It is no secret that Dr. Jane Goodall loved chimpanzees.

Although chimps held a special place in her heart it was dogs who were her favorite.

When asked what her favorite animal was, Jane Goodall answered, “My favorite animal altogether is a dog because dogs have taught me so much and dogs are so faithful, and dogs give unconditional love, and I don’t like to think of a world without dogs.”

This is a woman who speaks directly to my heart.

And Moe’s.

Jane Goodall changed how the world sees chimpanzees— but one of her biggest influences was a dog.

She recalled being told early in her work that Chimps shouldn’t be named, they should be numbered.You can’t talk about their personalities. And you certainly couldn’t talk about them having emotions.

Jane Goodall and Rusty

It was the memory of her childhood dog Rusty that gave her the conviction that her critics were wrong.

“My dog Rusty, when I was a child, taught me that as absolute piffle,” she said in a 2023 New York Times interview.  “Baldardash. Rubbish”

Rusty was a neighborhood dog who belonged to a nearby hotel but would come over to her family’s home and spend most of his time with them

It was like the canine  had been “sent” to her by a higher power , she said, reminiscing, “Rusty, I’ve never known a dog like him.”

However, she admitted, any dog likely would have made a similar impression.

She has spoken often about how people can learn from their relationships with the animals in their lives.

“You  cannot share your life with a dog and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities, minds, and feelings,”

Jane Goodall had a heartfelt connection to Dogs so much so that on her milestone 90th birthday, she spent it surrounded by 90 dogs on a beach at Carmel.

Hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Network, a nonprofit, and its founder, Charles Knowles, she received a 90 dog salute from the guests and their dogs, Great Danes, goldendoodles, chihuahuas, and other dogs bounding across the sand in honor of Dr. Goodall.

It was described by a guest as being like heaven, you open your eyes and there are just dogs everywhere  happy and running free.

Oh, how I know that feeling.

Now Jane Goodall is back to running free in a heaven with all the animals who have loved her

Rest in peace, Dr. Jane Goodall.

April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025