Bobbie the Wonder Dog: A True Story

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Fierce winds plagued the region, whipping up sudden and unpredictable dust storms that made Bobbie’s navigation and resting time extremely difficult.Food and water were scarce, as with all desert regions. In late 2012, responding to public sentiment that his burial location in Portland did not properly honor his story and his connection to his hometown, a grassroots movement was started by a group of Silvertonians with the goal of repatriating Bobbie's remains to Silverton, for reburial and memorialization. [9] See also [ edit ] We might have a tendency to judge these brethren and other members like them. We might say, “I would never have abandoned the Prophet Joseph.” Officials from the Oregon Humane Society, amazed yet skeptical at the sheer magnitude of his feat, decided to investigate these claims. Not only did the accounts allow them to piece together a fairly accurate map of Bobbie’s expedition, they ultimately confirmed that he had indeed walked the entire 2,500 mile trip home. His approximate route took him over plains, through deserts, and across the Continental Divide during the bitterest months of winter. Homeward Bound But this isn’t where the story ends.In fact, it’s just the beginning. Fast forward to February 1924, six months after Bobbie went missing, he miraculously reappeared in front of his family’s cafe in Oregon.

In 1923, Bobbie joined Frank and Elizabeth Brazier for a cross-country drive from Silverton, Oregon, to Indiana, Frank's home state, where they planned to visit family. During a stop in Indiana, Bobbie was chased off by loose dogs, and after a week of searching and placing newspaper ads, the broken-hearted Braziers had to give up and start the drive home. Cross-country travel was still a novel and risky undertaking in 1923. The Ford Model T had made car travel accessible to middle-class Americans just 15 years prior. The Interstate Highway system was still decades away. Even historic Route 66 would not start construction for another three years. Motorists largely depended on local roads at a time when reliable maps were hard to come by. It would take the Brazier’s weeks to complete their trip.

I believe that every man, woman, and child has felt the call of heaven at some point in his or her life. Deep within us is a longing to somehow reach past the veil and embrace Heavenly Parents we once knew and cherished. The plains did host a variety of wildlife, but catching prey was no easy task.Bobbie would’ve needed to hunt rabbits, hares, and rodents to survive, a far cry from the daily meals provided by his loving family. And let’s not forget the predators. This arid, elevated area is known for its unique geological features and diverse landscapes.But it wasn’t just the scenery that proved to be challenging. They had many great traits that allowed them to make significant contributions to the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. But they were also human, weak, and fallible—just as you and I are. Some found themselves at variance with the Prophet Joseph Smith and fell away from the Church. Later, many of the same people had a change of heart, humbled themselves, and once again sought and found fellowship with the Saints. Alexander, Charles D. (1966) [1926]. Bobbie, a Great Collie. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. OCLC 1417264.

People who had fed and sheltered Bobbie on his journey wrote the family to tell about their time with Bobbie. The Humane Society of Portland was able to use these stories to assemble a relatively precise description of the route Bobbie took. [4]

In February 1924, six months later, Bobbie returned to Silverton mangy, dirty, and scrawny, with his toenails worn down to nothing. Richard, Terry (March 21, 2008). "Silverton wears its history on its walls". The Oregonian . Retrieved March 27, 2012. The Savior extends His hand to you. And, as He did to those fishermen who stood long ago on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, with infinite love He speaks to you: “Come, follow me.” 2 That Bobbie survived his crossing is extraordinary. Winter in these mountains is merciless. Temperatures rarely drift above freezing and heavy blizzards depositing up to 100 inches of snow per season. Mountain trails become impassible. Cloudy skies and imposing peaks permit just four hours of sunlight each day.

Bobbie, driven and resourceful, likely used other scents and cues to help him navigate, such as water sources, animals, trails, or even humans. Decades later, a 70-foot-long mural of his life was painted on a wall facing the busiest street in Silverton. A life-size statue of Bobbie was also erected on one end, and next o the statue is a replica of Bobbie's fancy dog house. Let’s break it down. Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to a measly 6 million in humans.

These spiritual fruits are not a product of temporal prosperity, success, or good fortune. They come from following the Savior, and they can be our faithful attendants even in the midst of the darkest storms.

Bobbie the Wonder Dog in The Call of the West". The Register-Guard. July 11, 1924 . Retrieved March 26, 2012. Come, join with us and trust the Lord. Lend your talents to His wonderful work. Reach out, encourage, heal, and support all who desire to feel and heed the yearning for our supernal home. Let us join together in this glorious pilgrimage to heavenly climes. Finally, in February 1924, thin, exhausted, and dirty, Bobbie reached Silverton, Oregon, and HOME! He had traveled for six months over 2,500 miles, covering approximately 14 miles a day! Frank, Elizabeth, Leona, and Nova were overjoyed, hugging and kissing Bobbie over and over. They fed him mounds of food and soaked him in warm baths, then covered him in warm blankets. Bobbie’s heart almost burst out of his chest in happiness! He had found his forever family and he was HOME! He slathered them with wet kisses, jumped on their laps, and raced around in happy circles. This was the best feeling in the world! Bobbie knew it then: there’s no place like home and he had found his! The moment of Bobbie’s return home felt like a scene straight out of a movie. On a February day in 1924, just 6 months after Bobbie went missing, one of the Brazier daughters stepped out of their family cafe in Silverton, Oregon. Bob was an average-looking collie puppy in every way, except for his bobbed tail . . . and maybe that's why the Brazier family named him Bob, or Bobbie.I testify that when we embark upon or continue the incredible journey that leads to God, our lives will be better. When you walk the path of discipleship—when you move toward Heavenly Father—there is something within you that will confirm that you have heard the call of the Savior and set your heart toward the light. It will tell you that you are on the right path and that you are returning home.