From the 1940s through the 1960s, the Alfred Mainzer Company of Long Island City, NY published a series of linen and photochrome humorous cat postcards illustrated by Eugen Hartung (or Hurtong) (1897–1973), sometimes referred to as “Mainzer Cats”. These postcards normally illustrate settings that are filled with action, often with a minor disaster just about to occur. While the dressed cats were by far the most popular and most plentiful cards, Hartung also painted other dressed animals – primarily mice, dogs, and hedgehogs.

MSP Ash Regan and Lexie take part in Holyrood Dog of the Year on June 26, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the annual contest, jointly organised by the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, members of the Scottish Parliament compete with their dogs and Dogs Trust rescue dogs for the title of “Holyrood Dog of the Year”. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

A dog Prince Dudeman stands on the head of Ryan Thor in the annual Surf City Surf Dog event, at Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, September 25, 2021. (Photo by Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo)

A dog jumps into a pool at the “Dogs and Fun” fair at the Westfalenhallen congress centre in Dortmund, western Germany, on May 23, 2025. Until May 25, dog breeds and dog-related shows, activities and products will be presented during the fair at the Messe Dortmund event venue. (Photo by Ina Fassbender/AFP Photo)

A dog owner feeds her dog during a dinner for dogs event ahead of the Lunar New Year at Kong Shan Yunnan Bistro restaurant in Shanghai, China, on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Reuters)

A dog relaxes in an oxygen capsule “DOGS O2” at the Ownd Cafe on September 13, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. The capsules come in a variety of sizes available for both dogs and cats for relaxation purposes. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A dog dressed as a Zoltar fortune telling machine participates in the Halloween Dog Parade in New York. (Photo by Timothy Clary/Getty Images)

Nepalese police officers worship a dog during the dog festival as part of Tihar celebrations, also called Diwali, at the Central Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu, Nepal October 29, 2016. Dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during Tihar festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals that is also dedicated to the worship of the goddess of wealth Laxmi. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)