You Lucky Dog!

By Kate Kelly

“You Lucky Dog!” is an uplifting compilation of true stories about homeless dogs that somehow survived and thrived to become local or national celebrities. You Lucky Dog takes us through the historic triumphs of many beloved American dogs, and beautifully recounts the dire adversity each of these amazing creatures faced en route to a grand, serendipitous destiny.

One such story features Bum, a steamship stowaway, St. Bernard mix that, in 1886, disembarked in San Diego. He chose to remain there long enough for the townsfolk to fall in love with him and appoint him the town dog. Despite the efforts by many to adopt him, Bum loved adventure, and refused to stay put. After hopping a northbound freight train, a local San Diego reporter/telegrapher alerted the northern stations en route that San Diego’s beloved town dog was aboard, and asked if, upon Bum’s arrival, they would show him the local sights then send him home on the next train south, guaranteeing the railroad would pay his passage.

There are many such heartwarming stories in You Lucky Dog that include celebrity dogs, Toto from The Wizard of Oz, Benji, and our own top dogs, America’s First Dogs. Kate captures their very souls in moving descriptions of the devotion, loyalty and trust that not only changed the fortune of these very special dogs, but also the lives of their human caregivers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Kelly
• Release date: Mar 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301293346

Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly (1950-2012) was the coauthor of two bestselling books, You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?! and The ADDed Dimension. An advanced practice mental health nurse with over thirty years’ experience as a family, group, and individual therapist, she was a legendary pioneer in the world of Adult ADHD and founded the ADDed Dimension Coaching Group.

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part One:

Homeless Dogs that Survived & Thrived

Bum: A Dog that Chose San Diego as Home

Toto/Terry: The Road to Oz

Owney: Owned the Albany Post Office

Dorsey: A Dog That Delivered the Mail

Patsy Ann: Juneau's Vigilant Harbor Master

Sinbad: Coast Guard Mascot

Boots to Sinbad: Dog-to-Dog Letters

Benji: Shelter Dog to Hollywood Star

Shep: Faithful Dog of Montana

Rin-Tin-Tin: The Extraordinary German Import

Sergeant Stubby: World War I Mascot

Bud: First Dog to Ride Cross Country in an Auto

Sallie: Civil War Mascot

Shanda: The Dog Mayor (Story Stolen by a Cat)

Part Two:

Dogs That Lived at the White House

First Dog, Bo Obama

The Bush Families and Their Dogs

The Dogs of Ronald Reagan

Gerald and Betty Ford's Golden Retriever, Liberty

LBJ's Dogs, Him and Her

Eisenhower's Weimeraner, Heidi

Fala, FDR's Beloved Dog

The Dogs of Herbert Hoover

The Coolidge Dogs (and Other Animals)

Laddie Boy, Warren Harding's Dog

Teddy Roosevelt's Dogs

The Animals of Rutherford B. Hayes

George Washington's Poodle and Other Dogs

A Dog on the Battlefield and the Character of George Washington

About the Author

Resources

You Lucky Dog features true stories of stray dogs fortunate enough to find forever homes. Some became local or national celebrities—even film stars; a few rescue dogs found themselves in the White House. The stories of these dogs typify the many amazing strays in shelters everywhere awaiting rescue. My hope is that You Lucky Dog inspires more people who are looking for a pet to check with shelters and rescue organizations.

These animals deserve loving families who care.

Thank you.

Kate Kelly

PART ONE:

HOMELESS DOGS THAT

SURVIVED AND THRIVED

BUM, A DOG THAT CHOSE

SAN DIEGO AS HOME

A steamship from San Francisco, the Santa Rosa, arrived in San Diego, and a stowaway disembarked along with some of the other passengers. It was a dog described as a St. Bernard-Spaniel mix that had the good sense to decide that San Diego looked like a good place to settle down.

Someone began calling him Bum and the name stuck. He quickly adapted to life on land and made himself a member of the community. At meal times, his primary go to place was an establishment run by a Chinese fisherman, Ah Wo Sue. However, Bum was really a dog that wanted to belong to many people. He liked sleeping on the streets and never wanted to go home with anyone particular, perhaps because he knew he would do just fine begging for food at local restaurants and neighborhood butchers. One restaurant capitalized on Bum's appearances by putting up a sign that read, Bum eats here–nothing better than an endorsement from the town dog.

Bum thought nothing was more exciting than when the fire bell rang. Along with the volunteer firefighters, Bum was always available to report to a fire.

Bum's Story Documented by a Journalist Who Knew Him

We know as much as we do about Bum's life because James Edward Friend, a journalist and a part-time telegrapher, took time to write about him. Many years later, author William Edward Evans brought these reports to light in the July 1967 San Diego Historical Society Quarterly.

One of the stories Friend wrote explained why Bum was missing the lower portion of his right front foreleg. Friend wrote that Bum and a bulldog got into a fight that played out across the train tracks. An oncoming train hit the two dogs; the bulldog was killed and Bum was seriously wounded. When a doctor took a look at Bum, he felt he could save him if he cut off the badly mangled right front paw. Bum eventually healed and was still able to get around San Diego just fine though he sported a somewhat odd three-legged gait.

Another track story also involved Bum, this time as a hero. A puppy made his way on to the train tracks, and while journalist James Friend's article did not mention any oncoming threat, Friend gave Bum credit for saving the puppy by getting it off the tracks. Perhaps this is an example of it's the thought that counts.

Bum, The Traveler

Friend happened to be near the train station one day when he saw Bum attempting to climb aboard a north bound train; the porter discouraged Bum by turning him around on the steps and pushing him back on to the platform.

Friend notes that ...when the cars began to move away I heard the old dog's well known music. He was lying full length in front of the door, on the rear platform of the rear palace car; thumping the wood with his glad tail, his red tongue hanging from a wide-opened mouth and his sonorous voice telling everybody that he was off for the upper country.

Because Friend was also a telegrapher, he stepped into the rail station's telegraph office and sent a message that Bum, San Diego's town dog, was bound for Lord knows where. Friend requested that wherever Bum alighted, the people should show him the town and then send him South again...that the train employees would guarantee him free passage.

Friend also sent a direct message to a fellow reporter, Dick Clover, who had worked in San Diego but had more recently moved to the Los Angeles Herald. After receiving the telegram about Bum, Clover met the train in L.A., collected Bum and kept him in Los Angeles for a couple of days before sending him back to San Diego.

Greatly Beloved

In 1894 Bum was visiting George Magwood's general store. Magwood was outside putting a halter on a rather nervous horse. Bum got too close to the back of the horse and the dog was kicked; his hind leg was broken. Magwood summoned a doctor and Bum's leg was soon set. The newspaper account mentioned: "Dr. Stone will today take off the bandages and redress the fractured leg. He

Reviews for You Lucky Dog!

[jkj94 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The first part of the book is about homeless dogs and how they survived the streets on their own and the many different tales of how they contributed to our society in some heart warming stories.

First of all if you are an animal lover like I am you will be in tears in some of the tales from the famous homeless dogs. My favorite infamous dog was Bum, Bum had his right front paw removed but it never stopped nor slowed Bum down. He became very well known in San Diego and now has a life size bronze statue in a pocket park outside the William Heath Davis house with now is actually a museum.

In part two are all of the famous dogs of the 'White House' from George Washington's Poodle whose name was Pilot to Obama's dog Bo. There are some very interesting and intriguing stories that are this short little book about these infamous and famous dogs.

This is a must read for dog lovers. Kate has captured some interesting historical facts and endearing tales of endurance and character from each one of the dogs. Very nicely written and researched Kate, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review your book.

[kelseymcbridepr-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You Lucky Dog! is an uplifting compilation of true stories about homeless dogs that survived and thrived against the odds to become celebrities. Kate skillfully warms hearts with stories about Toto from The Wizard of Oz, Rin Tin Tin, Benji, America's first dogs, and more. You Lucky Dog! beautifully recounts the adversity each of these amazing creatures faced en route to a grand destiny.Kate captures their very souls in moving descriptions of the devotion, loyalty and trust that changed both the fortune of these very special dogs and the lives of their human caregivers. Filled with historical facts and endearing tales of endurance and character these bite-sized stories make ideal reading for any dog lover.