Donald's Dog "Fido"

Rich xephyr at jps.net
Sat Feb 17 09:29:37 CET 2001


Rich Morris said:
>     <<People are asking about Donald's dog "Fido"...
>     No, he isn't the same as Bolivar. For reasons unknown to me, Bolivar
> and Behemoth were dropped from the Donald daily strip around 1950 and
> replaced with Fido, a rather generic spaniel-type dog. Originally shaded so
> he was white with black ears, but I've seen him colored any which way in
> various reprints (including some dailies in recent Egmont weeklies).>>
> 
>     Well, since we know that Al Taliaferro based Bolivar on his own dog, and
> real dogs, unlike Disney characters, are only mortal, I wouldn't be surprised
> if he eventually lost his dog and acquired a new one, so had Donald do the
> same. In fact, I seem to recall reading that he did just that, though I can't
> cite the source.
> 
>     <<The bloodhound, Plasma, whom Eta found is a different character.>>

Thank you to those who e-mailed me and replied on this List.  Here is an
inventory of Donald's known pets (known to me, that is).  

Basil the Burro............................................ Dailies (11/37)
Hortense the Osterich.......................................Dailies (3/38)
Billy the Goat............................................. Dailies
Bolivar (Bornworthy/Bernie) the St. Bernard................ Dailies (4/38)
Behe (Behemoth) the St. Bernard Puppy...................... Dailies (1/45)
Fido the Cocker Spaniel.....................................Dailies (1948?)
Plasma (Spot?) the Bloodhound.............................. Dailies (195??)
Grand Genius III of old Siwash the Smugsnorkle Squatty.... WDC&S #70 (7/46)
Donald's Frog (no given name?)............................ WDC&S #108 (9/49)
Abdul the Camel........................................... WDC&S #160 (1/54)
Tabby the Cat.......................................... Topolino #453 (2/64)

NOTE:  I called Donald's goat "Billy" but I could be mistaken.  I don't
know when he first appeared in Taliaferro's strips, but I seem to recall
from some past discussions that when Donald could no longer care for the
Goat, the Ostrich and the Burro I thought it was said that he gave them
to Grandma Duck.  I think only Billy Goat remains, however.

Anyone who can, please fill in the missing dates.

Thanks,

Rich



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