Loyal Dog Attends Service Every Day At The Church Of His Owner’s Funeral, Hoping She’ll Come Back

Nov 19, 2019 by apost team

Dogs grieve in similar ways as humans, and this was recently shown in a heartbreaking way in San Donaci, a commune of 7,000 that's located in the heel of the famous boot shape that Italy is known for. There, Tommy, a 13-year-old German shepherd dog who had his heart broken, kept showing up at the church where his owner had been laid to rest before dying himself a few months later.

What attached him so much to Maria Margherita Lochi was her rescuing him after he had been abandoned in fields near her home. He then dutifully accompanied her to services at the church of Santa Maria Assunta and would patiently wait outside for her to make her way home.

Heartbreakingly, he also attended her funeral at that same church, following her in at that time before continuing to visit it every time he heard the bells signal that service was starting soon. He showed up for every wedding, funeral, baptism, and mass that was held there. Most believe that, by visiting, Tommy either kept hoping that Lochi would be there on one of his visits or he simply felt comfortable and at home there.

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Tommy continued to remain well behaved after he started coming to church on his own, not even barking once. Father Donato Panna and nearly everybody else in the community helped take care of Tommy as best as they could. This included Panna keeping the church open during the winter months in case Tommy wanted somewhere warm to be.

Unfortunately, all of those who cared so much for Tommy could not mend his broken heart. He died just a few months later due to factors that, as the vets who had treated him believed, were related to his age and how much Lochi's death had affected him.

Dying of a broken heart is not unheard of as stresses caused by the cessation or nonexistence of close ties with others can cause broken heart syndrome. Although it's a temporary heart condition, it can cause permanent repercussions, including emotional trauma. When combined with other conditions, its effects can be even more significant.

Have you seen an animal experience grief to the level that Tommy did? How long did it last, and did it ever appear to recover from it? What would you do if you had a pet who was going through grief?