A Story of Love and Devotion: Greyfriars Bobby

Dogs are not just mere guards or burglar alarms. They are our friends and companions. They express their emotions through those eyes. They serve us in exchange of scraps. They defend us even we are sometimes mean to them. Most of them even choose not to bite because they don't want to hurt us.

Here is another touching true story of friendship between man and his best friend.

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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND — Not far from where a dog guarded his master's body on July 3, 2001, there stands a monument commemorating the country's most famous dog, a Skye Terrier who stood by his master's grave for 14 years.

"Greyfriars Bobby" was the faithful companion of a policeman named John Gray back around 1856. The two were inseparable for two year and even thereafter, for when in 1858 the man died of Tuberculosis and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, his dog Bobby took up anew post on top of the grave site and reportedly spent every single night there until his own death in 1872, 14 years later.

James Brown, the old curator of the burial ground, told of how Bobby was found lying on the fresh mound the morning after the burial. Since the sign on the gate plainly read "No Dogs",Mr. Brown was obliged to chase the little dog out, but the next morning the dog was back again. A second time Bobby was driven away, only to be found a third time at his usual spot, shivering on the cold, wet ground at Gray's grave.

At that point the curator took pity on the determined pooch and allowed him to stay thereafter. Even in the most squally weather, Bobby would not desert his post, often howling at those who would try to coax him indoors.

Reports of Bobby's unshakable devotion spread quickly through the town, and the wee terrier became a favorite of families and shopkeepers situated near the churchyard. But although they frequently brought him food and water, no one would officially claim the pooch and pay for a city dog license in the years that followed. This made Bobby an ordinary stray dog, for which he was to be euthanized.

But when this item came up in the town council of 1867, the then-presiding Lord Provost of the city (and dog-lover), Sir William Chambers, asked to meet Bobby. History notes that Sir William was quite taken with the loyal terrier and arranged to have all licensing fees paid indefinitely. Bobby was given a collar with a brass plate engraving stating:

"Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost,1867, licensed"

This collar is on display at the Huntly House museum located in the Royal Mile.

Bobby died in 1872 and 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 Bobby's last watch, where hereportedly died atop his old friend's grave, the Baroness BurdettCoutts had a statue and fountain erected to commemorate the life of thedevoted dog and the story of a friendship that surpassed death.

A red granite stone was erected on Bobby's grave by The Dog 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

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- Lanie -

sources: http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0107/articles/010704a.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby