[ Sporting Magazine ]
The Sporting Magazine (1792 - 1870) is considered the first general sporting magazine, though in its later decades it gave considerable emphasis to fox hunting. But it published all manner of sporting-related material, from news stories to poetry to calendars of upcoming sporting events. The magazine originally had the subtitle "Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of the Turf, the Chace, and every other Diversion interesting to the Man of Pleasure, Enterprize and Spirit." [more at Wikipedia]
The following item, from the November 1819 issue, is a bit of social satire which appeared in a letter to the editors; it includes an exaggerated and unflattering portrait of a (fictional) Countess, as described by the letter-writer's aunt:
"... leaving aside the Stentorian screamings of her large cocatoo, and the filth of its neglected perch in the anti-room, who could ever bear her fondness for that dirtiest of all creatures, her large Newfoundland dog? He is generally ushered into the drawing-room before dinner, and shakes his shaggy coat without distinction or mercy upong the garments of the company, or leaves upon your arms and hands a muddy memorandum of his paws."
"But you recollect," replied I, in the gentlest tone of humble representation, "you surely have not forgotten that this worthy and faithful animal saved the life of her beloved daughter, who had accidentally fallen into the large basin at the end of the long avenue in the park."
"True, true," said my aunt, "there is something in that; but the merit of the dog is a direct censure of the neglectfulness of the mother." (61 - 62)