‘Loyalty’ to most of us, conjures up an image of the dog. Histories inked with their unflinching courage, companionship and love. Researchers would tell you that the smartest of us have a vocabulary of 300 words. But anyone who has ever loved a dog knows different. Although the chances are slim but if not for dogs, I hope you do find someone who loves you as much.
I am a grammatically challenged canine and linguistics, I know little of.
Emotions, however, comprise a language of their own.
Centuries turned, worlds changed, humans evolved (for better or for worse) but dogs, we have forgotten to keep pace. Even at the face of death. From Hachiko
to Ciccio, we have waited in earnest for that caressing pat on our mane which may never be. Grievance, you see, is not an exclusive human trait.
Here are four dogs (amongst countless others) that refused to believe in the phrase ‘Till Death Do Us Part’.
In January 2011, Brazilian capital was hit by a decimating flood. Amid thousands of causalities, there was a mixed breed dog (as humans refer to some of us) who refused to leave his owner Cristina Maria Cesario Santana’s grave. For days, Leao sat beside his owner’s grave in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janeiro, the area hardest hit by the flooding. He had to be taken away by the medics when his condition became critical.
Thankfully, he got a new home. There have been reports that he ran away twice to the grave again.
Long live the King! (Leao means Lion in Portuguese.)
Capitan: Unflinching loyalty of the Argentine dog.
In Argentina, every single night since 2006, ‘Capitan’ has slept beside the headstone of his master’s grave. Miguel Guzman had brought ‘Capitan’ home in 2005. After Guzman died the next year, Capitan disappeared. A week after the funeral, the family returned to the cemetery in central Argentina and found Capitan there, howling. The heartbroken dog had found the cemetery and tomb on his own, and has lived there ever since, sleeping on Guzman’s grave.
“I’ve tried to bring Capitan home several times,” Damian, 13, says, “but he always comes straight back… He’s looking after my dad.”
In 2011, 35-year-old Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson — died in the helicopter crash that killed 38 American servicemen. There were 1,500 mourners in attendance at the local school gym paying their last respects but all eyes were fixated on ‘Hawkeye’, who refused to leave the side of his dead friend’s casket.
Hawkeye now lives with Tumilson’s friend from Navy SEAL.
Ciccio : For whom the bell chimes
Every day when a church in Italy rings the bells, Ciccio, a 12-year-old dog comes along hoping to reunite with his dead friend again.
Ciccio and his owner lived in the village of San Donaci in the southern region of Puglia, Italy. When the bells tolled each afternoon, he would accompany the lady to the church. After Maria’s death he attended the funeral and followed his mistress’ coffin as it was carried into the same local church. Thereafter, he just kept coming back, day after day. His devotion has so impressed the parishioners that they rallied together to care for him, giving him water and food and allowing him to sleep in a covered area outside the church. The priest, while hoping to find a new home for the faithful dog, even lets Ciccio sit in front of the altar during service.
There are many more Hachiko(s) out there; some with their tales guarded off from the media lights; silently waiting for someone who will never return. As you go to bed tonight, think for a minute of Capitan who would be on the gravestone in Argentina; Ciccio, with his hopeful eyes in Italy and as you hug your furry friend closer, please try to make a difference the next day for those dozens of Hachikos walking around us. Just waiting for some love. Everything counts, even a friendly pat.
