Kabar: Rudolph Valentino's Broken-Hearted Dog

It is said Kabar died of a broken heart after the death of his beloved master Rudolph Valentino.

Rudolph Valentino with Kabar on the deck of the Leviathan

Rudolph Valentino, silent film legend and sex symbol of the 1920s, loved animals - especially dogs. Kabar, a Doberman pinscher given to him by a Belgian diplomat when the dog was only a few months old in 1922, was one of his "special" dogs that was almost always at his side. For unknown reasons, Valentino did not take Kabar with him on his trip to New York in 1926 - where he died prematurely on August 23 at the age of 31.

At the time of Valentino's death, Kabar (some 3,000 miles away in Hollywood) started a mournful howling. Alberto, Valentino's brother, was able to console him some, but the broken-hearted dog was almost constantly sick. He later ran away from home, returned a few months later in poor shape, refused to eat and passed away within a few days on January 17, 1929.

Kabar was buried at the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery. Some claimed to have seen Kabar's ghost at Valentino's mansion and at the grounds of the cemetery - still searching for his beloved master.

Kostya: Russia's Faithful Dog

In 2003, a statue was dedicated to a German shepherd for his loyalty to his master.

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!"

Family Dog Mourns Children

At the Chippiannock Cemetery sits a gravesite that is sure to capture one's heart. It is the headstones belonging to two young children and a statue of the family's dog lying beside them.

In the fall of 1878 a diphtheria epidemic swept through Rock Island, Illinois and claimed many lives. On October 17 nine year old Josie, her five year old brother Eddie and the family's Newfoundland dog (who followed the children everywhere) went off to school. The following day the two children became ill from the outbreak and both died just a few days later on October 22.

After the death of the children, the grief-stricken dog came every day to the cemetery and laid next to their graves from dusk to dawn. After the dog's death, the children's parents, Otis and Harriet Dimick, wanted to bury the loyal pet next to the children. This was not permitted so instead they decided to place a life-sized statue of the dog, which was sculpted by a Chicago artist, next to them.

Though descendants of the Dimick family no longer live in Rock Island, flowers are often placed on the children's graves by strangers who learn about this heartwarming story.

Paddy the Wanderer

After the death of his young mistress, Paddy the Wanderer became famous in history as the dog who roamed freely and traveled afar - some believe searching for the child he loved.

The Airedale terrier was given as a gift to a young girl named Elsie, daughter of a seaman. Elsie, her mother and the dog, believed to have been named Dash, would often go to the wharves in Wellington, New Zealand to greet her father's ship. In 1928, three year old Elsie died of pneumonia and in his grief, and despite attempts to make him a home dog, Dash took to roaming the wharves.

Elsie, her father and Paddy

The dog became well known in the community and soon began hopping on trams, getting into taxis and even boarding ships to go on journeys with the friends he made. Some say the dog, who soon became known as Paddy the Wanderer, went as far as San Francisco. However, wherever he went he always found his way back to Wellington. It was reported that Paddy had traveled "in every form of conveyance, public and private, except in an aeroplane and a submarine", so in 1935 he was taken on a plane ride - becoming the first dog in the country to fly.

The community would chip in to buy Paddy a collar and register him until 1935 when the Wellington Harbour Board took responsibility of him. Paddy was even given the title of Assistant Night Watchman in Charge of Pirates, Rodents and Smugglers.

In 1939, Paddy had fallen ill and was sent to a kennel to recuperate, which he did not like. One day, when a taxi driver came to visit him, the free spirited (and determined) dog jumped into his cab and refused to get out. The driver returned Paddy to the docks and made him a bed in one of the sheds. Shortly after, on July 17, he passed away.

Paddy's body was placed in a coffin with the words "Paddy the Wanderer - At Rest" and was transported to the crematorium in one of 12 black taxis that would form his procession. A traffic officer led the way, bringing downtown Wellington traffic to a standstill. "I'd give a month's pay to have Paddy back," said one of the mourners.

In 1945, a memorial to Paddy was unveiled on Queens Wharf in Wellington. The memorial, which consists of a brass plaque mounted above a drinking fountain (with two drinking bowls for dogs at ground level), was paid for by Paddy's many friends. Also, a life-size statue of Paddy the Wanderer stands in the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, a favorite among children and adults.

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Shep: Montana's Faithful Dog

Shep became famous in history for refusing to give up on his deceased master's return.

One day in the summer of 1936, a sheepherder in Fort Benton, Montana fell ill and was taken to the hospital. His dog, later given the name Shep, followed him into town and remained outside the hospital's door. The nun who ran the hospital kitchen would give him food while he waited for his master's return. After a few days, the sheepherder died. His family in the East asked that his body be sent to them. Shep was there when the herder's casket was loaded into the baggage car, and began to whine when the train pulled away.

Everyday Shep would greet the trains hoping for his master's return. Nothing could keep him away, including the hot summers and freezing cold winters. At first, people would sometimes chase him away but he always came back before the next train arrived. His persistence soon captured the hearts of the community, and the story of the faithful dog spread - he was even featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not. People came from miles to see and take pictures of him.

On June 12, 1942, five and a half years from the day his master's body was taken away, the aging dog failed to hear an approaching train. By the time he noticed it, he slipped on the icy railroad track. The engineer was unable to stop in time and Shep died.

Shep was buried on a hillside overlooking the train station with most of the townspeople present. In 1994, a bronze sculpture of Shep standing expectantly on a rail was unveiled in Fort Benton.

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Hachiko: Japan's Most Loyal Dog

Hachiko became famous in history for his loyalty to his master, even many years after his owner's death.

Hachiko was born in Odate, a city in Akita Prefecture, Japan on November 10, 1923. The two month old puppy was sold to Hidesaburo Ueno, an agriculture professor at the Tokyo Imperial University who was looking for a pure bred Akita. Ueno named the puppy Hachi after the number eight which is considered lucky in Japan - the ko was added later. Hachi loved his master and the two quickly formed a very special bond.

Every morning when Ueno had to catch a train to work, Hachi would accompany him to the Shibuya Station to see him off, and every evening the dog would be there to greet him when he returned. This routine continued without fail until one fateful day in May 1925. While giving a lecture at the University, Ueno suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and shortly passed away at a nearby hospital. Hachi waited for hours that day, not knowing his master was never going to return.

Hachiko waits for his deceased master to return at the train station

After Ueno's death, Hachi was given away a few different times to families that lived miles away from the station. Despite the long distance, the dog kept running back to the station every evening in hopes of seeing his beloved master. Eventually, Hachi settled at the home of Kikuzaburo Kobayashi, a former gardener of Ueno. His home was close to Ueno's previous home, making the dog's daily walk to the station much easier. For almost ten years, until the day he died, Hachi awaited Ueno's return at the Shibuya Station. He would show up on time when the train was due and continue to stay for hours before heading back home.

Sadly, there are stories of people who would bully Hachi while he lingered around the station. In 1932, when Hirokichi Saito, the chairman of the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (The Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog) found out about Hachi and his story, he published an article in one of Japan's largest national newspapers about the loyal dog, and how he was being mistreated. The story touched many hearts and Hachi quickly became a public icon. The ko (meaning affection) was added to the end of his name around that time to show respect for his devotion and loyalty. He gradually became known as Hachiko. People from far away would come to see the famous dog at the Shibuya Station to offer love and morsels of food.

On March 8, 1935, Hachiko passed away on a street in Shibuya. He continues to be remembered worldwide with books, movies and statues, including one statue of Hachiko at the station where he waited and one of Hachiko greeting Ueno at the University where the professor worked. A taxidermied Hachiko, featuring his original fur, is on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.

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Fido: Waits at Bus Stop for Master's Return

Fido was one of the lesser known dogs in history that was famous for mourning his master's death. For 14 years he waited at a bus stop for his return home.

Carlo Soriani found an injured puppy lying in a roadside ditch in November 1941 on his way home from the bus stop in the small Italian town of Borgo San Lorenzo. Soriani took the little dog home with him and nursed him back to health. Soriani and his wife decided to keep the hound-mix dog and named him Fido, which means faithful from the Latin word fidus.

After Fido recovered from his injuries, he would accompany Soriani to the bus stop and watch his master board the morning bus that took him to his job. In the evening, Fido would be there to greet Soriani and follow him back home. This routine continued every workday.

In December 1943, during World War II, the factory Soriani worked at was hit by bombs in a terrible air raid killing 109 people including Soriani. That evening, Fido did not see Soriani get off the bus. After a while, he returned home but continued to meet the evening bus waiting for his beloved master. This went on for 14 years until the day Fido passed away on June 9, 1958. Fido was buried next to Soriani.

Fido became well known for his dedication long before his death. His story became a source of media attention, and even appeared in Time magazine. In 1957, the mayor of Borgo San Lorenzo awarded Fido a gold medal and presented a statue of Fido with the words A FIDO, ESEMPIO DI FEDELTA (TO FIDO, EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY) in front of a large crowd including Soriani's widow.

Actual footage of Fido waiting for his deceased master to return home.

The Legend of Greyfriars Bobby

Bobby became famous in history for mourning his master at his graveside for 14 years. One man says the story is untrue.

John Gray was a night watchman with the Edinburgh Police Force, and his partner was a Skye terrier named Bobby. The dog would keep him company while he made his nightly rounds through the city. The two had a special bond and were virtually inseparable for about two years. In 1858, Gray died of tuberculosis and was buried in Greyfriars cemetery.

Bobby followed the funeral procession and stayed at Gray's graveside after everyone left. The cemetery's caretaker would chase him away, but the dog would keep coming back, not wanting to leave. Eventually, the caretaker gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two tablestones next to Gray’s grave. The local residents were touched by the dog's loyalty to his master.

Everyday at one o'clock, a gun shot would sound from the Edinburgh Castle, and Bobby would leave the graveside for a midday meal. He would go to a coffee house he and Gray use to frequent for his free meal then return back to the cemetery. The story of Bobby's loyalty was spreading, and people from far away would come to see the dog.

In 1867, all dogs were required to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, paid for Bobby's license and even gave the dog a collar, which is now on display in the Museum of Edinburgh.

Bobby stayed at Gray's graveside for 14 years before he died in 1872. He was buried in the same cemetery with Gray, not far from his grave. His headstone reads: "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all." In 1873, a drinking fountain topped with a statue of Bobby was erected near the cemetery.

The commemorative statue and nearby graves attract tourists from all around the world, and several books and films have been based on Bobby's story. Bobby has been famous for more than 150 years as the most faithful dog in the world, but according to Dr. Jan Bondeson, the story was a hoax. He came to this conclusion in 2011 after spending five years reviewing contemporary archives and eyewitness accounts.

Bondeson, a historian and senior lecturer at the Cardiff University, says there were two Bobbies from 1858 to 1872, and that neither of them belonged to the man they sat by in Greyfriars cemetery. The first dog was a stray who stayed at the cemetery because he was treated well. People just assumed he was mourning his deceased master. With the attention Bobby was drawing, money was being donated to the cemetery and business was very good at the local restaurant. When the stray died in 1867, he was replaced with a similar dog to keep visitors coming.

Bondeson added "It won’t ever be possible to debunk the story of Greyfriars Bobby – he’s a living legend, the most faithful dog in the world, and bigger than all of us."

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