'Creature Comfort: Animals in the House'

Shelburne Museum founder Electra Havemeyer Webb famously kept more than one poodle by her side, and animal themes showed up in her extensive collections of folk art, as well, from sculptures to ceramics to textiles. A current exhibit at the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education gets right at the heart of our love for furry — or feathered — friends. Assembled by chief curator Kory Rogers, the selection of decorative objects from the permanent collection as well as items on loan variously explore the human/animal bond, emotional connections, ethical treatment and some fantastical plays on the notion of “Creature Comfort.” According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, some 65 percent of American households have at least one animal companion. Whether or not you’re among them, vicarious warm-and-fuzzies await you at this exhibit.