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Italy Dog Frequent Churchgoer Since Owner Died

the daily dish More on PawNation: Behavior, Dogs, Heart-Warming, Sad

By AFP Jan 16, 2013

  • Milestone Media
    1 of 4

    ROME - Since his owner died two months ago, Tommy the dog has not missed a single mass in the small church in southern Italy where his mistress's funeral was held, Italian media said Wednesday.

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    2 of 4

    When the bells of the Santa Maria Assunta church begin to toll each afternoon in San Donaci near Brindisi, the 12-year-old German Shepherd sets off from the village to get himself a front row seat next to the altar, Il Messaggero newspaper said.

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    His owner, who was known in local dialect as "Maria tu lu campu" -- "Maria of the fields" -- had lived alone with Tommy and three other rescue dogs, who used to follow her faithfully on her daily rounds and have now been adopted by the village.

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    Next: Dog Has Watched Over Owner's Grave For 6 Years

    After following his mistress's coffin up to the church on the day of her funeral, Tommy has returned daily, sitting quietly throughout masses, baptisms and funerals, according to local priest Donato Panna, who now wouldn't do without him.

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melissa_renninger

This is so heartbreaking when an animal grieves for their master to the point of dying of a broken heart. This is one of those stories that makes you cry and wish you could help the dog get past its grief. :(

April 17 2013 at 10:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
ilona.stephenson

In Edinburgh we have a statue to Greyfriar's Bobbie. He was a wonderful little dog who was totally devoted to his master. When the master died the dog sat on his grave daily

April 09 2013 at 10:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
kimberlysuzzie

It is entirely too sad....regarding comment, from BostonPD, it'd be a fitting thing to do, regarding trying to help the dog....but it'd be a might bit difficult, since the dog has passed away over a year ago.....

April 08 2013 at 2:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
adavis22228

Dogs like humans have feelings and are loyal to the owners. This is a sad thing to happen to an animal that gave its life as a carefree dog to help its owner. I do not take this lightly nor do I take the murder of innocent babies. That is the most horrible thing a human can do. Yet we let the Drs. etc. put in a clinic and butcher them by the thousands. Now our Gov. is for it, leave the animals alone and kill the babies is our motto. This is really a twisted Gov. and the people that support it are also. WE are to love all people and help anyone we can. The law says it is the womans body so she has a right to do as she sees fit. She has no rights to kill anyone. The right to not have a baby should be exercised before she has sex. If she does not want a baby she knows it, so it is simple to have some surgery and prevent it. Then she would be free to do as she pleases with her body. She will answer to God as we all will for sins. Many people have no thoughts when it comes to killing others. Mothers to be are no different if they murder, or the boy that killed the children at the schools. You cant seperate murder. It is all the same. It is a sin we must answer for.

April 06 2013 at 10:26 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply
mywoofy77

It's Hachi

April 05 2013 at 10:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Merle

unfortunately the dog in the church has passed away I heard. Possibly from grief , so sad.

March 29 2013 at 6:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
olegbos

experience this is rewarding for soul

March 29 2013 at 5:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Deb Toscano

Saw this movie, too. So moving, so sad, but a great story.

March 17 2013 at 7:48 AM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply
modkins

The ending of that movie was that the dogs owner walked back out the front doors of the train station, the dog got youthful again and happy after waiting many years, but then what it really was, was that the dog had died and the owner came to be with his dog in death...

March 07 2013 at 10:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
elizsthall

How impressive, that the village has adopted her three rescue dogs, and the Priest says he couldn't do without him,..coming to mass. It takes a village to raise a child, this village is raising her three rescue dogs. Way to go!

March 07 2013 at 9:12 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply
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