Boji, the commuting street dog, is not like the other stray dogs who roam Istanbul’s streets. This dog goes on train rides, ferries, and even elevator journeys! The most astonishing aspect of Boji’s incredible story—which now spans social media accounts and has people sharing selfies with the popular pup that he appears to have such a sense of purpose wherever he goes.
As he goes about his business, this popular commuter is a true champion. Along the way, his matter-of-fact demeanor and seeming certainty about where he’s heading has caught the attention and hearts of people all over the world.
Boji is seen sprinting to catch the ferry in a video published by New Delhi-based WION News. What is his destination? Who knows, but he’s certain he won’t be late. The video gets from decent to great once he’s on board.
Keep your eyes peeled for him. Boji goes around the boat deck as if he owns it, barking at the ferry’s wake before settling down in his favorite seat. Two of his fellow riders even moved their luggage and scooted over to make room for him, which is more than most people on New York City’s subway system would do.
The nice people at Istanbul Metro, on the other hand, have gone out of their way to make Boji feel like a VIP (Very Important Puppy). They tell WION that the dog is allowed to ride and that no one has ever bothered him about getting a ticket.
As Boji lounges in the background, Customer Relations Head Aylin Erol tells WION, “He knows where to go, and he knows where to get off.” “It was quite fascinating,” says the narrator.
Istanbul commuters love Boji, and they post videos and images of him on Instagram (@boji ist) and Twitter. There, he entertains his fans by taking photographs with them and demonstrating his public transit talents.
On our morning commutes, we’d be delighted to see Boji. What could be more enjoyable than a joyous tail-wag before heading into the office? However, Boji’s commuting antics raise plenty of questions: Who is he and where did he come from? Who are his people, because he’s wearing a collar? How does he know when the ferry will arrive and when to depart?