Boji (dog)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Years active | 2021 |
| Known for | Using public transport in Istanbul |
| Owner | Ömer Koç |
| Weight | 42 kg (93 lb) |
Boji is a street dog in Istanbul, Turkey, known for regularly riding on the city's public transport.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He is described as being an "Anatolian shepherd mix"[6] and having "golden-brown fur, dark eyes and floppy ears".[1] He makes use of buses, metro trains, trams, and ferries.[3][6] He is one of several examples of animals taking public transportation.
City officials arranged for him to be vaccinated,[1] and be fitted with a microchip which enables them to track where he has been.[1] They found him to use up to 29 metro stations in a day, travelling up to 30 kilometres (20 miles).[1][7] On one occasion he reached the Princes' Islands.[3]
His name is the Turkish word for bogie.
His adventures first came to public notice in mid 2021.[3] A spokesperson for Metro Istanbul said:[3]
We noticed a dog using our metros and trains and he knows where to go. He knows where to get out... It's like he has a purpose.
A Twitter account is operated in Boji's name, with tweets in Turkish and English, and with almost 60,000 followers as of 6 October 2021.[6] There is also an Instagram account. Many people post pictures of him, or selfies with him,[6] to their own social media channels.[3]
Boji was adopted by Ömer Koç in 2022[8] after an image with feces on a tram seat was shared on social media with the title "IBB's permanent dog BOJI defecated on the tram". IBB Spokesperson Murat Ongun shared a video on the same social media channel, taken by tram security cameras, showing a person putting feces he had brought with him on the seat.[9][10] It was revealed that Boji was in the shelter during the day of the incident.[11]
In March 2024, Boji was spotted out in public again, this time in London with Koç on a London bus.