a dog naps, a cat plots

PD courtesy the rijksmuseum
http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.298752

Here's a drawing circa 1892 by the master of the pet portrait, Henriette Ronner-Knip (Dutch, 1821-1909).  The guard dog, on a far too short chain for my liking, sleeps while the wild birds partake from his dish.  But who might seize that opportunity?  Well, let's see. . .

This guy, that's who.
Look out, birds!  And don't you forget to take this to heart yourself.  I cannot help but think Ronner-Knip intended this as a gentle lesson; the genre painters of the 19th c. never could let a chance at moralizing go by.