In retirement, many individuals find the perfect opportunity to pursue long-held interests that they never had the time to fully explore. Eugene Bostick was no exception.
Shortly after retiring, he embarked on a new lifelong vocation as a train conductor, but his passengers were not your typical commuters. Bostick, an 80-year-old senior from Texas, spent his days at the helm of one of the most unique trains in the world. His custom-built train was designed to take rescued stray dogs on joyrides around the neighborhood.
Bostick revealed to The Dodo that dedicating his golden years to the cause of needy dogs wasn’t his original plan. It all began in response to the heartlessness of others, which compelled him to assume the responsibility of helping these unfortunate animals. He couldn’t bear to see abandoned dogs left to starve on the streets. Bostick explained, “We live down on a dead-end street, where my brother and I have a horse barn. People sometimes come by and dump dogs out here, leaving them to starve. So, we started feeding them, letting them in, taking them to the vet to get them spayed and neutered. We made a place for them to live.”
Over the years, Bostick welcomed hundreds of abandoned stray dogs into his care. He provided them with shelter, an abundance of food, and attentive care. But what truly set him apart was the charming way he kept these dogs content.
Although the dogs had ample space to roam freely on Bostick’s farm, he wanted to take them on little adventures. However, he soon realized that walking multiple dogs at once was no easy task. This is when the idea for a canine-specific mode of transportation was born. He explained, “One day, I saw a man with a tractor pulling carts for rocks. I thought, ‘Dang, that would work for a dog train.’ I’m a pretty good welder, so I took plastic barrels with holes cut in them, added wheels, and tied them together.”
And just like that, the dog train was ready to roll. Once or twice a week, Bostick would take the dogs in his care around the quiet streets of the town or through the nearby woods close to his home. This became a cherished activity for the formerly unloved dogs, enhancing their new, happier lives.
As Bostick modestly put it, “I’m getting up in age. I’m 80 now, so I suppose it can’t last too much longer, but I’ll keep it going as long as I can. The dogs have a great time. They just really enjoy it.”