There is an Ancient Legend of the Cherokee Nation:*
Early in creation, man and animals lived side by side.
But one day the Great Spirit decided to separate man from the animals by giving man an eternal soul.
The Great Spirit caused a huge chasm to open in the earth with man on one side and the animals on the other side.
The chasm grew wider and wider until, at the very last moment, the dog jumped across the chasm to stand by man.
Sure that is why they used them for emergency food when things got bad.