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We hope that you enjoy the DOT posts and the different views from everyone included. We promise lots of cute pictures, laughter, maybe a tear or two, and some information. Please note that the views and opinions expressed here are each author's own and do not necessarily represent DOT as a whole.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

DoT's Dog Days Of Summer Secret Swap

Welcome to this weeks edition of Dogs On Thursday!

Next month on July 10th, Dogs on Thursday will be One!
There will be a contest in July to celebrate, so stay tuned.

And...Today starts the sign ups for our Dog Days Of Summer Secret Swap.
Here is a button for the swap, I am not very good at button making so maybe there will be more buttons to choose from next week.

The swaps officially Starts on Thursday July 10th and Ends on Thursday August 28th.
This is a Summer Themed swap.
It is also a secret swap and there is a $30. minimum.
For this swap each participant must send a package containing at least one summer related toy, one treat bag for the fur baby(ies) and one treat for the human owned by the fur baby(ies).
One card with a tip on how to help keep cool in the summer heat.
Please mail packages no later than August 21st.
(Stuff happens down the road so after you sign up and you find you are running late or need help or and angel please contact me or Natalie.)
If you want to participate please email me or Natalie with the answers to this questionnaire.

DoT's Dog Days Of Summer Participant Questionnaire.
1)Your Name
2)Dog(s) Name(s)
3)Snail Mail Address
4)Email Address/Blog Address
5)list any related allergies for you or your furbaby.
6)What is your pooches favorite summertime activity?
7)What is your Favorite summertime activity?
8)What are your dogs favorite treats?
9)What is your favorite treats?
10)How do you and your Pup stay cool when the temperatures rise outside?




I have another special dog story to tell you from my trip to the UK.
Some may already have heard this tale but is was new to me when we visited Edinburgh, Scotland.

Here is The Story of Greyfriars Bobby

John Gray used to take his little dog Bobby, a Skye terrier, to work with him everyday in Edinburgh were he was a Constable there.
After the one o'clock gun sounded, he and Bobby would have lunch in a pub near Greyfriars.
On February 15th 1858, John Gray died of tuberculosis after Gray was buried in a graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Old Town of Edinburgh.
Bobby would refuse to leave the grave of his master, but only when the one O'clock gun would sound would Bobby leave the grave and find his way to the pub were he and his master used to have lunch and the Pubs landlord would continue to feed Bobby.
For 14 years Bobby watched over his masters grave, stirring the emotions of the people of Edinburgh.
The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby but in the end they took pity on him. He built the little dog a shelter nearby and helped to fed him regularly, especially on Sundays when the gun did not sound.

In 1867, when it was pointed out by the city that an ownerless dog should be destroyed, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers (who was also a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), went to court to fight for Bobby's life and then paid for the renewal of Bobby's licence, making him the responsibility of the city council.
Every year there after the children and other kind citizens made sure that Bobby's licence was paid for each year and that he was cared for and fed.

It is said that Bobby never spent a night away from his master's grave even in the most dismal weather conditions.

When Bobby died on January 14, 1872, he could not be buried within the cemetery itself, since it was consecrated ground; instead he was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray's grave.
A year after the dog died, the philanthropist Baroness Burdett Coutts had a statue and fountain erected to commemorate him.
A red granite stone was erected on Bobby's grave by The Dogs Aid Society of Scotland, and unveiled by the Duke of Gloucester on May 13, 1981. It reads:
"Greyfriars Bobby — died 14th January 1872 — aged 16 years — Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all."


I hope everyone has a cool and pleasant week!

11 comments:

dogyarnfun said...

What a touching story and a kind lady. Sorry if this is inappropriate, but I think dogs go to the same heaven we go to.

Lapdog Creations said...

I think the button is just fine and is a perfect representation of the SUMMER swap!

Natalie Rush said...

That is a GREAT STORY!!! So loyal.

Leslie Marken said...

That's a wonderful story.

vegasangelbrat said...

I have read that before but it still warms my heart with a dog being so loyal! God Bless tem!

SissySees said...

One of my favorite stories. It was a treat to have photos to go with it.

Firefly Nights said...

I like the summer swap button. It's cute.

I'd heard of Greyfriar's Bobby but didn't know some of the details you shared. Thanks for telling us more about him.

Susan said...

Elise looks so cute on that button!! I did my DoT post on Tuesday night this week because I thought that Tuesday was Wednesday. I've been sorted out, perhaps will get with the program next week. . . perhaps will have new dog next week, too.

Anonymous said...

This is such a sweet story. I've read this one before, but it still brings a tear to my eyes.

Criquette said...

I loved Edinbourgh and loved the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Thanks for the great memory!

Pooch said...

The story of Bobby is so bittersweet. The marvelous people who respected this little dog deserve recognition too!~

Thanks for sharing this touching story.

:)