Boji, a stray dog from Istanbul, has become famous for his ability to navigate the city’s transportation systems, including ferries, trams, and subways. Local officials have been keeping track of his movements and have been impressed by his intelligence and intuition. Boji is estimated to travel up to 30 kilometers a day and has become a beloved figure in the city. A Getty Images photographer recently spent time with Boji and described him as a “free spirit” who is always looking to ride on public transit. Boji has even gained a following on social media, with thousands of followers on Twitter and Instagram.
According to McGrath, the dog has gained a lot of fame lately and has become a beloved part of the community. While some people have tried to shoo him away, others recognize him and protect him from harm. The city has taken great care to ensure Boji’s well-being, providing him with grooming, medical exams, and behavioral studies. They even erected a small cage for him at a Metro station and feed him whenever he returns. City personnel use a smartphone app to keep tabs on Boji’s activities and McGrath recently spent a day following him. Boji is quite adept at navigating the train system and knows exactly where to wait for the doors to open. Despite his forceful nature, people seem to enjoy having him around.
Whenever Boji boards a ferry, he makes a beeline for the sunny side, showing his love for water. McGrath remarked that he starts barking at the waves as the ferry sets sail. Boji has got an uncanny sense of knowing which ferry is going where, and he’s always spot on. He checked out one ferry with people climbing on it and immediately knew it was headed to Eminönü, whereas the second was bound for Besiktas. Although he inspected the Eminönü ferry, he decided it was not the right one and moved on to the Besiktas ferry. Boji has a penchant for riding on the Besiktas ferry, and once aboard, he settles down at the back, where the motor is, relishing the vibrations. Similarly, when he takes the subway train, he sits on top of the wheels, enjoying the sensation.
Boji, the dog with a unique name, gets his moniker from the bogie region of the subway train. This area is known as such in railway language and in Turkish, bogie translates to boji. Interestingly, Boji despises cats and frequently encounters them during his travels. Istanbul is fondly called Catstanbul due to the high population of stray cats in the city. Boji’s owner, McGrath, who has been residing in Istanbul for six years now, shares that he has seen Boji chase cats up trees several times. Despite this, Boji remains a friendly and happy dog, walking around and receiving pats from everyone. Being in a city with numerous stray animals, it isn’t difficult for Boji to find food.
McGrath mentioned that animals will have access to water and food dishes placed in hidden spots around restaurants or homes. This way, Boji will be aware of where to locate them. Boji was headed towards the ferry when he noticed a cat shelter and some bowls placed beside a taxi stand. He stopped there to take a drink and was later snapped drinking on the subway. The food and drink station is provided by the local authorities for animals, and Boji knew exactly where to go to quench his thirst.
