Bobbie the Wonder Dog: A True Story

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Imagine you are lost far away from home. What would you do? Would you ask a nice person for help? Make a call on your cell phone. Use a GPS device to plot a route home. What if you had no voice, cell phone, or maps because you’re a dog? To return home, you would need to travel almost 3,000 miles across the United States – across rivers, deserts, and mountains – on your four paws. Well, I know of one dog who did just that and his name was Bobbie. Bobbie Those who heed the inner call and seek God, those who pray, believe, and walk the path the Savior has prepared—even if they stumble along the path at times—receive the consoling assurance that “all things shall work together for [their] good.” 7 Bobbie the Wonder Dog, of Silverton, was the canine hero in a story that became a national sensation. On a February day in 1924, the two-year-old scotch-collie mix 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 had disappeared six months earlier during a car trip in Indiana. Bobbie—mangy, scrawny, feet worn to the bone—appeared to have walked the entire distance to Silverton by himself.

The history of God’s work is filled with people who considered themselves inadequate. But they humbly served, relying on the grace of God and His promise: “Their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield … , and they shall fight manfully for me; and … I [will] preserve them.” 13 This path would have dragged Bobbie through some of the most remote regions of the western United States, including several national parks and numerous reserved wilderness areas. After several months of cutting across the midwest and travelling the vast distances of the Great Plains, he would have eventually hit the mountain ranges of the Continental Divide during the dead of winter. The Great Divide So, what’s left for our intrepid dog? Following his family’s scent, Bobbie likely found a bridge, ferry, or shallow crossing point.These options were not only more accessible but also safer for both Bobbie and his family, no matter the weather conditions. Some might suppress this yearning and deaden their souls to its call. But those who do not quench this light within themselves can embark on an incredible journey—a wondrous migration toward heavenly climes. God Calls to You 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.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.

Bobbie the Wonder Dog(1921–1927) was a dog who covered 2,551 miles (4,105km) on his own to return home to Silverton, Oregon, United States, after he was lost while his owners were visiting family in Wolcott, Indiana. Ripley’sestimated the journey may have been as long as 3,000 miles (4,800km). After a happy reunion, Bobbie became a celebrity. He was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not. He even starred in a silent movie called The Call of the West, where he played himself. Bobbie was showered with fan mails, he received medals from various societies, and 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.He was the subject of newspaper articles including Ripley's Believe It or Not!, books, and film. [3] [2] Bobbie played himself in the 1924 silent film The Call of the West. [3] [5] He received hundreds of letters from people around the world and was honored with a jewel-studded harness and collar, ribbons, and keys to cities. [3] 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

Characterized by flat, open landscapes, grasslands, and prairies, the Great Plains posed a unique set of challenges for our determined canine. Six months later, the family was stunned to find Bobbie on their doorstep in Oregon. “Mangy, scrawny, feet worn to the bone—[he] appeared to have walked the entire distance … by himself.” 1 Bobbie’s story captured the imagination of people across the United States, and he became known as Bobbie the Wonder Dog.

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.