Animals have always been close to the heart of humankind. They appear in the earliest imagery as the very first subjects of art. Household pets are a fixture for many a family. This is true in art as well. In shifting the balance away from animals as pure symbols, the Impressionists identified them as members of the household. One of the most famous Impressionist paintings to include a dog is Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Madame Charpentier and Her Children." Renoir also included cats in several paintings, perhaps the best-known being "Girl with a Cat." Research into the human-animal bond indicates that living with a pet may have some important benefits for children. Pets may enhance their self-esteem and help them to learn empathy. This lesson and community experiences provide an innovative and interesting opportunity to learn more about pets. Further, children will learn more about art and the importance of pet ownership to famous artists, thereby increasing their interest in learning about art.