Do You Remember The North Carolina Famous Talking Dog? If you don't here's what you need to know

Photo byChristopher Furlong/Getty Images

We love learning new things from our friends & family during our weekly gatherings, but we never expected to be introduced to the fascinating tale of Barney, North Carolina's famous talking dog.

Having moved to the Carolinas in 2006, we hadn’t heard of Barney before. However, it turns out he gained national attention for his unique talent.

Last week, while discussing a fun hypothetical—whether you'd prefer a talking dog or a cat that pays half your rent—my Grandma surprised us with the story of Barney, a dog from Hickory known for saying, "I'm hungry."

Initially, we laughed, thinking it was a joke or a case of wishful thinking. But curiosity got the best of us, and after some digging, we found a 1989 YouTube clip from A Current Affair. The show featured Barney, a Dachshund belonging to Mable Wiles in the Hickory/Valdese area. Remarkably, Barney not only ate off a fork but also clearly voiced his hunger by saying, "I'm hungry."

Who knew we'd stumble upon such a gem? As for the debate, while we still haven’t decided between a talking dog or a rent-paying cat, Barney's story certainly makes a strong case for the talking dog!