A famous young dog was Greyfriars Bobby. Bobby - a Skye terrier - accompanied his master, a nightwatchman, on his rounds, becoming a familiar sight around Edinburgh. The master succumbed to TB and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Legend asserts that Bobby refused to leave his grave, despite the efforts of the cemetery caretakers to shoo him off. Eventually, a shelter was built for Bobby and he remained guarding the grave for 14 years, becoming a local and national celebrity. Every day, at the firing of Edinburgh Castle's one o'clock gun, Bobby would run to a local cafe, where he'd be fed a lunchtime sandwich. When Bobby eventually died, he's said to have been buried just inside the churchyard gate, in the Kirkyard's only scrap of unconsecrated ground. A gravestone was set up in 1980, around which people leave dog toys and treats. A memorial drinking fountain - topped by a statue of Bobby - was erected just outside the churchyard in 1872. Though a charming tale, the accuracy of the legend has been questioned, with some saying local businesses exaggerated the legend to drum up trade. Some even claim Bobby's impressive longevity is explained by the fact he died and was replaced by another dog. #MythologyMonday #folklore #dogs #history #Edinburgh #Scotland #weird #gothic #graveyard #death
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