Seven Amazing Famous Service Dogs

Dogs have long been the faithful servants of man. However, the following seven stories tell of dogs whose service has gone beyond the call of duty. They have served at the very top of society as king to the more humble position as an employee for the USPS. These legends are prime examples why dogs continue to be man's best friend.

Dorsey
Dorsey was a black and white shepherd who unofficially worked a USPS route in California from 1883 until 1886. He was able to deliver the mail by using a modified saddlebag strapped to his back. Dorsey's seven-mile route was to the mines that surrounded Calico, California. He required special booties on his feet to protect his feet from the hot, sharp rocks that surrounded the mines. He proved such a valuable worker that his owner turned down $500 for him. His legend was revived in 1972 when a song titled "Dorsey, the Mail Carrying Dog" appeared on The Ballad of Calico, the eighth album released by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. According to the lyrics:
You could hear the people cheer
three hundred and sixty five days a year
the dog who never tired.
The postman who was sick and did it
(Dorsey really did it quicker)
sat home by the fire.
Ah, Dorsey the mail carrying dog

The entire double album consists of songs about Calico, California, and for some reason Dorsey's song ends suddenly with the phrase "the mail-carrying dog" abruptly being cut off.

Fred
Although the signs in Rockford no longer read, "Home of Fred the Town Dog," Fred has not been forgot. For nine years, Fred served as the town mascot. However, that was not Fred's only job. He also wrote a weekly newspaper column, "A Dog's Life," that detailed his activities and encounters.

Fred arrived in Rockford in 1993. After nursing him back to health, the town adopted the dog as their mascot. Sadly, Fred died from an animal bite shortly before Christmas in 2002. He was buried behind the Old Rock Jail and was given a full-size grave marker. He was also inducted into the Alabama Animal Hall of Fame in 2004.

Little Niggy
Little Niggy, or Nigger, was a black shepherd that was born on the work site of the Hoover Dam. He quickly befriended the construction workers, not only because he was a friendly dog but because of the amazing service that he performed for them. Little Niggy had the amazing ability to understand when there was trouble and would immediately run and get a supervisor. Sadly, Little Niggy died when a truck backed over him while he was asleep. The workers immediately put up a memorial plaque for him on the site, but it was later removed because some felt that the dog's name was offensive. A new memorial was installed that simply consists of the word "Nig." Below the plaque is a sign that tells Little Niggy's story, but doesn't mention the dog's name.

Owney
Owney, or Globe-Trotter, was a mutt that was found outside an Albany, New York, post office in 1888. The workers felt sorry for the poor thing and decided to bring him in where they made him abed out of mailbags. Thus began Owney's career as the official mascot for the United States Postal Service. For the next ten years, Owney traveled over 140,000 miles with various postal workers. He wore a vest upon which mail clerks would pin baggage tags.

Sadly, in a bitter twist of irony, Owney was one of the first postal workers who actually "went postal." On June 11, 1897, a postal worker was showing off Owney to a local newspaper reporter. Owney had apparently been chained in the basement of the post office basement and was less than happy about it. He became agitated and bit the postal worker on the hand. The postal worker, who later died from the injury, spread the word that Owney was mad. A police officer was summoned who promptly shot the dog.

However, this is not the end to Owney's traveling days. Mail clerks raised enough money and had Owney stuffed and put on display in a glass case. He was first put on display at the Post Office Headquarters in Washington, DC. He was then moved to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. After that was over, he was moved to the Smithsonian; then to Philadelphia; then back at the Smithsonian. Finally, in 1993, he was moved to the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. He is still on display there, along with the over 1,000 medals and tags that he accumulated during his travels.

Patsy Ann
Patsy Ann was a bull terrier who served as the "official dog greater of Juneau, Alaska" for thirteen years during the 1930s and 40s. Although she had been born deaf, Patsy Ann was able to hear the sirens of ships about to enter port--even before they could be seen. Whenever this happened, she would immediately head toward the docks in order to greet them. Even more amazing, Patsy Ann seemed to know which dock the ship would arrive at. On one occasion, Patsy Ann sat alone on one dock while the crowd awaiting the ship stood on another. When the ship arrived, the people--and not Patsy Ann--were forced to move.

When not greeting ships, Patsy Ann would make her way around town, often visiting the local bars and hotels. She spent her nights at the Longshoreman's Hall, and eventually passed away there one night in 1942. Fifty years later, a bronze statue was commissioned by the "Friends of Patsy Ann." The statue now sits in the wharf, allowing Patsy Ann to continue to great new arrivals for generations to come.

Saur
Saur, or Suening, is a Norwegian dog who served as king of Norway for three years in the 11^th Century. According to the legend, Saur's owner was King Eystein. After Eystein was briefly deposed, which so insulted his dignity that he gave his people a choice. Either his slave, Thorer Faxe, or his dog, Saur, could be appointed king. The people chose the dog. So, Saur was crowned and Eystein demanded that Saur be given all rights and privileges befitting a king. Saur was given a collar of gold and silver instead of a crown and his courtiers would carry him on their shoulders, when he wasn't sitting on the throne that had been made especially for him. Being king did not stop him from doing an honest day's work, however, as he was killed while defending his cattle from a pack of wolves.

Shanda
Shanda is a golden retriever who was elected mayor of Guffey, Colorado in 1993. She served from until 1998. It was quite a victory for the "Repuppkin" party who had been defeated by the "Democats" at least three times starting in 1988 when a cat named Paisley was elected mayor. After she died, a cat named Smudge le Plume was elected. Sadly, Smudge was murdered (by an unidentified owl) and a third cat was elected, Whiffey le Gone. Unlike her two predecessors, Whiffey did not die in office, but rather stepped down when her owners moved to a ranch. This left an opening and the dogs finally managed to take office. According to Shanda's spokesperson (and owner), Bruce Buffington, Shanda is "against any leash law." Shanda's other qualifications, according to Buffington, is that "She really does listen to you, unlike real politicians who only act like they listen."