During long deployments at sea, livestock such as sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, ducks and geese were kept on board to provide fresh provisions for the crew. These animals were an important part of daily life and helped sustain Sailors far from home. Other animals served a different role. In 1814, Lt. Beekman Verplank Hoffman brought his dog, Guerriere the Terrier, aboard as both a companion and an able rat catcher. During the ship’s World Cruise from 1844 to 1846, Constitution housed two monkeys, a chameleon and several lemurs and parakeets. The ship also carried a naturalist, Dr. Joseph Cooper Reinhardt, who collected additional specimens throughout the voyage, contributing to the scientific understanding of the regions visited. #usnavy #navyhistory #ussconstitution