...and had to spoil many negatives, as they moved and played around. His costumes helped hold a kitty or puppy to a pose, but were not confining to young, squirmy pets. Frees only photographed about 3 months a year because the work was so "nerve-racking."
See this.

An article in Life Magazine from 1937 describes how the animals are patiently posed, and often distracted to get the right reaction. Many shots are spoiled and he uses a fast shutter speed.

There are other books written by and about the photographer where his method is described.

"Harry Whittier Frees (1879–1953) was an American photographer who created novelty postcards and children's books based on his photographs of taxidermied animals." -from Wikipedia.

[Wikipedia's "support" for that assertion is merely another unsupported assertion. -tterrace]

Does anyone know if these animals are alive or stuffed? Thanks.

[One hundred years later, they're neither. - Dave]