The Striped Dog Story: An Unchosen Path in Pet History
It was a picturesque spring day in Southern California back in 1971. Following a pleasant family dinner, Dr. Willard Centerwall, a man of diverse accomplishments and boundless ideas, presented his children with an unusual and exciting proposition: would they like to participate in the creation of an entirely new kind of house pet? He painted vivid pictures of two possibilities. One was a domestic cat bearing the exotic spots of a miniature leopard; the other, equally intriguing, was the concept behind the Striped Dog Story – a canine companion adorned with stripes reminiscent of a zebra.
Centerwall family gathers for a pet project discussion
Dr. Centerwall described the potential spotted cat with enthusiasm – wild in appearance like an ocelot or leopard, yet possessing the gentle, purring disposition of a beloved lap cat. The idea captivated his children. However, nestled within this exciting family project lay the seed of the Striped Dog Story, an alternative vision that represents a fascinating road not taken in the history of domestic animal development.
The Visionary Behind the Choice: Dr. Willard Centerwall
Understanding the context of this choice requires knowing the man behind the ideas. Dr. Willard Centerwall was far from ordinary. His life journey took him from challenging beginnings – growing up in a single-mother household facing financial hardship – to academic excellence, graduating with honors from the prestigious Yale School of Medicine. His contributions spanned various fields: he pioneered screening methods for genetic disorders, served the underprivileged as a medical missionary in South India, and conducted ethnographic studies among indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin.
Dr. Willard Centerwall, innovator in medicine and pet concepts, at Loma Linda University
Beyond his medical and humanitarian work, Dr. Centerwall also served his country during World War II. His resilience was tested when he was captured and endured nearly a year as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp – a harrowing experience that undoubtedly shaped his perspective. This background of innovation, service, and survival perhaps fueled his willingness to explore unconventional ideas, like the potential creation of a zebra-striped canine companion.
Dr. Willard Centerwall during his time in the Army
A Fateful Family Dinner: The Spotted Cat vs. Striped Dog Dilemma
Returning to that spring evening in 1971, the atmosphere around the Centerwall dining table must have buzzed with excitement. Dr. Centerwall presented his two concepts: the miniature leopard cat and the zebra-striped dog. The striped dog story represented a bold leap into imaginative pet breeding, proposing a domestic dog with markings utterly unlike any existing breed. While the details of how such stripes would be achieved weren’t elaborated upon in the family account, the core idea was clear: a visually striking, striped canine pet.
The alternative, the spotted cat, aimed to capture the allure of wild felines like leopards and ocelots within a domestic temperament. Dr. Centerwall’s description of this possibility, emphasizing its potential sweetness despite its exotic look, seemed particularly compelling to his audience.
The Vote That Shaped a Breed (and Left a Story Untold)
Faced with these two extraordinary possibilities, the Centerwall children were enthusiastic participants. When the time came to vote, the allure of the spotted, leopard-like cat proved overwhelming. It won by a landslide, effectively closing the first chapter of the striped dog story before it could truly begin.
However, there was an underlying factor that may have subtly influenced the outcome. Unbeknownst to the children at that specific moment, Dr. Centerwall was deeply involved in a significant research project concerning the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC). His research focused on this small wild cat’s apparent immunity to feline leukemia, a critical area of study. This ongoing work with ALCs meant he already had access to and experience with the foundational animals needed for the spotted cat project. It’s plausible, as his grandson later reflected, that Dr. Centerwall presented the spotted cat option with a slight, perhaps subconscious, bias stemming from his existing research interests and resources. The path towards the spotted cat was already partially paved by scientific inquiry, while the striped dog story remained a more abstract, unexplored concept.
Becky Centerwall holding an early F1 hybrid cat, a result of the chosen path
What Became of the Winning Idea: The Bengal Cat’s Rise
The family’s decision set in motion years of dedicated effort, transforming the Centerwall household into “Cat Central.” The journey was fraught with challenges. Caring for Asian Leopard Cats involved specialized diets (including frozen chicks) and careful handling due to their wild instincts. Breeding ALCs with domestic cats, often black house cats initially, was complex. Early generation hybrids (F1s and F2s) required patient taming from birth, as they often emerged hissing and instinctively wild.
First generation F1 hybrid kittens displaying spotted coats
There were numerous disappointments, trial-and-error breeding attempts, and the sad reality of losses along the way. Kittens got lost, succumbed to various issues, or some cats proved unsuitable for breeding or mothering. Despite these hurdles, the project progressed. Promising kittens were raised within the family or placed in dedicated volunteer foster homes.
A pivotal moment came in 1980 when Dr. Centerwall connected with Jean Mill, another pioneer who had experience with ALC hybrids. Dr. Centerwall entrusted much of his breeding stock to Mill as his family circumstances changed. These “Centerwall Bengals,” including a particularly beautiful and docile cat named Favorite (Favy) by Dr. Centerwall’s daughter, became crucial foundation animals in Jean Mill’s program. Through Mill’s tireless work and dedication over decades, facing resistance and setbacks, the spotted cat concept eventually culminated in the officially recognized and globally popular Bengal cat breed.
Favorite (Favy), a key foundation cat, with Becky Centerwall
The Enduring Intrigue of the “Striped Dog Story”
While the Bengal cat stands as a testament to the success of the chosen path, the striped dog story lingers as a fascinating “what if.” It represents the road not taken, a concept born from the same innovative spirit but left behind by a family vote and perhaps, the practicalities of existing research. The idea of a domestic dog with zebra-like stripes captures the imagination, prompting speculation about the genetic possibilities and aesthetic outcomes that might have been.
The original account concludes with the author, Dr. Centerwall’s grandson, reflecting on his grandfather’s realized dream as he admires modern Bengal cats. He then playfully muses that, with the spotted cat firmly established, perhaps he might take on the challenge of developing the striped dog himself. This sentiment underscores the enduring appeal of the striped dog story – an idea that, though set aside decades ago, still holds a spark of imaginative possibility. It serves as a reminder that behind every successful innovation, there are often other intriguing ideas left unexplored.
Conclusion: A Choice Between Spots and Stripes
The tale of the Bengal cat’s origin is interwoven with the brief, captivating mention of an alternative: the striped dog story. Dr. Willard Centerwall’s 1971 proposition to his family presented a unique fork in the road of pet development – a choice between a spotted feline and a striped canine. While the spotted cat ultimately won the vote, leading to the creation of the beloved Bengal breed through years of dedicated work by Dr. Centerwall, Jean Mill, and others, the concept of the zebra-striped dog remains a compelling footnote in this history. It speaks to Dr. Centerwall’s imaginative vision and the myriad possibilities that arise during the process of innovation and selective breeding. The striped dog story, though unrealized, continues to spark curiosity about what might have been, a testament to the roads not taken in our relationship with domestic animals.
