From the "lump in yr. throat" dept: Just a dog named "George" (so sad, but so sweet)

New.Com.AU ^ | July 30, 2003 | Alex Divine

[yankeedame]

Ritual breaks dog's heart

By Alex Divine, Rural Reporter July 30, 2003

AT 3.30pm each day George wanders a kilometre from home in search of a miracle.

George waits at the bus stop.
Inset: Amity Hartnett-Campbell.

The loyal jack russell terrier waits at the bus stop where he used to meet his owner Amity Hartnett-Campbell after school, before making the return trip alone.

The sad daily journey has become a ritual for the grieving pet since Amity was killed in a car crash four months ago.

"George has never gone this far from home on his own before," Amity's mother Kim Hartnett said yesterday.

"He must be looking for her.

"Since the accident he's gone off his food. He used to be a little guts.

"He spends most of his time curled up in Amity's lounge.

"He seems to be going through the same things I am."

George's grief follows the terrible accident which claimed the teenager's life on March 29.

Ms Harnett and Amity were driving back from visiting Amity's grandmother in Bathurst when their car skidded off the road and rolled down a 15m embankment.

Ms Hartnett recovered consciousness to discover she had been thrown into the back of the vehicle and the left side of her body was crushed.

Amity was motionless, pinned in the passenger seat, and her mother couldn't reach her.

Ms Hartnett phoned triple 0 on her mobile phone.

"I said 'I've have an accident, and I think my daughter is dead,"' Ms Hartnett recalled.

"The operator said 'stay on the line' but I couldn't stay on because my battery was flat."

More than two hours later ambulance workers found Ms Hartnett collapsed by the side of the road – where she had crawled to try and get help for her daughter.

Amity was found dead at the scene.

Ms Harnett said Amity was different from other teenagers her age.

She said her daughter was mature and would often provide schoolfriends with a shoulder to cry on when the teenagers had problems they didn't to go to their parents with.

"A lot of people depended on her, she could always empathise," Ms Hartnett said.

Ms Harnett said George had adored Amity for the past 10 years.

"George was just a pup when Amity got him," Ms Harnett said.

"He ran to her from a cluster of newborn puppies as soon as he saw her.

"Georgie picked Amity, his heart belongs to her."

People in Wellington who have heard about the grieving George have been touched by the dog's sad tale.

Several have asked if Ms Hartnett would like to give the jack russell another home.

But Ms Harnett's answer is always a firm no.

"He's my baby's dog," Ms Harnett said.

"He's not going anywhere. He gets love in truckloads because we can't give it to her any more."

The Daily Telegraph

[MonroeDNA]

After my divorce, I moved across country, to Cali, from Florida. I had to leave my labs behind, with the ex. Broke my heart. I visited 4 months later, and left one of the socks that I was wearing. She told me that they spent time between laying with their noses on the sock, and looking out the front window (hoping that I would return).

After a month of that, bless her heart, she gave me custody. I flew them across the country.

The day was one of the highest points of my life. I was an hour early, pacing, waiting. The entire air freight co. knew, and were constantly checking for me. When they arrived, they let me know.

From 500 feet away I shouted, and they went nuts! We went through McDonald's drive through ("18 plain cheeseburgers, please."), then off to a big field, to run and jump and catch frisbees.

I'll never forget that day, for as long as I live.

[PaulJ]

But they're so cute!

[MonroeDNA]

Dude, dogs certainly have emotions. They get jealous, get sad, and get happy.

Does your dog behave the same if you have been away for a day, or been away for a week?

Does your wife?

[MonroeDNA]

Is having a concept of death a requirement to having emotions?

So 2 year olds have no emotions?

[hayseed]

I beg to differ. A couple years ago our two dogs got out of our backyard. We only recovered one of them. She would wail every night for her lost companion. I'd say that she was grieving.

[PaulJ]

And the one in the story is inconsolably cheerless and disheartened about the future.

[SAMWolf]

The only love money can buy.

[RedWhiteBlue]

Here's a link: GREYFRIAR'S BOBBY. In this case, it was obviously not the act of a dog that got into a habit before his master died because the master had given him a "goodie." This dog didn't get into the habit of going to the cemetery -- and his master's grave at that -- until after his master died.

[M0sby]

Your reply may be factual.
It may be completely reasonable and enlightened~

But is oh so annoying!

Why would you pick this particular thread to EDUCATE others?
Spare me the FR is a discussion board comments...
Yes, of course you have the right.
Just not the timing!
Yes, I also have many animals, some children and some feelings! (unlike my pets and you maybe)

[Darksheare]

I know.
It just reminded me of the story for some reason.

[Tennessee_Bob]

If dogs don't experience grief, then they don't experience any other emotion. So behavior my shepherd-huskey displayed when I came home on leave for the first time in two years was nothing more than...what? Leaping around, barking, whining, knocking me down and licking my face was what?

[Darksheare]

He's one of those guys who'll tell someone whose step-daughter just died that she was still alive and even if she wasn't to suck it up and move on she didn't mean anything to them anyway.
Try not to waste the breath or strength on him if you can.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh bull they don't grieve... dogs are pack animals, and they very much bond and grieve and become depressed when they lose a companion. I lost my two old dogs this spring.... They were together 16 years. My little one looked for but couldn't find Logan, and deteriorated quickly without him... she died only a month later.

[PaulJ]

You're right, and I knew I'd be flamed. It's just that I don't understand why people can't look at their dog and see a perfect dog. Instead they look at their dog and see an imperfect human.Appreciate it for it's own beauty,not for what it isn't.

[bicycle thug]

"Cute story, but dogs don't experience grief."

Bipeds can sure be arrogant, aye? I'm sure we can reach depths of agony they cannot as we are self aware with our large frontal lobes on our brains.

But I have seen dogs, cats and other companion pet animals grieved plenty of times.

I've even seen them show empathy a time or two too. And some folks could learn from that.

[Darksheare]

Oh yeah, I look at my little fat cat and see an imperfect human.
RIGHT.
I'll distract you while someone else sneaks up behind you with a butterfly net.

[RedWhiteBlue]

It just reminded me of the story for some reason.

Me, too. I was busy searching for a link when you made your comment. GMTA!

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks SAM. Love dog stories!

[giotto]

Great story. Labs are incredible dogs.

[Darksheare]

Yeah.
Wonder what explanation some have for how the dog knew that was his master's grave and why he went there?

Some here would say it's "Anthropomorphisation" of the animal and would deny the story anyway.
Dolts all.
Thanks for the link by the by.