Black Dog has passed, but his memories live on
2004, MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Black Dog, a drifter in Windsor Farms and environs, was a curiosity and beloved.
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Black Dog columns by Mark Holmberg
Black Dog has died.
The scruffy black canine with dreadlocks on his chest roamed tony West End neighborhoods for many years. He had nearly 700 friends on Facebook, but untold more followed his travels.
Black Dog was found dead Thursday morning near the intersection of Cary Street and Maxwell Road, apparently struck by a vehicle.
"It's a sad day," Linda Staples, a resident of the Windsor Farms neighborhood off Cary Street, said yesterday.
"I would hate to think that is how he met his demise," she said. "He was so street-smart. We never worried about him getting hit."
Black Dog would appear out of nowhere, Staples said. "You would never know when you would see him, but it was magical when you did. He was always very respectful."
Staples said the chow almost looked like a bear. "We would tell new folks to the neighborhood about him so they wouldn't be afraid or call animal control on him."
Hardly anyone could get near Black Dog. But his friends in Windsor Farms and surrounding neighborhoods would leave food for him and open their garage doors in winter so he could find refuge. He was even credited with scaring off an attacker. "We wanted to keep him feral," Staples said. "That was part of his charm."
Staples has lived in Windsor Farms for 17 years, and Black Dog has been part of the neighborhood throughout that time, she said. He often appeared when the children got out of school and he would watch them walk home, she said.
A group called Friends of Black Dog monitored his comings and goings.
"This group was formed to bring together all friends of that ever-elusive, sometimes almost mythical canine who roves Richmond's near West End," according to its Facebook site.
Black Dog's fame was spread locally by Mark Holmberg, a former Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist who now works for WTVR and wrote often about Black Dog.
Black Dog was buried on private property in Buckingham County, Holmberg reported in a newscast.
"You will not be forgotten," Molly Dellinger-Wray wrote on Facebook. "We learned a lot from you, Black Dog, and your spirit will remain with this community and in our hearts forever."
Contact Carol Hazard at (804) 775-8023 or
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Reader Reactions
Yes- I think “Black Dog” would have liked that poem. I hope he is playing and having a good time! He is obviously MISSED and LOVED by many- but will see them again- one day.
http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
Very fitting poem for the BD.
To Black Dog:
Though we may have never met, I am very sorry to hear about your departing.
Though it only opens the door to your next adventure, you will be missed here on Earth.
Life holds few legends, but “the legend of Black Dog” will live on for I have my very own Black Dog named Buck-A-Ru who follows closely your need for adventure and solitude with his own adventures.
From the late night howls of strays everywhere, to the black paws of Buck-a-ru, I tip my glass to you Black Dog,
God rest your weary soul.
That’s probably because no one give a rip about Steve McNair.
Some of you are pathetic. I just read an article about Steve McNair’s death and there were no comments but a d@mn black dog dies and you guys are soooo sad. Grow up!!!!
God bless you Black Dog! I was fortunate to have met you once and the encounter will be remembered forever. You were a good dog and we love you.
I do have one question, though. Why was he buried in Buckingham County? Couldn’t he have had a resting place in his home territory? His home, as they say, for some 17 years? Why not?
Apparently quite a few people on these posts have no idea who Black Dog was. Animal Control has TRIED to contain him, many times. Of course residents in the area initially were concerned about a dog roaming around that appeared to be unkempt. But, Animal Control could never catch him. He was stealthy. He was mysterious. He was never aggressive and always ‘polite’ as they say. Imagine an ‘uppity’ neighborhood taking in a shabby, unkempt dog. It was because of his fortitude and stick-to-it-ive-ness that they did. He was a wanderer, a drifter, someone that most of these people wouldn’t even think a thought of other than making maybe a small donation to their local homeless shelter, but these well-to-do residents took care of Black Dog because he was just, well, he never gave up, he looked after the school-kids, and never asked for anything in return but a warm place to sleep and maybe a little dish of food outside. He never bothered anyone, though he was a wanderer. He hadn’t had veterinary care or any other human care since nobody knew when, because nobody could ever catch him and provide that care, but this Dog kept going and going and going. He was evasive, but somehow personable. Everyone loved him for his independence and determination. How often does someone read a story like this? A stray animal allowed to live as a stray which Black Dog demanded, without uproar and intrepidation? All I can really say is Black Dog was TRULY an Icon. He was special. There was no benefit to him for his fame. He didn’t have a mansion or a car, or anywhere regular or legitimate to even live. He just lived, the way he wanted, the way he knew how, and somehow, people on the upper side really connected with him, the lovable little creature. May he rest in peace.
I am glad “Black Dog” got the recognition he DESERVES! It would have been very nice if he could have chosen at least one of his friends in Windsor Farms to be his immediate family. Sounds like they did all they could to try to make that happen! So I THANK all of them for their efforts and support of “Black Dog”. I do wish he had realized he was getting older- his eye sight and hearing and body reflexes were fading. I guess he just was used to being free and not knowing he had SO MANY friends who LOVED and ADMIRED him. That part is a shame- that he could have lived a lot easier life. He was truly an ICON and to survive all those years with traffic and situations he must have dealth with is astounding. He was and is a true “ANGEL”.
Hey 12step—stop trying to be the nanny chaperone of the forum—It is an open call with a lot of opinions—some brighter than your own—Let’s check that 12th step shall we—-step back and down a few—and get it over with.
The writers who delve in irony and criticize your icons or praise your demons bug you a lot. From your letters
to others—it is not I who has the chip on the shoulder.
(Me Too), I was one of the first joggers in the City decades
back when Adel Davis meant health food and I am a proponent of vitamins and working out not the phony over-priced Elwood Thompson or Ukrops where people are definitely not healthy and do not work out.—What passes for recycling
is a bogus redundancy for the political correct crowd—most of it is never recycled. Study it. I will continue to
comment about the phoniness of the west end anytime I feel like it—so get used to it..
Too bad about the dog and its great that people liked him but I think the going on about it is symbolic of a larger issue—Instead of building a shrine to the dog—they should be building one to the young man who was gunned down in Byrd Park—or the smart thinking professionals who detained that WF woman for driving around
drunk with her kids…now there’s something to bark about.
Have a nice day.
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