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Exerpts from Images & Voices of Lighthouse Country
A pict/oral history of Deep Bay, Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Horne Lake
by Rita Levitz and Leah Willott

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In the 1930’s and 1940’s, across from what is now the Bowser Esso, stood the Bowser Hotel. Hotel owner’s, Chas (‘Cappy’) and Florence Winfield, employed an interesting staff that included a deer, a raccoon, a bear cub and several dogs, all with various talents to impress the locals. But by far, the most well known was ‘Mike the Dog’, a Sheepdog/Terrier cross who entertained beer drinkers for years.

The story goes that when a customer came in for a beer, Cappy would say ‘Okay Mike’ and Mike would leave his seat behind the counter and deliver a beer bottle to the customer. Mike couldn’t take a glass, only a bottle.The talented pooch would get up on the patron’s knee or on an empty chair and set the beer on the table, pick up the change in his teeth, return to the bar and drop the payment in the correct part of the till. Then he would return with the bottle opener and/or the required change. Mike also displayed his talents as an errand ‘boy’, running across the highway to the general store with a note in his mouth and returning with needed items (mail, newspapers, etc.). Then, at closing time and when the last customer had left, Mike would slam the door with a resounding bang. ‘Go and Shut the door Mike’ was Cappy’s command.

Mike became famous internationally when an article appeared in the New York Sun about his talents. He also received mention later in Ripley’s Believe it or Not and Life Magazines. Mike died in 1941 after being hit by a car on the highway. Condolence letters were sent from around the world at Mike’s passing. He served at the hotel for eight years and was buried beside the hotel. The hotel/pub burned down in 1969 and Mike’s grave is lost amidst the brambles and bush that have taken over the area. One of his offspring, Ritzi was trained to replace Mike but never became quite as talented or as famous as ‘Mike the Dog’ of Bowser.