Jim the Wonder Dog
Mel Carnahan and a statue of Jim the Wonder Dog in 1999 | |
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Llewellin Setter |
| Born | 1925 Louisiana, US |
| Died | March 18, 1937 (aged 12) Marshall, Missouri, US |
| Known for | Alleged clairvoyant abilities |
Jim the Wonder Dog (1925 – March 18, 1937) was an American male Llewellin Setter[note 1][1] alleged to have clairvoyant abilities. He originally came from Louisiana and reportedly could predict the sex of unborn babies, as well as the winner of the Kentucky Derby.[2]
Life
Jim, born 1925, earned his reputation as a 'wonder dog' during the 1930s, puzzling psychologists from both Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. A. J. Durant, director of the School of Veterinary Medicine, tested Jim's abilities in a public demonstration. He concluded that Jim "possessed an occult power that might never come again to a dog in many generations".[3] Jim seemed to have the ability to guess the sex of an unborn baby and answer to orders in many languages even though his owner, Sam Van Arsdale, only spoke English. Jim the Wonder Dog picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby seven years in a row. He also predicted the Yankee victory in the 1936 World Series. A joint session of the Missouri Legislature was called in order to witness the talents of Jim. He died March 18, 1937 at the age of 12. Sam was devastated and the entire town was stunned by the loss.[3]
Memorial Park
In 1999, a park in Marshall, Missouri, where he died, was built in his honor.[4] The park was opened May 1, 1999, where a statue of Jim was unveiled. Andy Davis, a Columbia sculptor, was commissioned to create the likeness of Jim out of bronze. The park is located on the former location of Sam Van Arsdale's hotel. The Saline County Water Garden Club designed and constructed the water feature within the park.[5]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Jim, Wonder Dog - Marshall, Missouri". Visitmarshallmo.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Graham, Sarah (2010-07-09). "Paul the psychic octopus and friends". London: Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2010-07-11. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ a b Ferguson, Henry. "Jim the Wonder Dog". Rural Missouri. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "STLtoday - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-03-15. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ "Jim the Wonder Dog - History". jimthewonderdog.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.