Paul Gromosiak, historian and author of several books about Niagara Falls, tells the story of a very well-traveled dog:
One day in the fall of 1888, a bedraggled puppy appeared in the Albany, New York, post office. He was missing an eye, part of an ear, and part of a paw. But this poor unfortunate pooch was to become a good luck charm who would be squired all over the world, and eventually immortalized in the Smithsonian.
From the day he wandered into the Albany post office, the clerks who worked the mail trains adopted him as their mascot. They named him Owney, after an elderly letter carrier, and treated him to rides wherever the mail was going. Once aboard he train, Owney would settle on top of the mail bags, and faithfully guard them.
Clerks began to attach destination tags to the dog's collar, and then more added coins and other momentos. Soon, Owney was being weighed down by all the affection. The Albany postmaster fashioned a special jacket that allowed the dog to wear more of his honors in comfort.
On August 19, 1895, Owney departed from Tacoma, Washington, on an amazing round-the-world adventure, lasting 132 days. Everywhere he went, he was top dog and the star attraction. After that, he was often exhibited for large audiences as "The Greatest Dog Traveler in the World," but he always preferred to sit on his mail bags, riding the rails.
In 1897, he bit a clerk who was trying to hold him still for a reporter. The following day, he was destroyed at the age of 17. In an effort to memorilize their mascot, postal clerks paid for a taxidermist to stuff Owney, and replacing his missing eye, paw and ear. Today, he's on display in the Smithsonian Institution, complete with his harness full of medals.
One final note: Owney wasn't only a friend and a pet -- he was a true good luck charm. In an era when mail train crashes were common -- as many as 400 per year -- no train with Owney aboard ever crashed.