Lincoln's Dog Fido

[David Lockmiller]

(08-27-2017 09:23 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Honest Abe's pooch may have helped popularize the name "Fido"

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/26/hon...-fido.html

"The Lincolns were also said to be concerned that Fido might not appreciate the loud noises during the long train ride that awaited them, so they decided to leave Fido to be cared for by a local carpenter in their home state, John Eddy Roll, and his two sons, Frank and John."

As may be recalled regarding the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, it was common practice to fire off canons to announce the arrival of Senator Douglas in the debate town. No doubt, Mr. Lincoln anticipated that at many of the train stops along the way to Washington DC, part of the preparations would be the firing of a canon one or more times to announce the imminent arrival of the President-elect. If Fido was frightened by one, he would be frightened even more so by all that followed. And, travelling by train on such a long journey may have been an additional factor in not taking Fido.

There is also another factor that may have entered into the decision. Fido knew his home location well. It would have been a big loss of daily familiar surroundings to him as an older dog. His world as he knew it, would have been turned upside down.

In short, Lincoln would have made his decision in the best interests of the dog.