12/20/2008:
In the fall of 1923, Mr. and Mrs. Runyon started a new life. They loaded up their 8-year-old Scotch Collie dog and drove from Oriska to Los Angeles, where they set up house.
They lived there quite happily for the next two to three months. Then one day, the Runyons woke to find the dog was gone! They searched everywhere, but finally, they had to give up.
On this date in 1924, everyone learned that the dog not only survived, but walked all the way back to Oriska on its own!
It was none the worse for wear, though it was foot-sore. It joyfully met with workers from the old farm and followed them back home.
It just goes to show, you can take the dog out of North Dakota, but you can't take North Dakota out of the dog.
By Sarah Walker
Sources:
McLean County Independent, December 25, 1924, p. 4