog license books were donated to the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield. These books provide a wealth of information about dogs and their owners at the turn of the 20th century. The license books, which date from 1898, 1900, and 1901, record the owner, breed or description, and name of approximately 340 dogs. From saloon owners to bank tellers to madams to doctors and everyone in between – it seems that everyone in Bakersfield had a dog.

The books show that early residents were just as creative in the past as they are today in naming their animals. Contrary to what may be supposed, Fido and Spot were not popular names. In fact, the most prevalent name in the books is Prince, and it was bestowed on spaniels, setters, pugs, a poodle, and a bulldog. Naming a pet gives an owner an opportunity to illustrate his or her creativity, sense of humor, sophistication, and insight. On a more utilitarian level, names can signify the type of relationship between the animal and the owner. For example, while bank teller Charles Bickerdike may have taken his bird dog, Sport, with him while hunting, shoe-store owner Martin Gundlach’s pug, Mae, probably existed simply for the pleasure of her owner.

Interestingly, many of the names have a literary connection, indicating that early Bakersfield residents were well-read. Although not readily familiar to us today, Jip was one of the most popular names for dogs at this time; Jip became a trendy dog’s name after Charles Dickens featured a spoiled dog by that name in his novel David Copperfield Other literary dogs include Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), Jim (Huckleberry Finn), Crusoe (Robinson Crusoe), and James Whitcomb Riley (author of the poem “Little Orphant Annie”).

Most dogs live and die in relative obscurity, but because these dogs were licensed and records were donated to a museum, these much-loved dogs will be remembered for years to come.

Interesting and needing further research: most of the dogs in the books are male. Were early residents trying to control the dog population by killing most female pups?

Top Ten Dog Names in Turn-of-the-Century Bakersfield:

• Prince
• Jim
• Brownie
• Dick
• Sport
• Shep
• Bob
• Jack
• Jip
• Duke