Bobbie the Wonder Dog: A True Story

Lassie Come Home is said to have been based on Bobbie's journey.

Bobbie's story was featured in "Ripley's Believe It or Not," and a book called Bobbie, A Great Collie by Charles Alexander.

Bobbie played himself in a silent film entitled The Call of the West, a reel of which is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rot22X4Z0ys

"Bobbie the Wonder Dog" of Silverton, Oregon, was the canine hero in a story that, in the 1920s, became a national sensation. On a February day in 1924, the three-year-old Scotch collie-mix dog appeared on the doorstep of his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brazier. What amazed them was that they had not seen their dog since he disappeared six months earlier during a car trip in Indiana. Bobbie-mangy, scrawny, feet worn to the bone-appeared to have walked back the entire way by himself.

The local paper, the Silverton Appeal, printed the story of Bobbie's cross-country trek and it quickly spread to newspapers across the country. The Braziers received hundreds of letters from people simply addressed to "Bobbie, the Wonder Dog" or "Silverton's Bobbie." Some people claimed they had seen Bobbie and were able to identify him by several distinguishing marks.

Officials from the Oregon Humane Society launched an investigation into the Brazier's claims and were able to confirm to their satisfaction that Bobbie did indeed travel some 2,800 miles in the dead of winter to return to his home.

Bobbie was a much-celebrated dog: He received medals, keys to cities, and a jewel-studded harness and collar; he was the guest of honor at the Portland Home Show where over 40,000 people came to view him and he was presented with his own dog-sized bungalow.

Bobbie's journey took him through: OR, ID, WY, NE, IA, IL, IN.

A map, author note, and activity guide will be available.

Easy to tie-in merchandise using plush collie toys or figurines.

Every summer since 1932, Silverton has hosted a Pet Parade to honor Bobbie.

Bobbie's red-and-white doghouse still stands over his burial place at the Oregon Humane Society's animal cemetery. A replica also stands in Silverton.

Nearby is a statue of Bobbie, and local artist Lori Webb painted a seventy-foot outdoor mural.

Sadly, Bobbie died only three years after his legendary walk. He had eaten some rotten meat that poisoned him. Hundreds attended his funeral, and Portland Mayor George L. Baker gave the eulogy. Rin Tin Tin, the dog star of twenty-seven Hollywood movies, arrived with a wreath.

Lexile measure AD710L