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Dogs are celebrated as a human's truest companion. While some might have a preference for cats, if you're seeking a pet that will show affection and dedication no matter the circumstances, a dog is the perfect choice.
The bond of loyalty that dogs share with their owners is so profound that it transcends life itself. Here are 10 unforgettable tales of faithful dogs that will make you appreciate your furry friend even more.
10. Shep
In 1936, a Montana shepherd fell ill while working in the field and had to be rushed to the hospital. His dog, Shep, refused to leave his side and followed the unknown man all the way to the hospital. While waiting by the doors for his owner, Shep was cared for by a kind local nun. Sadly, the shepherd passed away shortly after.
When the shepherd’s body was transported to the local train station for his final journey home, Shep followed close behind. Workers at the station recall hearing the dog’s mournful whining as the casket was loaded onto the train and taken away from him.
For the next five years, Shep stood vigil by the train tracks. Each time a train arrived (about four times a day), he would carefully inspect the passengers who disembarked, seemingly searching for his lost master. Shep became a local legend due to his unwavering wait, and the station staff took care of him. As time passed, the dog’s hearing faded, and one day he failed to hear the approach of an oncoming train, which tragically struck and killed him.
In honor of his steadfast loyalty, a bronze statue of Shep was erected in Fort Benton to commemorate his years of waiting for a friend who would never return.
9. Capitan
When Manuel Guzman passed away in 2006, his loyal dog, Capitan, vanished from the family home. The dog was missing for an entire week before he mysteriously appeared at his owner’s grave. The family had never taken Capitan to the cemetery, so how he found the grave remains an unsolved mystery.
Now, every Sunday, the Guzman family visits the cemetery to pay their respects to Manuel’s resting place and check on Capitan. Although they tried to bring the dog back home several times after his initial visit to the grave, Capitan always escaped to return to his master’s side.
Sometimes Capitan leaves the cemetery to visit the family home, but he always returns by nightfall to rest by his owner’s grave. The cemetery staff have taken on the responsibility of feeding the devoted dog. They’ve observed that Capitan wanders the grounds during the day but at precisely 6:00 PM, he lies down on his master's grave. As of today, Capitan continues to wait for the return of his beloved owner.
8. Gelert
In the 13th century, it is said that Prince Llywelyn the Great of Wales had a loyal dog named Gelert, who was his most cherished companion among all his hunting dogs. One day, when the prince blew his hunting horn, all his dogs appeared except for Gelert.
The prince went on his hunt, leaving Gelert behind. When he returned, Gelert greeted him joyfully, but something seemed off. The dog was covered in blood. The prince immediately feared for his young son, whom he had left at home.
Inside the palace, chaos reigned. The child’s cradle had been overturned, and blood was scattered across the room. Fearing the worst, the prince drew his sword and tragically killed Gelert.
It was only then that the prince heard his infant son crying. The child was found beneath the cradle, and behind it lay a dead wolf. Gelert had saved the child, slaying the dangerous beast in the process. To honor his heroic dog, the prince held a public funeral for Gelert.
Interestingly, a very similar story exists in France. In that version, the dog’s name was Guinefort, and it was only discovered too late that Guinefort had saved a baby from a snake. The dog was not only given a funeral, but for centuries, he was revered as a saint by the local people, despite the Catholic Church’s disapproval.
7. Waghya
In the 17th century in India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a revered warrior, fought his way to becoming the king and founder of the Maratha Empire. While Shivaji is celebrated by many as a hero of Indian nationalism, there are legends suggesting he did not achieve his feats alone.
Waghya, his devoted dog, spent countless years by Shivaji’s side. After Shivaji passed away, his body was cremated on a traditional funeral pyre. Waghya could not bear to stay apart from his master’s resting place. As the flames were kindled, the loyal dog jumped into the fire and perished alongside him. A memorial was later built not only for the great king, but also for his faithful dog.
Until 2012, Waghya's monument was a popular landmark, cherished by many locals. However, some voiced objections, arguing that the story of Waghya’s sacrifice was merely a legend and that it disrespected Shivaji. A large crowd gathered, tore down Waghya’s statue, and threw it into a nearby valley. Seventy-three people were arrested, and the monument has yet to be restored.
6. Fido
Many dogs who remain devoted to their deceased masters are only recognized for their loyalty after they themselves have passed. Fido, an Italian dog whose name means 'Faithful,' was one of the rare few to receive such recognition during his lifetime. Photographs exist of Fido being shown the bronze statue created in his honor.
Fido began his life as a stray on the streets, but in 1941, he was adopted by Carlo Soriani. Soriani found Fido as a puppy, trapped in a narrow gully, and rescued him. True to his name, Fido followed his new owner everywhere. Each morning, he would walk with Soriani to the bus stop, where Soriani would catch his bus to work. Then Fido waited patiently until Soriani returned from his factory job.
All was well until December 1943, when an Allied bombing raid tragically took Soriani’s life at his factory. That evening, Fido waited at the bus stop, but his master never returned. The loyal dog eventually went home to Soriani’s widow, but for the next 14 years, every evening, Fido would return to the bus stop, waiting for his master to come back.
To honor the dog’s unwavering loyalty, the town bestowed upon him a gold medal, exemption from taxes, and a statue in his memory.
5. The Lapdog of Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, led a tumultuous life. She became queen of Scotland when she was just six days old, briefly served as queen consort of France, and later lost her throne after returning to Scotland. Fleeing to England, she was imprisoned by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, as Mary’s Catholic faith posed a threat to Elizabeth’s reign.
One of the few constants in Mary’s troubled life was her collection of small lapdogs, which she had brought with her from France. During her lengthy imprisonment, it was said that Mary would converse with her dogs to alleviate the profound loneliness she often felt.
Eventually, Queen Elizabeth signed Mary’s death warrant, as numerous conspiracies were emerging to place Mary on the English throne. As Mary was being led to the execution block, no one realized she was not alone. Beneath her skirts, one of her dogs was hiding.
When Mary’s head was severed, her skirts began to move, and the small dog emerged. Covered in blood, the dog crawled into the space between the queen’s body and her head. Legend has it that the dog was only removed with great difficulty and then starved itself to death.
4. Ruswarp
In January 1990, when Graham Nuttall failed to return from a mountain walk in Wales, his friends raised the alarm. The weather was severe, and search teams spent a week scouring the area, but they could find no trace of Nuttall or his dog, Ruswarp.
Eventually, the search was abandoned. Eleven weeks later, another hiker came across Nuttall’s body near a stream. Ruswarp, starving and weak, was found lying next to him. After 11 weeks spent in the snow and rain, vigilantly staying by his master’s side, Ruswarp was so frail that he had to be carried down the mountain. He survived long enough to attend Nuttall’s funeral but passed away soon after.
In 2009, a bronze statue of Ruswarp was unveiled at a train station that Nuttall had helped to reopen. Ruswarp had contributed to the station's preservation by adding his paw print to a petition alongside thousands of human signatures.
3. Greyfriars Bobby
At the corner of Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh, visitors gather around a small bronze statue of a dog to snap a photo. Just across the street is Greyfriars Kirkyard, the site where the legend of Greyfriars Bobby began.
The classic tale tells of John Gray, an Edinburgh policeman, and his terrier named Bobby, who accompanied him on his daily rounds. After Gray’s death, he was laid to rest in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Yet Bobby, his loyal companion, refused to leave his master's side.
Despite the efforts of the cemetery keeper to separate them, Bobby remained by his master’s grave. Over time, people began to visit specifically to see Bobby keeping his watch. When Bobby passed away after a 14-year vigil, he was buried near Gray, with a gravestone that reads: 'Greyfriars Bobby—died 14th January 1872—aged 16 years—Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all.'
Some have questioned the truth of the tale. One researcher has suggested that the staff tending the graveyard might have attracted a dog to the site with food, creating the story of Bobby’s unwavering loyalty to draw visitors. Nearby pubs reportedly profited from the added attention.
There are even rumors that when one 'Bobby' passed, he was replaced by another similar dog to keep the story alive. But such theories seem grim. Most people prefer to believe in the enduring tale of the devoted dog.
2. Hachiko
Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of agricultural studies in Japan, was on the lookout for a rare Akita dog. In 1924, he finally found one and named it Hachiko. The two quickly formed an unbreakable bond.
Every day, Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the train station, and later return in the evening to wait for his master. Tragically, just a year after they met, Ueno passed away unexpectedly while giving a lecture. Hachiko continued to wait at the station for his owner, but he never came.
Soon, people began to take notice of the devoted dog. They would leave food and treats as a reward for his unwavering loyalty. Hachiko’s story spread far and wide, becoming a symbol of devotion in Japan. In 1934, a statue was erected in his honor at the station.
When Hachiko passed away in 1935, his death was met with sadness. A photo captures mourners gathered around his body. Today, Hachiko’s statue remains a beloved landmark in Tokyo, and those who wish to pay their respects can visit the National Museum of Nature and Science, where Hachiko’s preserved body is displayed.
1. Kostya
In the Russian city of Tolyatti, a dog could be seen sitting beside a busy road day after day. Despite various efforts by locals to rehome him, the dog always returned to the same spot. When they investigated further, they uncovered the heartbreaking story behind the dog’s loyalty.
The dog had been waiting where a car crash occurred. A young girl had tragically lost her life at the scene, and her father succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital. The sole survivor of the accident was their dog, who remained steadfast in waiting for his family. In recognition of his loyalty, the people of Tolyatti named him Kostya, meaning 'Loyal.'
Kostya remained at his post for seven long years, hoping his family would return. When he was eventually found lifeless in the nearby woods, the community mourned his loss. To honor him, a statue called ‘Loyalty’ was erected in his memory. Now, newlyweds often rub the statue’s nose, wishing for the same devotion in their marriages that Kostya displayed to his family.
