Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Four-legged Loyalty
blueunicorn6 | 8/28/2015 | blueunicorn6

Posted on 08/28/2015 1:26:13 PM PDT by blueunicorn6

I have seen some nice statues. I have seen the Abraham Lincoln statue in Washington, D.C. I have seen the "Follow Me!" statue at Fort Benning, Georgia. My favorite statue of all is much smaller than these two statues. My favorite statue is "Old Shep" at Fort Benton, Montana.

It is a bronze statue of a dog. Old Shep wasn't a champion show dog. I guess you could call him a "Heinz 57" breed. He was a bigger dog as was common for a shepherd's dog on the high-plains desert of Montana in the 1930s. His job was helping his shepherd, and sometimes that meant mixing it up with coyotes. And coyotes are dirty fighters. It would be smart to have a dog that was big enough to take on them rascals. My guess is that Old Shep could whip more than his weight in coyotes.

It was not an easy job taking care of sheep on the plains of Montana in the 1930s. Besides coyotes, you faced a climate that was deadly. Flash floods and lightning and the wind. The constant wind.

But man had dog, and dog had man. They were a team. A team against everything that nature could throw at them and the sheep they watched over.

But, one day, the man side of the team got sick. The shepherd became ill and went to town for medical aid.

He died there a few days later.

No one was sure when the dog-half of the team came to Fort Benton. They noticed Old Shep pacing back-and-forth by the train when they loaded the casket containing the shepherd onto the train. The body of the shepherd was going back East to be received by his kin.

Old Shep watched his partner leave.

And he waited there for years for him to come back.

Now, he didn't wait there because the shepherd had given him an easy life. Old Shep had few comforts on the great, wide prairie. It was work, and damn hard work. No days off and the grub wasn't what you would call "fancy".

But Old Shep had what he needed, and what he needed was somebody who needed him.

That's why he greeted the four trains that stopped daily at Fort Benton. He was loyal to the man. He was loyal to HIS man. Some tried to adopt him. Old Shep was famous, you know. But Old Shep was loyal to his man. He waited under the train station. If you see the movie clips of him, you'll see that like all of us, he looked worn-out as he got old.

I'll leave it to you to go to Fort Benton and read more about Old Shep. I can't believe that they had that Richard Gere movie about a Japanese dog when we have Old Shep right here in our country. I guess Richard Gere wouldn't look as good dressed up like a sheep herder.

Old Shep is my favorite statue. During the hard times of the 1930s, a dog captured the hearts of our nation and taught us a valuable lesson in loyalty.


TOPICS: History; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: dog; ftbenton; loyalty; montana; oldshep
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last
To: ColdOne

Tasha looks like she was a big girl.


21 posted on 08/28/2015 2:12:58 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: blackdog
My 18 year old red heeler has not left my side one minute of one day or night for 17 years except for two of my hospital stays. She wouldn’t eat, drink, or sleep until I got home to recover.

I lost my 15 year old blackdog lab last week. I didn't know a man could cry so much..

22 posted on 08/28/2015 2:15:58 PM PDT by Smittie (Just like an alien, I'm a stranger in a strange land)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Smittie

Awwww.So sorry for your loss.


23 posted on 08/28/2015 2:31:17 PM PDT by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Mine minds instantaneously.

As in, he immediately does what I want, and then half-a-heartbeat later gets distracted and goes and does what he wants.

He’ll stay in the yard without a lead, if I call him back every 30-90 seconds.


24 posted on 08/28/2015 2:37:46 PM PDT by jdege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

Excellent. And my screen is blurry.


25 posted on 08/28/2015 2:43:17 PM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Smittie
Hugs ~

 photo fragilecircle_zps420fc2eb.jpg

26 posted on 08/28/2015 2:46:28 PM PDT by IwaCornDogs ("There Will Be Bamboozeling" ~ Nobama 08')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Smittie

My 19 year old tabby passed last week, too.

Maybe they’re playing together ;)


27 posted on 08/28/2015 3:23:11 PM PDT by Catmom (We're all gonna get the punishment only some of us deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

Okay you made me cry. Reminded me of the old TV show I think was called “The Littlest Hobo”(?), which was about a German Shepherd who traveled the railway. Which is about all I remember about the show. Dog must have had a name...


28 posted on 08/28/2015 3:24:50 PM PDT by This I Wonder32460 (Ideas have consequences.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

The Story of Shep

29 posted on 08/28/2015 3:33:27 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Who’s the bride?


30 posted on 08/28/2015 4:09:40 PM PDT by jmacusa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: jmacusa

My niece


31 posted on 08/28/2015 4:11:34 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: blackdog

You got a good one there.


32 posted on 08/28/2015 4:18:54 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother; Titan Magroyne; Badeye; SandRat; arbooz; potlatch; afraidfortherepublic; ...
WOOOF!

Computer Hope

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

33 posted on 08/28/2015 4:21:56 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: COBOL2Java

Thanks for posting that. My technical skills are somewhat lacking.


34 posted on 08/28/2015 4:23:48 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Congrats. Bowser wearing a tux?


35 posted on 08/28/2015 4:27:35 PM PDT by jmacusa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Mears
The Irish Brigade Monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield has a life-sized Irish Wolfhound stretched out at the base with a soulful look on its face...It's long been one of my favorite dog sculptures...


36 posted on 08/28/2015 4:29:27 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: jmacusa

Just his purple harness.


37 posted on 08/28/2015 4:31:53 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Good looking dog.


38 posted on 08/28/2015 4:32:54 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Catmom

I hope you are doing ok. It does get better I am here to tell you. I think you are right too the are playing together now. That’s the way love works.


39 posted on 08/28/2015 5:06:22 PM PDT by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

Beautiful !

.


40 posted on 08/28/2015 5:11:57 PM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson