8 Courageous Dogs

Here just a few of what can only be termed the "World's Most Faithful Dogs.":

Bobbie, the Wonder Dog
Bobbie was a Scotch collie and English shepherd mix that managed to find his way home after getting lost on a family trip. Bobbie traveled at least 2,800 miles from Indiana to Oregon in just six months in 1923. The Braziers identified the dog upon his return by three unique scars that he obtained before he was lost. His monumental feat of faithfulness did not go unnoticed. He was featured around the world in a series of newspaper articles and in Ripley's Believe it or Not. Having won the heart of a number of people, Bobbie received hundreds of letters, ribbons, collars, and even keys to various cities. He was also given a silver medal, engraved with the record of his long-distance journey by the Oregon Humane Society.

Bum
This story begins not with a dog, but with a burro named Shorty. After years of service in the mines around town, Shorty turned into the "beloved town mooch" in Fairplay, Colorado. When he died, it seemed only natural to bury him on the courthouse lawn. Enter Bum. Bum was a stray and, apparently, Shorty's best friend. Bum was so broken-hearted at the loss of his friend that he laid down on Shorty's grave. For days, he refused to move or eat, no matter what the townspeople did. Finally, Bum died as well. The townspeople were so moved by this act of devotion that they buried Bum next to Shorty and resurrected a monument to the two that still stands to this day.

Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby is another dog who came to fame after his master died. John Gray died on February 8, 1858 in Edinburgh, Scotland, leaving very little behind except for a little Skye terrier named Bobby. The day after the burial, the curator noticed Bobby lying on the fresh mound of dirt. He immediately chased the little dog away, but the next day he was back. Again, the curator chased him day, but on the third day-despite the cold and the rain-Bobby was back. Finally, the curator took pity on the poor dog and allowed him to stay.

For the next fourteen years, Bobby kept constant watch over his owner's grave, rarely leaving except to take his noontime meal at exactly one o'clock. After a while, he came to be known as Greyfriars Bobby, after the cemetery in which his master was buried.

Bobby outlasted his master by fourteen years. When he died, he was buried just inside the gate at Greyfriars Kirkyard. He could not be buried with his master because it was consecrated ground. His headstone reads, "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all."

Greyfriars Bobby may be gone, but he has not been forgotten. Shortly after his passing, a statue was resurrected in his honor. His story was also passed down and eventually a fictional version of the tale was published in a book titled Greyfriars Bobby by Eleanor Atkinson. In 1961, the book was made into a movie titled Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog. Another movie was released in 2006 titled The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby and starred Oliver Golding and Christopher Lee.

Delta
Delta is just one of many victims that died near Pompeii after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Her remains were found lying across the body of a young child, a futile yet protective gesture. However, that was not Delta's only remarkable act. With her remains was found a silver collar with her name engraved on it. It also stated that her owner's name was Severinus and that she had saved his life three times. The first time was when she pulled him out of the sea when he was drowning. Then, she fought of four attackers who had attempted to rob her master. Finally, she protected him from a wolf who tried to attack him near Herculaneum. Although Delta could not save her owner from Mt. Vesuvius, it certainly didn't stop her from trying.

Hachiko
Hachiko (also spelled Hachik?) was an Akita who was brought to Tokyo by his owner Kidesamur? Ueno. Ueno was a professor at the University of Tokyo. Every day, Hachiko would wait at the nearby Shibuya train station for Ueno to return. Ueno died in May 1925, but that did not stop Hachiko. He returned to the train station continuously for nine years, patiently waiting for his master to return.

About a year after Ueno's death, one of his former students spotted Hachiko during his daily vigil and, after following Hachiko home, learned about this remarkable dog. The student wrote and published several articles about Hachiko amazing loyalty to his owner. Eventually, national newspapers picked up the story and Hachiko soon became famous. He also earned the nickname "Chu-ken Hachiko" or "faithful dog Hachiko."

In 1934, an artist erected a statue of Hachiko at Shibuya Station, and Hachiko was present for its unveiling. The statue was recycled during World War II, but later resurrected by the original artist's son in 1948. Another statue of Hachiko stands in his hometown in front of the Odate Station and a third has been erected in front of the Akita Museum in Odate.

Hachiko finally gave his vigil when he died in 1935. His remains were stuffed and mounted and are kept at the National Science Museum in Ueno, Tokyo.

Old Shep
Shep was a border collie who followed his beloved master everywhere. When the man died in 1936, Shep followed the man's coffin to the train station in Fort Benton, Montana. When they refused to allow him on the train, Shep hung around the station yard and waited for his master to return. For the next six years, Shep checked every station that arrived at the station for his master. Tragically, Shep was killed by a passing train in 1942. His story was memorialized in a book titled Forever Faithful-the Story of Shep. He even has his own memorial with a large bronze sculpture of himself in a little park over looking the river.

Heidi
In 2001, a Jack Russell terrier named Heidi scrambled down a 500-foot drop to get to her owner, Graham Snell. Snell had fallen off the cliff while hiking and died instantly. Heidi stayed by her master's side for two days until rescue teams finally found them.

Buddy
Buddy is a touching story with a tragic ending. Bill Hitchcock was the sole caretaker of a remote lodge on Knight Island, Alaska. While out cutting firewood, Hitchcock was struck by a piece of timber and died. For the next two weeks, his faithful four-year-old black lab, Buddy, paced between his owner's body and the shoreline looking for help. He managed to survive the brutal February temperatures that reached -23°F before leading searchers to his owner.

After people heard of Buddy's story, over a thousand letters, calls, and emails were sent by people hoping to adopt him. Finally, Bill's neighbors, Roger and Marilyn Stowell, decided that Jim Brewer, the mayor of the Alaska Peninsula village of Chignik would get him.

Less than a month later, Buddy was dead. Brewer who had initially told reporters that "Buddy will just become part of our family," had had him put to sleep. According to Brewer, Buddy had difficulty transitioning to his new life and, after the dog bit him, he decided to surrender him to Anchorage Animal Control. Buddy was labeled "ineligible for adoption" and euthanized. The Stowells, who had told Brewer that he could return Buddy if it did not work out, were heartbroken as were the 999 other people who had expressed an interest in Buddy.- Darcy Logan

See also: Calculating Dog Years , How to Pick a Dog from a Shelter . Treating Aggressive Behavior in Dogs