Herding Bronze Cats

The grave of US Army dog Sgt. Geronimo in the historic Denver Pet Cemetery. Author's Collection  Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day we remember those who have fallen in the defense of our country. You can find a memorial to lost service members in every city and state in the United States. Some memorialize a specific event, platoon, or branch of the military. There are also a surprising number of memorials to war dogs. These military working dogs (MWD) did a variety of jobs in the military, including sniffing for explosives, tracking, guard duty and more. Many of the memorials specifically reference the Vietnam war, where dogs were helpful in navigating dense jungles, locating landmines and guarding sleeping men. I wanted to take some time today to mention a few of the memorials around the US that are dedicated to war dogs. Then I'll talk about visiting the grave of Sergeant Geronimo, a site near me that commemorates an interesting military dog. A select ...

Tombili's statue and plaque in Istanbul. Huriyet Daily News Photo The original photo that attracted attention on Buzzfeed.  Tombili was a fat cat whose carefree and laid back countenance made her much beloved in her Istanbul neighborhood, Güleç Street in Kadıköy. Her name reflected her attitude, Tombili is a common nickname for an overweight pet; to my understanding the best English translation might be something like pot-belly. She often ignored those who wanted to play with her in favor of lounging on step. In 2012 a tourist snapped a photo of Tombilli and posted it on social media. The oldest link I could find is this Buzzfeed post . Tombili became an international sensation thanks to another post on 9gag, and photoshoping contest based on the  photo, The lounging cat charmed viewers around the world. The internet generated memes from the photo and Tombili's moment of fame was extended until she passed away. Here are some of my favorites, More can be found on Kno...

Annie in bronze. Author's Collection I recently visited the grave of Annie the Railroad Dog in Ft. Collins. Annie's story is similar to Shep's , which happened not to far away. But it's not just their locations in Northern Colorado that make them similar. Both were mascots for transportation hubs while the country was shifting from trains to automobiles as our primary transport. Their stories dovetail nicely, with Annie's life ending in 1948, and the train station she lived in destroyed in 1953, while Shep appeared at the tollbooth shortly before it opened in 1952. Both became symbolic of the town and both garnered loyalty that protected their graves from encroaching change.  This plaque was added at the grave in 1997 following landmarking and restoration. Author's Collection What I can find of Annie's story begins in 1934, just west of Ft. Collins. She was found in a blacksmith shop in either Tinmath or Windsor, depending on the source. The bla...