Shep: The Denver-Boulder Turnpike Dog

Shep became famous in history as a highway mascot who greeted motorists at the toll booths on the Denver-Boulder Turnpike.

In 1950, during the construction of the Boulder-Denver turnpike, a stray puppy wandered into the site where the workers would share bits of food with him. In 1952, when the turnpike opened to the motorists and the construction workers left, the timid dog began begging for food from the toll booth attendants. One cold night one of the attendant's working was able to coax the dog into his booth. The dog found a warm place to lie down and the attendant found company to better his night. Soon the dog, who was named Shep, became close friends with all the attendants.

Shep loved his new home and the motorists were thrilled to be greeted by the dog. In fact, drivers would pay a little extra to help buy dog food, give dog toys and treats, and even pull over to have their picture taken with Shep. It didn't take long for the Colorado Department of Transportation to make Shep the highway's unofficial mascot.

Despite all the love and attention Shep received, he still liked to roam off on his own at times but would always return. One day in 1958 he returned limping after he was mysteriously shot. Clyde Brunner, a Broomfield veterinarian, treated the dog for free and continued to donate his services for the rest of Shep's life.

In 1964, Shep was losing his sight and could barely get around. On August 3 of that year the men who loved and cared for him made the difficult decision to put Shep to sleep. The highway superintendent buried Shep next to the US 36 on-ramp. Two headstones were donated by residents, one with the inscription "Shep 1950-1964, Part Shepherd - Mostly Affection" and the other "Our Pal". Some suggested getting another toll booth dog but one attendant insisted "...nobody could take Shep's place...never".

The extra money the motorists paid, which was more than enough to feed and care for Shep, went towards the cost of the turnpike. In 1967, the turnpike was paid off, 13 years earlier than originally expected. In 2009, due to ongoing construction, Shep's grave was moved to Zang Spur Park, next to the Broomfield Depot Museum.

"He always wagged his tail at everyone who came by, and he was always happy," said Jane Spain, who helped lead the effort to move Shep's grave. "For everyone that went back and forth on the turnpike, he was their favorite thing."

Brownie: Daytona Beach's Town Dog

Brownie became famous around the US as the Town Dog of Daytona Beach during the mid 1900s.

In 1939, a tan puppy of plain looks and a very kind heart was born. He had no home but by the following year he became the dog who belonged to the town of Daytona Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast. The first to welcome him was Ed Budgen, the owner of the Daytona Cab Company. The owner and his drivers took an instant liking to the pup, which they named Brownie, and soon built him a dog house that sat outside their building.

It didn't take long for Brownie to become a favorite among the townspeople. He would play with the children during the day and often accompany the police officers on their patrols at night. He would have his picture taken with tourists, sit with people waiting for a cab or bus, and help lift spirits of those who were feeling sad. According to an interview by the Daytona Beach News-Journal in 2016, Fayn LeVeille (one of the children who played with Brownie) described Brownie as "a very special animal, one that you might only meet once in a lifetime and that when he looked into your eyes it was as if he could see right through to your soul."

One day Brownie was hit by a car that broke his hip. Many chipped in to pay his vet bill and the town's dog made a full recovery. To help pay for his food, vet bills and dog license, a coin jar was placed next to his dog house where locals and tourists could donate money. So much money was received that Budgen opened an account for Brownie at the Florida Bank & Trust (now the Halifax Historical Museum).

Brownie's popularity became known around the country. His story appeared in national newspapers and magazines, and every year he would receive Christmas cards and gifts from fans all over the US. Brownie lived a long and happy life. He died of old age on Halloween in 1954, and the community was heartbroken. He was given a funeral which many people attended, including the town's Mayor who delivered the eulogy. "Brownie was indeed a good dog," said Mayor Jack Tamm. He was buried in Riverfront Park under a granite slab that reads "The Town Dog, A Good Dog".

Bum: Belonged to No One but Loved by Everyone

A homeless dog, given the name Bum, became famous in history as the town's beloved dog in San Diego, California.

In 1886, a St. Bernard-spaniel mix puppy boarded a steamship, the Santa Rosa, in San Francisco and headed to San Diego as a stowaway. After he got off the ship in San Diego, he wandered around town getting to know the people. Everyone who met him fell in love with the free-spirited dog. He would sleep on the sidewalks and sometimes on people's front porches, and he was fed well by neighborhood butchers and local restaurants. Someone began calling him Bum and the name stuck. One restaurant even put up a sign that read "Bum eats her". Bum loved to roam the streets, hitch a ride on streetcars and even join the men on the fire wagon when the fire bell rang.

One day Bum got into a fight with another dog on the Santa Fe railroad tracks, and both dogs were hit by a train. The other dog died and Bum lost part of his tail and had to have his right front paw amputated. Bum eventually healed and was back out roaming the streets on three legs. A few years later Bum was injured again when his hind leg was fractured from a kick by a spooked horse. The local newspaper informed the concerned townspeople that Bum was doing well and would be out and about again in a few weeks, and they were welcome to visit him at a certain hour.

James Friend, a journalist (who often wrote about Bum) and telegrapher, saw Bum one day trying to climb aboard a north bound train. The porter discouraged him but Bum seemed determined to go. Friend sent a message to a reporter he knew in Los Angeles about the dog wanting to take a trip. The reporter met Bum at the train station in L.A., showed him around town for a couple of days then sent him back via train to San Diego.

When all dogs were required to be registered, Bum was granted a tag for life and his picture was featured on the first licenses issued.

In 1898, Bum was crippled with arthritis and by order of the Board of Supervisors, the town's dog was given a home at the County Hospital where he died a few months later on November 19. Local children collected pennies for his burial. It is not known where his grave site is, but a life-size statue of Bum sits in the pocket park in the Gaslamp District.

“Many of the townspeople would have gladly taken him home, but he wasn’t interested. He wanted to belong to the whole community," says Bob Marinaccio, the executive director of the Gaslamp District Historical Foundation.

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Bummer and Lazarus: San Francisco's Dogs

Bummer and Lazarus became famous dogs in history as best friends who roamed the streets of San Francisco begging for food and keeping the rat population down in the 1860s.

In 1860, a short-legged black and white dog established himself outside Frederick Martin's saloon in San Francisco. He wandered along Montgomery Street (the main street for saloons and restaurants) begging for food, earning him the name Bummer. In 1861, a yellow-black dog was being attacked by a larger dog and Bummer came to his rescue. Bummer chased away the larger dog and cared for the severely injured dog. He would bring him food to eat and curl up with him at night to keep him warm. The dog's condition improved after a few days and he was given the name Lazarus because it was as if the dog had risen from the dead like Lazarus in the Gospel of John.

The two dogs became inseparable and their friendship touched the hearts of those around them. Stray dogs were becoming a big problem in the city and in 1862 an ordinance was passed to collect and destroy all dogs that were not claimed after a certain period of time. Rats were also a problem, and fortunately Bummer and Lazarus had proven themselves to be excellent ratters. It was reported on one occasion, the two dogs killed 400 rats when a fruit market was overhauled, and on another occasion, they killed 85 rats in 20 minutes. The merchants, who came to rely on the dogs, felt they were earning their keep on Montgomery Street and started a petition to keep the dogs around. Several hundred people signed the petition, and Bummer and Lazarus were officially exempted from all animal control ordinances in the city - they were allowed to roam free wherever they wished.

Bummer and Lazarus became famous for their unique bond of friendship and for their expertise at killing rats. Newspapermen hovered around Martin's saloon collecting stories about their lives and escapades. Personality-filled reports of their adventures were often told in the newspapers. One story told about the time the two dogs were accidentally locked in a jewelry store overnight leaving the owner a mess when he returned in the morning, and another story told about the time Bummer and Lazarus stopped a runaway horse and wagon on Clay Street.

Lazarus died in 1863 after being poisoned with rat-bait laced meat, possibly by the father of a boy who claimed the dog had bitten him. He passed away with Bummer at his side. Bummer was not the same after losing his best friend. He rarely left the area where Lazarus died. Two years later, a drunk kicked Bummer down a flight of stairs and the injured dog died two months later. The man who kicked Bummer was arrested and fined.

Both dogs were stuffed and placed on display in saloons the dogs had frequented while alive. In 1906, the bodies were donated to the Golden Gate Park Museum where they remained in storage until they were destroyed in 1910. In 1992, a brass plaque immortalizing Bummer and Lazarus was placed in Transamerica Redwood Park. It reads "...Their devotion to each other endeared them to the citizenry... They belonged to no one person. They belonged to San Francisco... Two dogs with but a single bark, two tails that wagged as one."

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Bob: The Dog Who Loved Trains

Bob became famous in history as the free spirited dog who loved to travel on trains in Australia during the late 1800s.

According to William Seth Ferry, the first time he saw the scruffy mixed breed puppy was in a cattle truck at Terowie (where he was a special guard with the railway) with about 50 other stray dogs from Adelaide who were destined to become rabbit hunters. Ferry took a fancy to the pup and offered to buy him from the rabbiter. Several sources say the rabbiter refused to sell him but said he would swap him for another dog so Ferry found a stray dog loitering by a police station and made the swap. However, according to Olwyn Parker, author of The Railway Dog, Ferry paid five bob for the puppy, hence he got his name.

For five years Bob lived with Ferry, first in Terowie then in Petersburg (now Peterborough). He followed Ferry to work and rode with him in the guard's van, sometimes in the engine car, traveling thousands of miles around the South Australian countryside. Bob eventually became a free spirit, hopping on trains by himself, so when Ferry was promoted to Assistant Station Master in Western Australia in 1889 he decided to leave the adventurous dog behind with the railway men.

Bob traveled far and wide but he would always come back to his home base around Petersburg. He loved riding the trains, his favorite seat being on top of the coal box, and he loved the men that worked on them. At night, Bob would follow one of the railway workers, usually the driver, to his home where he would be fed and looked after. Bob was a real charmer and became well known in the towns he passed through - the sight of a dog on top of the coal fender brought much joy to adults and children alike.

Bob lying on top of the train

In 1939, The Advertiser said Bob traveled freely "like politicians" on the trains, suburban trams and even the Murray steamers, and attended official functions: "He was a guest at the banquet for the opening of the railway from Peterborough to Broken Hill and appeared at the opening of the Hawkesbury Bridge in New South Wales."

Bob was well-liked by the travelers and the children adored him. The kind-hearted dog made many friends during his travels and even helped, at least one man, during a difficult time. Bob sat next to the man, Thomas McMurtrie, who was lost in grief after the death of his daughter-in-law and five grandchildren in a diphtheria outbreak. Parker wrote in her book "The man gave little sign of having noticed the dog’s presence, except once or twice when his hand came down and rested gently on Bob’s head - just for a moment, but the comfort was mutual ... This dog, though he’d never know it, had saved his sanity these past long hours."

In 1892, Bob disappeared for four months. He was taken by a sheep farmer and it is not sure if Bob escaped or was seen by one of the railway men. Parker thinks he was spotted when he came into town with a mob of sheep and the railway men angrily took back their dog from the sheep farmer. After this incident one of Bob's friends, a commercial traveler, had a special collar made for him with the following inscription: STOP ME NOT BUT LET ME JOG FOR I AM BOB THE DRIVERS DOG - SAR (South Australian Railways).

Bob died in 1895 at the approximate age of 13 years. His collar is on display in the National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide and in 2009 the people in Peterborough and wider South Australia raised funds for a statue of Bob.

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Nig: The Hoover Dam Mascot

Nig became famous in history as the mascot to the crew of Six Companies who built the Hoover Dam. The work was trying and risky, and the beloved dog who accompanied the men to work everyday helped make their lives a little easier.

In 1932 a Labrador mix puppy was born in the crawlspace beneath a building in Boulder City, the city that housed the men who built the Hoover Dam. The stray pup had free run of the city and quickly became well-liked by all. He was known as "nobody's dog and everybody's dog." One day a worker decided to take the puppy to the work site where he became a welcome addition to the workforce. The men called the dog Nig.

Nig joined the workers on the trip to the dam in the mornings and would ride back with them at the end of the work day. He became their mascot and could get around the canyon with much ease as he made his rounds to greet the workers. He would climb ladders, follow the men into the tunnels, and hop on the wooden platforms that lowered the men and equipment down into the canyon.

One day Nig wanted to return to the city earlier than usual and ended up getting a ride back with Frank Crowe, the chief engineer of the Hoover Dam. Even the big boss must have loved the dam's mascot a lot because the dog was seen sitting in the front passenger seat of the fancy car while the man's wife rode in the back.

The men would share their food with Nig and sometimes the food would be sweets. Once Nig ate so many candy bars he became ill. He was treated by the town's doctor and later an ad was placed in the local newspaper saying "I love candy but it makes me sick. It is also bad for my coat. Please don't feed me any more. Your friend, Nig". When Nig recovered, the men contributed money to improve the dog's diet. The city's mess hall prepared his meals and even packed a lunch for him in a special container to take to the dam. Nig would carry the container in his mouth when he boarded the transport truck to go to the dam, place the container alongside the worker's lunch pails when he got there, and would eat with the crew when the lunch whistle blew.

Nig was definitely part of the crew and was loved by all, except for one angry man. One day Nig was napping on a walkway when the mean worker ordered him to move out of his way. When Nig refused, the worker kicked him. Other workers saw this cruel act towards their friend and quickly pounced on the man. A ranger pulled the men off of him, and after learning why they were beating on him, the ranger escorted the man to the edge of town and told him never to come back.

After the dam was complete, Nig continued to make his rounds there. On February 21, 1941, an unseasonably hot day, Nig decided to take a nap in a spot of shade under a truck. When the driver of the truck returned, he failed to notice the sleeping dog. Nig died instantly when the truck ran over him. People were heartbroken when the news of the accident reached town. It was said to have been the saddest afternoon Boulder City had ever experienced. "Rough, tough rock-hard men wept openly and unashamed," a newspaper wrote.

Nig was buried in a concrete crypt at the edge of the cliff overlooking the dam so he could continue his oversight of the daily activities at the dam. The men who worked alongside Nig contributed what little money they had to buy a plaque memorializing the dog that meant so much to them.

In the late 1970s, a visitor to the dam felt the inscription on the plaque "NIG" was racist and he campaigned to have the plaque removed. The issue hit the national press and the plaque was later taken down. Many of the Boulder City and area residents, especially those who knew the dog, rose in protest to reinstate the plaque. A new plaque was placed that identifies Nig as the dam's mascot but does not mention his name.

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Patsy Ann: Juneau's Official Greeter

Patsy Ann became a famous dog in history as the official greeter to passengers on steamships in Juneau, Alaska.

In 1929, a bull terrier puppy named Patsy Ann came to Juneau, Alaska with her owner Dr. Kaser from Portland, Oregon via ship. Although loved and well taken care of by Kaser and later the Rice family, Patsy Ann was not cut out to be a homebody. The outgoing dog enjoyed wandering around town and spending time on the docks. She would make her rounds at local businesses to visit her many friends who would give her a pat on the head and bits of food to eat.

In those days, a ship's arrival was uncertain. However, despite having been born deaf, Patsy Ann always seemed to know when a steamship (carrying supplies, mail and people) was approaching long before it came into sight. It didn't take long for the citizens of Juneau to follow behind the little white dog when they saw her heading for the harbor. Patsy Ann also had an uncanny ability to know what dock the ship would moor. On one occasion, the people were given the wrong information and gathered at the wrong dock. Patsy Ann looked at the crowd for a moment, then headed to the correct dock.

Patsy Ann eventually chose to spend a lot of her time at the longshoreman's union hall on the waterfront. Some believed she liked it there because the longshoremen shared her keen interest in the arrival of ships. But wherever she was, she would always drop whatever she was doing to greet the ships. Patsy Ann became well known by tourists and was soon the most famous dog west of the Mississippi - more photographed than Rin Tin Tin. Her image appeared on postcards, and for many tourists she was the highlight of their visit to Juneau.

Because of her unerring sense of the arrival of each ship and her faithful welcome at wharfside, Mayor Goldstein made Patsy Ann the Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska in 1934. When the city instituted dog licensing laws that year someone bought Patsy Ann a license and collar. Apparently, she did not care to wear a collar because after a few days the collar, as well as other collars, mysteriously disappeared. Eventually the city donated her annual license fee and Patsy Ann was exempt from wearing a collar.

In later years, Patsy Ann's gait slowed down due to rheumatism but she still managed to head to the docks when she sensed a steamship turning down the channel. On March 30, 1942, Patsy Ann passed away peacefully in the longshoreman's hall. The next day, a crowd of mourners watched as her coffin was lowered into Gastineau Channel.

In 1992, a statue of Patsy Ann was installed on the wharf she knew so well. Clippings of dog hair from all over the world were added to the bronze at the time of casting, symbolically uniting the spirit of dogs everywhere. Today Patsy Ann, in memory, continues to greet tourists coming to Juneau. The visitors are encouraged to "greet her and touch her and in leaving, carry with you the blessings of friendship through your life's journey."

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