Dr Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall DBE (1934-2025), the legendary primatologist and U.N. Messenger of Peace, dedicated her life to animal welfare—and her favourite animals were dogs. She credited her childhood companion, Rusty, as one of her greatest teachers. "He proved to me that animals have minds, personalities and feelings. This gave me great strength in my convictions and work with chimpanzees."

In July 1960, at age 26, Jane travelled from England to Tanzania and entered the world of wild chimpanzees armed with only a notebook and binoculars. With patience and optimism, she won their trust and opened a window into their lives, revolutionising our understanding of animal intelligence and emotion. 

 

Jane Goodall & family dog Astro

Throughout her life, Jane maintained that dogs taught her about unconditional love, faithfulness, and the depth of animal emotion. "You cannot share your life and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities, minds, and feelings," she often reflected.

Jane's legacy lives on through the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots, the global youth program she founded in 1991, now active in over 130 countries. She inspired millions to recognise their power to create positive change for animals and the environment.

 

"This is me with Astro, lurcher, family dog. It is a big sadness in my life - I cannot have my own dog any longer because I travel so much. Fortunately at our family home there are always dogs, and one always bonds with me"

 

Perfect Pets founder Maria Arnold had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. Goodall. Jane generously wrote a special article about Rusty for Perfect Pets and recorded a video testimonial endorsing our work connecting Australian pet lovers with responsible breeders and rescues (see articles below).