Famous Animal Gravesites Around the World
It's not just Kentucky Derby winners that are buried with great honor
- By Robin T. Reid
- Smithsonian.com, April 28, 2010
(Associated Press)
This handsome Llewellyn setter sure could pick a winner. Shortly before Derby Day, his owner, Sam VanArsdale, would write the names of Derby entrants on slips of paper and then place them in front of the dog. After Jim sniffed his favorite, VanArsdale would put it away until the race was over. For seven years in a row, Jim made the right choice.
Jim’s ability to play the ponies was just one of the many things that endeared him to his two-legged neighbors in Marshall, Missouri. He could pick out cars by color, make and license plate. He could identify people and carry out commands in numerous languages. And he could hunt; VanArsdale said he stopped counting how many birds he bagged after 5,000.
He was written up in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, as well as in newspapers and magazines.
The Wonder Dog died in 1937 at the age of 12. But he has by no means been forgotten. In 1998, fans dedicated a small park to him on the site of the Ruff (we kid you not) Hotel, where he lived in downtown Marshall. Visitors can stroll through the flower garden, listen to the waterfall and pat the nose on a bronze statue of Jim. (The real Jim is buried nearby in Ridge Park Cemetery.)
Comments (13)
The title has no relationship to the results shown. It’s so National Geographic in that it appeals to kids. Going farther, I find this totally disrespectful to the locations that have monuments and histories equal to and in many cases beyond the ones represented here. Animals deserve respect. Obviously this is not well thought out at all. The issue here lends itself to marginalizing all the information presented at this site. That is not good, unless of course it is your intention. I can not solve this problem for you. [Looks at posting rules to see if I have violated threatening/ offensive/ whatever]
Posted by l k lietner on August 5,2012 | 06:36 PM
Im a proud owner of a retired race horse named Coker Road who is a descendant of the great Man o War! Coker raced 40 races and pursed $50,000. He has been trained and shown in jumping. Now he is my friend and trail riding partner :D. He is chestnut with three white socks and a blaze and is currently age 11. I LOVE HIM!
Posted by Phylis on June 9,2012 | 06:02 AM
He is such a hero!
Posted by George Smoe on February 15,2011 | 08:57 AM
Strolling Jim, Tennessee's first grand champion walking horse in 1938, is buried "quietly" at Wartrace, Tenn., the cradle of Tennessee Walking Horse Country.
Shaker's Shocker, who carried the first woman, Betty Sain, to win the breed's biggest Celebration in 1966, is buried in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee about five miles from Strolling Jim's grave...
Posted by Dan Whittle on February 7,2011 | 06:47 AM
Can we please stop calling yellow labs "golden"?
Posted by Lauren on July 2,2010 | 04:49 PM
This website is cool and i love animals lol i think they are soooo cute ;]
Posted by leela on May 17,2010 | 11:56 AM
Hachiko, who faithfully waited for his owner every day at the Shibuya train station for 9 years after his death, died on March 8, 1935. His stuffed remains are mounted at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno,Tokyo. He has become an international symbol of loyalty.
Posted by Mariam Arthur on May 15,2010 | 10:08 PM
Smokey the Bear in Capitan, New Mexico. Originally rescued as a cub (1950), became famous as "posterboy" in campaign against forest fires, lived at the National Zoo in Washington DC, returned to Lincoln National Forest for burial after his death in 1976.
Posted by Mariam Arthur on May 15,2010 | 09:59 PM
Where was Smokey the Bear???
Smokey was/is truly an American Icon and has one of the most touching stories of survival and the human impact on nature.
Posted by Tara on May 14,2010 | 04:15 PM
No GREYFRIARS BOBBY?? For Shame.
Posted by Ken David on May 3,2010 | 01:24 PM
she has days to live
Posted by naveenchilakapati on May 3,2010 | 11:25 AM
the world first creation first went into space great.
Posted by naveenchilakapati on May 3,2010 | 11:22 AM
A tiny cub in 1959 and about 5 years old when she died in 1961...
Don't mind placing this comment, just remove the error please.
Posted by Auke on April 30,2010 | 03:01 PM