Post A Pup Sundays!

Freda Josephine MacDonald was born in St Louis, Missouri, on June 3rd, 1906, and died on April 12th, 1975. She was a larger-than-life, vibrant woman who was extraordinarily courageous, bold, erotic, alluring, and much more than an entertainer. Her lovers were both men and women who were legendary in their own right. Some include Colette, (possibly) Frida Kahlo, Le Corbusier, and Georges Simenon. Her exotic beauty was admired by the likes of Hemingway, Matisse, Picasso, Jean Cocteau, and many other artists and writers of that time; she still inspires them today. Miss Baker (her last name came from her second husband, who she ditched but kept the name) made an enormous splash when she left America for the friendlier shores of France following another African American performer named (fascinating woman) Bricktop. The same Josephine who, as a child, was eating out of garbage cans catapulted herself into the stratosphere, becoming the first African American woman to star in a major motion picture in 1927's Siren of The Tropics, which was just one of the many things she became the first black woman to achieve. She became a French Citizen in 1935 and played a vital role in the Resistance during WW2, using her enormous celebrity to get access to high-ranking German, Japanese, Italian, and Vichy officials and dignitaries. They had no idea this dazzling woman was working as a spy. 

There is no way to condense a fully lived life, so I will not attempt it, but I will say Baker was amazing. Though true love eluded her for her entire life, as did the ability to have children naturally, she adopted children from all over the globe, making up her Rainbow Tribe. Josephine's most photographed animal was her pet cheetah, Chiquita, but she was also a lover of all sorts of animals, including dogs. She can be seen with her Pekingnese Baby Girl and Fifi, her Brabancon, on a train in 1928(photo below) and with Baby Girl in the header photo. Pekingnese and Brabancons seemed to be her favorite breeds, as she had them throughout her life. 

Because she refused to perform in segregated venues or suffer the indignities that African American performers endured, she rarely visited America. However, that didn't stop her from supporting the Civil Rights movement, even standing by MLK's side at the March on Washington in 1963. She passed away in her sleep in her beloved country, France.

Pekingnese were the dog of choice in Imperial China; they were bred to be loyal companions who prefer to snuggle on your lap and be close to you. Although they make good pets for families, this breed is better off without chaos, rambunctious children, or high-energy pets. 

Brabancons, aka Brussels Griffons, are very good in families with other pets but have an affinity for cats. These tiny, mighty pups are excellent watchdogs but aren't keen on dogs they don't know. They are also not enthusiastic about small rodents, birds, and the like. So if you want one of these pups, a cat would make a good companion.