Posted on 01/15/2004 6:02:47 PM PST by mylife
Dog pays respects to deceased buddy By ELIZABETH FISHER The Intelligencer
BRISTOL - It's hard to imagine a more loyal dog than Polo. Even when his best pal died, the 3-year-old shepherd/chow/Labrador mix paid his respects in his own way.
Polo was often seen in the company of Ed Crossan, whose daughter, Donna, owns the dog. Polo would scamper around the yard while Crossan mowed the grass or planted flowers.
Crossan was famous for the festive decorations in the front yard of his Pond Street property every Easter or Christmas and, when he set up, Polo was always nearby.
So when Crossan, 73, died unexpectedly after surgery last week, Polo only understood that his friend was missing and he had to be found.
On the day that Theresa Crossan was preparing to make funeral arrangements for her husband, someone let the dog out into the yard. When the family went to fetch him, Polo was nowhere to be found.
"He got out and we went to look for him but couldn't find him," said Donna Crossan, who lives with her two children in the family home. "We finally had to just go to make the arrangements."
They were in for a shock. They pulled up in front of the Wade Funeral Home on Radcliffe Street about five blocks away, and there was Polo, pacing back and forth, apparently looking for Ed.
"At first, I didn't connect it that it was because my dad was there," Theresa said. "Then I thought, 'Oh, my God.' I couldn't believe it."
Polo was put into the car while the family went about the sad task of arranging for Ed Crossan's funeral.
Later, Donna was lying on the living room couch and Polo kept nudging her with his snout. He wanted the pillow that his buddy Ed always used. He just wanted to sniff at it, Donna said.
The next day, Polo disappeared again. Donna Crossan and her 10-year-old son, Brendon Lopez, knew just where to look. They got into their car and drove to the funeral home.
"The first few times, we didn't see him. We decided to try one more time. Sure enough, when we drove into Wade's, Polo came running from the side of the house," Donna said. "I felt like I was in the 'Twilight Zone.' "
Brendon had his own take on Polo's behavior.
"I just thought it was natural. He didn't know Grandpop died. He knew he was gone and he sniffed and found him over there (at Wade's)," Brendon said.
"Polo"
Thats a profound question Joe. :^)
Mutual, I think. We had a young shepherd-coyote mix who quickly adopted our newborn daughter. They were unavoidably separated for 7 years, starting when she was 3. But the instant they were reunited, he ran to her side and remained her dog (and/or she his human) until he died of old age.
Paging xsmommy...
we now have a Cavalier king charles spaniel pup and he is much easier to deal with and the love of our lives.
Thanks for posting.
In 1858, a man named John Gray was buried in old Greyfriars Churchyard. His grave levelled by the hand of time, and unmarked by any stone, became scarcely discernible; but, although no human interest seemed to attach to it, the sacred spot was not wholly disregarded and forgotten. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872. James Brown, the old curator of the burial ground, remembers Gray's funeral, and the dog, a Skye terrier called "Bobby", was, he says, one of the most conspicuous of the mourners. The grave was closed in as usual, and next morning "Bobby", was found, lying on the newly-made mound.
This was an innovation which old James could not permit, for there was an order at the gate stating in the most intelligible characters that dogs were not admitted. "Bobby" was accordingly driven out; but next morning he was there again, and for the second time was discharged. The third morning was cold and wet, and when the old man saw the faithful animal, in spite of all chastisement, still lying shivering on the grave, he took pity on him, and gave him some food. This recognition of his devotion gave "Bobby" the right to make the churchyard his home; and from that time until his own death he never spent a night away from his master's tomb.
Often in bad weather attempts were made to keep him within doors, but by dismal howls he succeeded in making it known that this interference was not agreeable to him, and he was always allowed to have his way. At almost any time during the day he could be seen in or about the churchyard, and no matter how rough the night, nothing could induce him to forsake that hallowed spot, whose identity he so faithfully preserved.
That, however, concludes the story of the life of Greyfriars' Bobby, a life which was later commemorated by the erection of the statue and fountain by Baroness Burdett Coutts. The figure which was unveiled, without any ceremony, on November 15, 1873.
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