In 2003, a statue was dedicated to a German shepherd for his loyalty to his master.
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| Photos of Kostya |
In the summer of 1995, a man and a girl lost their lives in a car crash in the Russian city of Tolyatti. The only survivor was their German shepherd. The dog was seen by the residents chasing cars at the edge of the highway where the crash occurred.
The townspeople named the dog Kostya ("Faithful"), fed him and some even tried to adopt him, but the dog would always return to the site of the accident waiting for his master's return. This went on for seven years. In 2002, Kostya's deceased body was found in the woods. Some believed he was hit by a vehicle, but there were no signs of injury.
The townspeople were saddened by his death. The following year, a bronze statue of Kostya was made in his honor, appropriately titled "Loyalty". The dedication took place on June 1, 2003 - the 266th anniversary of the founding of the town. The mayor and deputy mayor spoke at the dedication, as did the Rotary Club (who financed the monument) president, who said "This shall be a symbol of our city. In Copenhagen – The Little Mermaid. In Brussels – the famous boy. And here we have in Tolyatti – a monument to the dog whose loyalty has become a legend!"