Levi the rescue dog used this LED collar when jogging at dusk with his handler. The LED light is related to safety, the human-pet bond and multi-species encounters in the night.

In spring 2025, the National Museum of Finland and the ethnology programme of the University of Helsinki carried out an educational cooperation project on contemporary documentation. In the course “Living Materiality”, students worked in groups to complete night-themed recording exercises. Some of the angles from which they approached the theme were the range of species that move around at night and the insecurity associated with night. The museum selected some of the objects from the recording exercises, such as the LED collar, to become part of its collections.

Levi as an LED collar user

Born in Romania in 2019, Levi is looking for a permanent home. Levi currently lives in a foster home in Helsinki where walks are an everyday and recurring part of his days. Levi’s foster handler gave an interview about walking with Levi at night and how Levi uses an LED collar. The handler walks Levi on Levi’s terms. The last walk of the day is in the late evening.

The LED collar came with Levi from his previous home. When out walking, Levi primarily wears a reflective harness to which the leash is attached. The LED collar is put around Levi’s neck to provide additional safety when there is little or no light outside. Levi is used to all the equipment, and he did not resist when the LED collar was put on him. The loose LED collar could sometimes fall off Levi’s neck. Where the dog has several pieces of equipment, the handler will usually take a phone on a walk and wear a reflector in the darker months, if they remember.

The rechargeable LED collar has three light functions, one steady light and two flashing. The bright green light is visible from a distance and signals to other pedestrians that an encounter is approaching, which can be avoided if necessary. The purpose of the collar is therefore to help protect Levi, a black dog, by making him as visible as possible, while at the same time facilitating interaction with other passers-by.

For the handler, the LED collar as an object represents togetherness and experiences with Levi. The collar holds a lot of feelings associated with Levi. The LED collar is a symbol of nice moments spent together outdoors, but it is also a reminder of the challenges Levi has overcome to be able to enjoy being outside.

Adding the LED collar to the collection

The museum’s collections include objects related to and used by species other than humans. They tell the story of the coexistence of animals and humans and their permanent and changing relationships. Based on the material in the collection, other species have been tools, prey, ingredients and food – but also companions and beloved family members, objects of interest and admiration.

The perspectives of other species on the objects in the collection are not widely recorded. In Levi’s case, the aim was to indirectly record the experience of using the LED collar by interviewing Levi’s handler about their observations and interpretations of the dog’s behaviour. Photos of the collar being used were attached as additional material.

The LED collar complements the museum’s collection of other species and introduces new perspectives to it. The LED collar is a look into the material culture associated with dogs, the most common pets in Finland, and consumer culture more broadly as a phenomenon. There is a wide range of accessories and equipment for dogs. Typically, they are related to hobbies and spending time together, such as going outdoors and the safety that goes with it. The equipment is for both people and pets. They provide security for the pet and give the human a peace of mind and a sense of control over the environment.

Maria Ollila

Photographs:

Levi the dog walking in a park with an LED collar around his neck. He is also wearing a harness and a leash. Photos: Jussi Järvinen, Finnish Heritage Agency.
Dog’s LED collar (IT238). Photos: Ilari Järvinen, Finnish Heritage Agency.

Sources and further information:

Interviews on 27 April 2025 and on 9 May 2025, Esa Setälä.
Learn more about Levi the dog: https://kulkurit.fi/puppy-levi/
This recording is part of the night-themed documentation project of the TAKO network of museums.