Tales of Jim the wonder dog

By Dr. John Koch

Question: Several years ago I read an article from an old Missouri Conservationist magazine about a dog named Jim. As I recall, this dog had almost unbelievable intelligence. I can't remember all the details and am wondering if you know anything about the dog?

Answer: Indeed, I have a copy of the article and what follows is taken from it. The dog of which you speak lived in the Depression era of the 1930s, and was known as Jim the wonder dog. Sam VanArsdale of Marshall, Mo., owned Jim. At that time Jim's powers were almost legendary. A book was written about him while newspapers and magazines across the country chronicled his deeds.

It seems Jim could answer questions. He once appeared before a joint session of the Missouri Legislature and pointed out people who were described to him. He would answer questions posed to him in Morse code, which his master did not know. Given license numbers, he could find the cars that bore them. He was once taken to a large parking lot and someone asked him to find the car that brought the questioner to Jefferson City. He went straight to the car.

Jim also made predictions. He successfully predicted that the Yankees would win the 1936 World Series, and that Franklin Roosevelt would defeat Al Landon for the presidency in 1936.

Naturally there were many that doubted Jim's feats, and they were certain that it was all a cleverly disguised hoax. Still no one could explain how this wonder dog responded to commands given to him in writing or in a foreign language that his master did not know. Many who witnessed some of the dog's amazing accomplishments were actually a little frightened of what they saw.

VanArsdale was offered $365,000 for a year's tour with Jim. These were depression times and yet VanArsdale refused. The New York Times offered to bring VanArsdale to Washington D.C. to meet President Roosevelt. Again he refused. When one of Jim's puppies was six weeks old, he was offered $1,000 for it, and he refused that as well. The dog's master once became indignant when someone accused him of having a trick dog. Mr. VanArsdale asked, "Was there ever a man who wouldn't sell a trick fpr $365,000?"

Jim was a hunting dog and his master was very proud of his hunting abilities. VanArsdale boasted of having taken thousands of quail with Jim pointing the way. Jim the wonder dog passed away at the age of 12. He left a family of three males and two females. None of them ever demonstrated the almost supernatural powers shown by Jim.

Was Jim real? I guess no one will ever know for sure, but I'd prefer to think he was. I am sure there are a lot of dog lovers who agree.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau veterinarian.