Dogs of the Titanic: 5 Things to Know Ahead of the 100th Anniversary Exhibition

There were three survivors on board the Titanic, who have barely received any attention over the past 100 years: The Dogs.

When the Titanic hit an iceberg on April 12, 1912, there were 12 dogs onboard the ship, according to a report from Yahoo News.

April 15th marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship, and in memory of the fateful voyage from England to New York; Widener University will be putting on an exhibit, which will feature the dogs on board the Titanic.

Joseph Edgette, the curator of the exhibition, told Yahoo news that there might have been more dogs on board the ship, but eye witness accounts and ship records confirm that there were 12.

There is such a special bond between people and their pets. For many, they are considered to be family members, Edgette said. I don't think any Titanic exhibit has examined that relationship and recognized those loyal family pets that also lost their lives on the cruise.

5 Things to Know About the Dogs on Board

Captain's Dog: The ship's captain, Capt. Smith, had a dog that had been seen in various photographs. But according to Edgette, the dog seen on board the Titanic was taken off the ship before it set off on its voyage. The dog remained overnight, but was taken home to his daughter the next morning, so he was not on board when the ship got underway, he told Yahoo News.

Size Matters: The dogs that were saved were all tiny, according to Edgette and therefore there were no concerns about them taking up space that could have been used by humans in the life boats.

Breeds and Owners: Among the dogs saved was a Pomeranian named Lady. It was brought on board by Miss Margaret Hays who wrapped the dog up in a blanket when asked to evacuate the ship. The second Pomeranian was owned by the Rothschild's and the Pekinese dog was named Sun Yat-Sen and was brought on board by the Harpers.

Class: Only first class passengers had dogs on board the Titanic and one family was reported to have received an insurance settlement for two of their dogs that did not survive, according to Edgette.

Photos: Two photographs of dogs from the Titanic have survived. One depicts crew members walking them, and another is of a group of dogs tied to a rail on the ship.

The Dogs That Did Not Survive

Not all the names and owners of the dogs are known, but it has been reported that a toy poodle belonged to Helen Bishop, a Fox Terrier named Dog and an Airedale belonging to John Jacob Aster named Kitty.

Ann Elizabeth Isham had a Great Dane on board the ship, but when the iceberg was hit she was told she could not bring it onto the rescue boat as it was two big. Isham refused to leave without her dog and several days later her body was found clenched onto her dog.

Widener University Exhibit

The Titanic exhibit opens at Widener University on April 10th 2012 and runs until May 12th. Upon entering the gallery, visitors will receive a replica of the Titanic's boarding pass.

The exhibit will also include displays on the impact the Titanic has had on popular culture, the company that built the Titanic, the details about the ship, the Widener family, the recovery efforts following the tragedy, and how families memorialized members who lost their lives.