Image of a dog in nature
Art by Mark Fredrickson

Bobbie’s Amazing Journey

Can a lost dog find his way home?

By Allison Friedman
From the September 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will identify and retell the beginning, middle, and end of the true story of Bobbie the dog.

Lexile® measure: 550L
Vocabulary: unfamiliar, navigators, landmarks, scruffy, harness, GPS tracker
Download and Print
Video Read Aloud: Bobbie’s Amazing Journey
Think and Read

As you read, think about what Bobbie was doing throughout the story.

Art by Mark Fredrickson

 

A dog named Bobbie wandered the streets. He was lost. He couldn’t find his owners. He was scared and alone.

It was August 1923. About a week earlier, Bobbie had set off on a road trip with his owners, Frank and Elizabeth Brazier. They were driving from their home in Silverton, Oregon, to visit family in Wolcott, Indiana. 

Their trip was more than 2,500 miles. Bobbie sat in his seat in the back of the car. He watched mountains and forests speed by.

The Braziers got to Wolcott. They stopped at a gas station. Suddenly, a group of dogs appeared. They growled and barked. They chased Bobbie! He ran away and became lost.

A dog named Bobbie was lost. He walked around the streets. He couldn’t find his owners. He was alone. He was scared.

It was August 1923. Bobbie was Frank and Elizabeth Brazier’s dog. They had started a road trip a week earlier. They left their home in Silverton, Oregon. They were driving to visit family in Wolcott, Indiana.

Their trip was more than 2,500 miles. Bobbie sat in his seat. It was in the back of the car. He watched mountains and forests go by.

The Braziers got to Wolcott. They stopped at a gas station. Suddenly, there was a group of dogs. They growled. They barked. They chased Bobbie! He ran away. Bobbie became lost.

In August of 1923, a dog named Bobbie wandered the streets lost. He couldn’t locate his owners. He was scared and alone.

About a week earlier, Bobbie had departed on a road trip with his owners, Frank and Elizabeth Brazier. They were driving from their home in Silverton, Oregon, to visit family in Wolcott, Indiana.

Their trip was more than 2,500 miles, and Bobbie sat in his seat in the back of the car. He watched mountains and forests speed by.

The Braziers arrived in Wolcott and stopped at a gas station. Suddenly, a group of growling and barking dogs appeared. They chased Bobbie! He ran away and became lost.


Looking for Bobbie

Looking for Bobbie

Looking for Bobbie

Courtesy Tricia Brown

Bobbie on the family car

Frank and Elizabeth couldn’t find Bobbie anywhere. They drove around for days honking and calling his name. 

Soon the Braziers had to return to Oregon. They told their two daughters the bad news.

That’s how Bobbie became a lost dog in a strange, unfamiliar town. Would he ever get back together with his family?

Frank and Elizabeth couldn’t find Bobbie anywhere. They drove around for days honking. They kept calling his name.

Soon the Braziers had to go back to Oregon. They told their two daughters the bad news. Bobbie was lost. He was a lost dog in a strange, unfamiliar town. Would he ever see his family again?

Frank and Elizabeth couldn’t find Bobbie anywhere. They drove around for days honking and shouting his name.

Soon the Braziers had to return to Oregon, and they told their two daughters the bad news. That’s how Bobbie became a lost dog in a strange, unfamiliar town. Would he be reunited with his family?


Animal Navigators

Animal Navigators

Animal Navigators

You may be thinking, “No way!” After all, dogs can’t ask for directions. 

But animals like Bobbie have amazing powers. Many animals are good navigators. That means they are good at finding their way.

Being a good navigator helps wild animals find food and water. It helps them find their nest or den. 

You may be thinking, “No way!” Dogs can’t ask for directions.

But animals like Bobbie have amazing powers. Many animals are good at finding their way. They are good navigators.

Being a good navigator helps wild animals find food and water. It helps them find their nest or den.

You may be thinking, “No way!” After all, dogs can’t ask for directions.

But animals like Bobbie have amazing powers. Many animals are good navigators and are good at finding their way.

Being a good navigator helps wild animals find food and water. It helps them locate their nest or den.


Illustration by Courtney Huddleston; Jim McMahon/Mapman ® (Map)

This map of the United States shows the Braziers’ trip from Oregon to Indiana. 

What About Pet Dogs?

What About Pet Dogs?

What About Pet Dogs?

Drake Studios/Vades Crockett Collection

Bobbie with his owner, Frank Brazier

Dogs are also great at finding their way. Dogs look for landmarks. They might remember a tree that they passed or a building. Then they can look for that landmark on their way back. 

Dogs also have a super sense of smell. Could Bobbie use these powers to find his family?

Dogs are also great at finding their way. Dogs look for landmarks. They might remember a tree that they passed or a building. Then they can look for that landmark on their way back. 

Dogs also have a super sense of smell. Could Bobbie use these powers to find his family?

Dogs are also great at using landmarks to find their way. They might remember a tree that they passed or a building. Then they can use that landmark to help them navigate their way back.

Dogs also have a super sense of smell. Could Bobbie use these powers to find his family?


Coming Home

Coming Home

Coming Home

Silverton Appeal (Headline)
 

It had been six months since Bobbie went missing. One day, the Braziers’ daughter Nova was walking through town. Suddenly, she noticed a skinny, scruffy dog. He was having trouble walking. He looked like Bobbie. 

Could it be him?

The dog saw Nova. He ran toward her! He covered her with kisses. It was Bobbie!

He had traveled more than 2,500 miles to get home. He had crossed over mountains, rivers, and wide grassy plains. It seemed like a miracle.

Bobbie’s story spread. He went to a big fair. Thousands of people came to see him. 

People gave him gifts, like a dog harness and collar. 

They had jewels on them. 

He was even in a movie about himself!

Many people wrote fan letters to Bobbie. They wrote that they had seen Bobbie during parts of his trip home. Sometimes he stayed with a family for a meal or to rest. 

No one knows exactly how he did it. But, somehow, Bobbie had amazing powers that helped him get home.

It had been six months. Bobbie was still missing. One day, the Braziers’ daughter Nova was walking through town. She noticed a skinny, scruffy dog. He was having trouble walking. He looked like Bobbie.

Could it be him?

The dog saw Nova. He ran toward her! He covered her with kisses. It was Bobbie!

He had traveled more than 2,500 miles to get home. He had crossed over mountains and rivers. He walked across wide grassy plains. It seemed like a miracle.

People heard about Bobbie’s story. He went to a big fair. Thousands of people came to see him.

People gave him gifts. They gave him a dog harness and collars.

They had jewels on them. Bobbie was even in a movie about himself!

Many people wrote letters to Bobbie. They had seen Bobbie during parts of his trip home. Sometimes he stayed with a family for a meal or to rest.

No one knows exactly how he did it. But, somehow, Bobbie got home.

Six months after Bobbie had gone missing, the Braziers’ daughter Nova was walking through town. Suddenly, she noticed a skinny, scruffy dog that was having trouble walking. He looked like Bobbie.

Could it be him?

The dog saw Nova. He ran toward her and covered her with kisses. It was Bobbie!

He had traveled more than 2,500 miles to get home. He had crossed over mountains, rivers, and wide grassy plains. It seemed like a miracle.

Bobbie’s story spread, and he attended a big fair. Thousands of people came to see him.

People gave him gifts, like a dog harness and collar with jewels. He even starred in  a movie about himself!

Many people wrote fan letters to Bobbie, saying that they had seen him during parts of his journey home. Sometimes he stayed with a family for a meal or to rest.

No one knows exactly how he did it. But, somehow, Bobbie had amazing powers that helped him get home.


Gina Kelly/Alamy Stock Photo (Statue)

A statue of Bobbie in Silverton, Oregon

Find That Pet!

Times have changed! Bobbie’s story took place more than 100 years ago. Today we have ways to find lost pets. 

Way 1: Use a Microchip

Shutterstock.com

 

Your vet can put a microchip under your pet’s skin. The chip has a number on it.

If someone finds your pet, they can take it to a vet. That vet can scan it. The scanner reads the number on the chip. The number on the chip is matched to the owner’s name and phone number. 

The vet calls the owner. The pet is not lost anymore! 

Your vet can put a microchip under your pet’s skin. The chip has a number on it.


If someone finds your pet, they can take it to a vet. That vet can scan it. The scanner reads the number on the chip. The number on the chip is matched to the owner’s name and phone number. 


The vet calls the owner. The pet is not lost anymore! 

Your vet can put a microchip under your pet’s skin. The chip has a number on it.


If someone finds your pet, they can take it to a vet. That vet can scan it. The scanner reads the number on the chip. The number on the chip is matched to the owner’s name and phone number. 


The vet calls the owner. The pet is not lost anymore! 

Way 2: Use a GPS Collar

Tractive

 

This dog collar has a GPS tracker on it. Wherever your pet is, you can see it on an app on your phone. Then you can go and pick up your pet. Lost—and found! 

This dog collar has a GPS tracker on it. Wherever your pet is, you can see it on an app on your phone. Then you can go and pick up your pet. Lost—and found! 

This dog collar has a GPS tracker on it. Wherever your pet is, you can see it on an app on your phone. Then you can go and pick up your pet. Lost—and found! 

video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (5)
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (5) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Small group; whole group; independent reading 

1. Use the Before-Reading Resources

  • Play the Vocabulary Slideshow (5 minutes)
    Help students become familiar with the vocabulary words they will see in the article.

2. Read the Article 

Reading focus: Comprehension, retelling (30 minutes)

  • Use the Pause and Think questions for a comprehension check at the end of each section. This will help reinforce the main events of the story for students, so that they are prepared to do the retelling skills page activity after reading.
  • Ask students at the end of each section: What was this part of the article about? Retell what you read. 

3. Show the After-Reading Video Read-Aloud

(5-10 minutes) 

  • With our video read-aloud, students can hear the article read aloud and see the imagery come to life. This helps build reading stamina and comprehension.
  • This video would be a sure-fire winner to show the whole class, but it also makes a great choice-time activity for individual students or pairs. 

4. After-Reading Skills Practice

(All pages below can be printed from our website.)

  • A Letter From Bobbie: (15 minutes)
    Students will retell the beginning, middle, and end of the story in this writing activity. 

You can use these skills pages to practice other skills. (15 minutes each)

  • Quiz: Comprehension check (We also offer a lower-level quiz.)
  • Word Work: Vocabulary practice
  • Amazing Animals Chart: Compare the animal tale-themed texts in the issue.

Text-to-Speech