In further elucidation of the pit bull, Juneau, Alaska, has its own icon, and a waterfront statue to boot.

A pit bull named Patsy Ann lived for 13 years - from 1929 to 1943- in downtown Juneau (which was basically the whole town then). Although profoundly deaf she was somehow able to 'hear' approaching ships long before any were visible and always met each ship at the dock. She even knew which dock an approaching ship would take; on at least one occasion the paperwork said the ship would tie up at one specific point. Patsy Ann gave one look at the assemblage and trotted on past to the correct point.

She had no owner- a doctor had left her behind when she was still a pup and after that she belonged to everyone. Most of the time she slept at the longshoremen's hall and she had a regular routine all over town for her meals.

One year the city of Juneau passed a licensing law decreeing that all dogs should be tagged. Citizens passed the hat and bought her a license; they even bought a collar for the license to be fastened to. That was the only year she was licensed- there was a tacit agreement that she was exempt.

Friendly and confiding to all, her popular title was 'The Mayor of Juneau, Alaska'. She played with children; I have a friend who remembers being with a group of kids who were playing house with her 7 blocks up the hill when suddenly Patsy Ann left them and galloped down the hill and headed for the docks. Sure enough, about 20 minutes later a ship hove into view.

When she died in 1943, citizens of the town gathered at the dock and ceremonially lowered her in a covered box into the waters of the Gastineau Channel she had overseen for so long.

Today, her larger-than-life-size bronze statue stands guard on the dock where she watches forever for the next ship.

Long live Patsy Ann!