User:Wasteland Melody/sandbox

Roxey the LIRR Dog
Roxey was a stray dog who was adopted by the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) as the railroad's "goodwill ambassador" and official mascot from 1901 to 1914. He is the subject of several local stories and legends, including tales that he freely roamed the LIRR by train-hopping from station to station, and rode with President Roosevelt.

According to local lore, Roxey first appeared at the Garden City train station to take shelter during a rainstorm. When no one came to claim the dog, the railworkers adopted him and made him the station's mascot. Roxey purportedly made a habit of train-hopping, and was given a special pass affixed to his collar granting him free access to the entire LIRR. Roxey is alleged to have made many trips by train across the entire LIRR, traveling as far as Philadelphia.

Roxey's most famous story is of riding with President Roosevelt, a frequent passenger on the LIRR. According to the story, during a trip to Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, NY, Roxey boarded Roosevelt's private train car. When Roosevelt's porters asked to remove the dog, Roosevelt refused, noting that Roxey's pass allowed him free reign of the rail system. Roxey was allowed to stay aboard the car, with some versions claiming Roxey even sat in Rooesevelt's lap during the trip.

Roxey died in 1914, and was buried outside the LIRR station in Merrick, NY. In 1915, a concrete marker with a dog's water dish was erected at his gravesite, bearing a brass plate inscribed: "In memory of Roxey, LIRR dog."

The illustrated children's book "Miles Of Smiles: The Story of Roxey, the Long Island Rail Road Dog," written by Heather Worthington and published May 24, 2010, was inspired by the story.