Jim the Wonder Dog

Jim the Wonder Dog (1925–1937) was a Llewellin Setter alleged to have a variety of remarkable abilities. He originally came from Louisiana and reportedly could predict the sex of unborn babies as well as the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Life
Jim earned his reputation as a 'wonder dog' during the 1930s, puzzling psychologists from both Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. A. J. Durant, director of the School of Veterinary Medicine, tested Jim's abilities in a public demonstration. He concluded that Jim "possessed an occult power that might never come again to a dog in many generations." Jim seemed to have the ability to guess the sex of an unborn baby and answer to orders in many languages even though his owner, Sam Van Arsdale, only spoke English. Jim the Wonder Dog picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby seven years in a row. He also predicted the Yankee victory in the 1936 World Series. A joint session of the Missouri Legislature was called in order to witness the talents of Jim. He died March 18, 1937 at the age of 12. Sam was devastated and the entire town were stunned by the loss.

Memorial Park
In 1999 a park in Marshall, Missouri, where he died, was built in his honor. The park was opened May 1, 1999, where a statue of Jim was unveiled. Andy Davis, a Columbia sculptor, was commissioned to create the likeness of Jim out of bronze. The park is located on the former location of Sam Van Arsdale's hotel. The Saline County Water Garden Club designed and constructed the water feature within the park.