Red Dog (Karratha)

Red Dog (1971- November 20, 1979) was a Kelpie/Cattle dog cross which was well-known for his travels through Western Australia's Pilbara region. There is a statue in his memory in Dampier, Western Australia, which is one of the towns to which he often returned.cite book | title=Western Australia| last=Ashworth| first=Susie| coauthors=Rebecca Turner, Simone Egger| date=2004| pages=203-204| publisher=Lonely Planet| id=ISBN:1740594592] Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Western-Australia/Dampier/2005/02/17/1108500208380.html|title=Dampier|accessdate=2008-04-06|year=2004-02-08|work=The Sydney Morning Herald] He is frequently referred to as a "Red Kelpie"Cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-78534225.html|title=Animal Tragic|accessdate=2008-04-06|year=2001-09-24|author=Mark Sanderson|work=The Evening Standard] or a "Red Cloud Kelpie", although no such breeds exist.Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2001/12/22/bored22.xml|title=A Modest Proposal|accessdate=2008-04-06|year=2001-12-22|author=Toby Clements|work=The Telegraph]

Red Dog is believed to have been born in the town of Paraburdoo, Western Australia in 1971cite book | title=Red Dog The Pilbara Wanderer| last=Duckett| first=Beverley| date=1989] and had a variety of names to those who knew him, including: Bluey, Tally Ho, and Dog of the Northwest.cite book | title=It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village: True Stories of Remarkable Canine Vagabonds| last=Gordon| first=Ruth| date=2000| pages=137 - 151| publisher=Willow Creek Press| id=ISBN:1572233001] Tally Ho was his first name, given to him by a man called Colonel Cummings, who is believed to have been his first owner and the one who brought him to Dampier. The nickname, "Red Dog" has been attributed to the red dirt of the Pilbara Region. His second owner was John Stazzonelli, a truck driver with Hammersley Iron, whose work allowed Red to travel as far as Perth, Broome, Roebourne, Point Samson and Port Hedland.Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20452690-5005364,00.html|title=Life as a Dogged Hobo|accessdate=2008-04-06|year=2006-09-23|author=Candice Silverman|work=The Sunday Times]

Following John's death in 1975, Red spent a lot of time traveling on his own although he was taken in by many members of the community and a veterinarian who treated him . Red was made a member of the Dampier Salts Sport and Social Club and the Transport Union. He was also given a bank account with Wales Bank, which is said to have used him as a mascot and sales tool with the slogan, "If Red banks at the Wales, then you can too". Although he had many friends, it is believed that his death in 1979 was caused by deliberate strychnine poisoning. Red is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere between Dampier and Karratha.Cite web|url=http://www.roebourne.wa.gov.au/visitor_info/things_to_see_do_page3.htm|title=Visitor Information|accessdate=2008-04-06|publisher=Shire of Roebourne|year=1999]

Red Dog's story and statue have caught the attention of a number of people passing through Dampier including British author Louis de Bernières, who was inspired to write a book about him,cite book | title=Red Dog| last=De Bernières| first=Louis| date=2001| publisher=Pantheon Books| id=ISBN:0375421556] and Australian Author Nancy Gillespie, who also wrote about Red.cite book | title=Red Dog| last=Gillespie| first=Nancy| date=1983| publisher=Ilfracombe| id=ISBN: 0722317972]

ee also

*Red Dog (novel)

References