Greyfriars Bobby Of Edinburgh

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You may have heard the story of a faithful Skye Terrier called Greyfriars Bobby, who supposedly lay at his dead master's grave for 14 years in Edinburgh. This story inspired many books and even a Disney film, and his statue sits atop of a water fountain, outside the churchyard, where his vigil was said to have taken place, and although this event happened in the 1850's, tourists still come to visit Bobby, and rub his Bronze nose...now becoming 'over rubbed' as Bronzes do. So is this just a 'shaggy dog' story? Dr. Jan Bondeson from Cardiff University, thinks so, after researching it,possibly concocted by 2 local businessman, who saw an opening for a money making venture, to attract visitors to the area. In the 1800's when many dogs had no licenced owners, and graveyards were a good place to collect titbits from sympathetic visitors, they were often where strays would be found. So truth or myth, it worked well, from that time on, and still brings revenue from tourists today....entrepreneurship was rife, even as far back as the 19th.century,it seems!