An accomplished Maine finance executive, Richard McCarthy lives in Scarborough and serves as chief financial officer with both DLTC Healthcare in Rockport and Avery Investments in Portland. Richard McCarthy owns four dogs, including an adult English bulldog and a bulldog puppy.

Now recognized by the American Kennel Club as simply “bulldogs,” English bulldogs have come a long way over the years. They are the descendants of large-jawed mastiffs that likely came to Great Britain from Rome.

The first animal to bear the name “bulldog” emerged in 13th century England in conjunction with the blood sport of bullbaiting. A violent and cruel practice, bullbaiting pitted a chained bull against a pack of “bulldogs” in a fight that typically ended in death.

After the British government banned animal blood sports in 1835, dog versus dog fighting took the place of bullbaiting. Often hidden in the basement of buildings, pit-dog fights required quicker and more energetic competitors. To meet these demands, bulldog breeders began to produce animals that are very similar to the bulldog of today.