Michigan dogman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Michigan dogman is a creature that is said to roam both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Described as a half-man, half dog (or wolf) by various accounts, it is an animal undocumented by science, yet has been seen and photographed by scores of individuals. It has been categorized by cryptozoologists as a "Hairy Hominid" or "Upright Canid." Creatures in this sub-species include a variety of hybrid creatures such as Bigfoot, Yeti, Skunk Ape, etc. Each exhibits human characteristics such as walking upright at least part of the time, but each also bears unmistakable animal traits, such as a body that is covered by fur.
The dogman legend has been around in various forms for thousands of years, and appears in Native American lore among disparate tribes who lived or traveled through the upper midwest. The Ottawa/Chippewa tribes in particular speak of a race of hybrid humans known as 'shapeshifters,' who could transform themselves into any number of animal forms at will.
In popular culture, the story was revived in 1987 with the release of a song entitled "The Legend," written and performed by Steve Cook, a radio station announcer at WTCM radio in Traverse City, Michigan. Originally released on April 1st, 1987, the song details sightings of the creature in Northwest Lower Michigan. Each of the verses describes human encounters with the animal in each decade from the 1880s through the 1980s, always occurring the seventh year of the decade.
The song was very popular locally for several weeks, but was catapulted into national prominence following an "attack" on a remote cabin near Luther, Michigan in July of 1987. Deep claw marks around the doors and windows of the wooden structure suggested an aggressive animal had attempted to enter, but investigating officers from the Lake County Sheriff and the US Forest Service could only find tracks of a large dog. Newspaper reporters Todd Merentette of the Cadillac (Michigan) Evening News and Jim Mancarelli of the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Press covered the story, and connected the attack to the seventh-year prophecy made in the song. Mancarelli's story was picked up by the Associated Press, and reprinted in newspapers across the nation, including USA Today. Paul Harvey mentioned the coincidence in his daily "News and Comments" broadcast a few days later.
A detailed history of the song and numerous sighting reports are available at http://www.michigan-dogman.com
