Domesticated Dog Named World’s Smartest Animal
The domesticated has dog dethroned the Beaver, earning this year’s world smartest animal distinction
From the bench of an all-white Steinway & Sons grand piano, the centerpiece in a marble-floored foyer with ceilings resting 30ft above, Adelaide, a 7-year-old Dalmatian, sat surveying the front lawn through arched bay windows, her tail hovering above the foot pedals.
She wears a fire engine red collar. Dangling off the front is a rose gold bone charm inscribed with her name and date of birth, May 9th, 2014. Her shoulders are peeled back, her paws neatly facing front. Her coat, as unique as any Dalmatian: short, fine, and dense, with black spots scattered from neck to rear.
It was a big day for Adelaide. As president of the International Domesticated Dogs Association (IDDA), Addy, as her caretakers call her, was preparing herself to accept the Kingdom Award for World’s Smartest Animal on behalf of all dogs, at this evening’s ceremony. Woody Harrelson was hosting, Jane Goodall presenting, and ABC was responsible for broadcasting it live domestically, with a YouTube feed for international viewing.
The distinction, centuries in the making for the species, fondly reminded Addy of all those before her whose pawprints came before.