Marilyn Jones | Emily Carr Chronicler

Billie arrived in Emily Carr’s life around 1906–1907. He was a half-bred Old English Sheepdog, given to her as a gift when he was about three years old. Though Carr initially refused him, Billie made his choice clear—he stayed. She later wrote, “He magnificently ignored my refusal and simply settled in.” Years later, after his death, Carr opened a dog breeding and boarding kennel in her backyard at the House of All Sorts.

Emily Carr’s pet monkey Woo was one of the most eccentric and beloved companions in her life. Carr was an avid animal lover, and Woo, a small Javanese macaque, became one of the most memorable of her many pets. Woo’s presence added both chaos and joy to Carr’s household, particularly during the years 1913 – 1926 when she was running the boarding house known as the House of All Sorts in Victoria, a residence…