Jim the Wonder Dog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim the Wonder Dog |
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|---|---|
| Artist | Andy Davis |
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Location | Marshall, Missouri |
Jim the Wonder Dog (1925–1937) was a special dog, a Llewellin Setter. People said he had many amazing powers! He was born in Louisiana. It was believed he could guess if unborn puppies were boys or girls. He could even pick the winner of the famous Kentucky Derby horse race!
Jim's Amazing Life
Jim became known as a 'wonder dog' in the 1930s. He even surprised smart scientists from universities like Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri. Dr. A. J. Durant, a top vet school director, tested Jim in front of everyone. He said Jim had a "secret power" that might not be seen in a dog for many years.
Jim seemed to know many things. He could guess the gender of unborn babies. He also seemed to understand commands in different languages. This was strange because his owner, Sam Van Arsdale, only spoke English.
Jim the Wonder Dog was very good at predicting sports winners. He picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby horse race seven years in a row! He also predicted that the New York Yankees would win the 1936 World Series. Even the lawmakers in Missouri held a special meeting to watch Jim's talents. Jim passed away on March 18, 1937.
Remembering Jim: A Special Park
In 1999, a park was built in Marshall, Missouri, to honor Jim. This is the town where he died. The park opened on May 1, 1999. A beautiful statue of Jim was shown for the first time there.
Andy Davis, a sculptor from Columbia, made the statue. He created Jim's likeness out of bronze. The park is located where Sam Van Arsdale's hotel used to be. A local garden club helped design and build a lovely water feature in the park.
