Loyal Dog in Russia Finally Finds a Home After Waiting Six Months for His Owner in –30°C Cold
This Christmas brought a miracle for one faithful dog in Russia. After spending six long months waiting for his owner at a bus stop in temperatures as low as –30°C, the dog — now affectionately called “Hachiko” after Japan’s legendary loyal Akita — has finally been adopted into a loving family.
For half a year, the poor dog remained at the same bus stop in the small village of Memetkino, nearly 1,550 miles east of Moscow, steadfastly waiting for the person who had abandoned him.
Even when the freezing wind cut through the air and snow piled up around him, he refused to move. Locals said he seemed especially excited whenever a gray car passed by, as though he believed his beloved owner might be inside.
“This is truly a loyal dog,” said Sabyrgali Baysagurov, a local farmer. “We think his owner must have driven a gray car.”
Villagers Tried to Help, But the Dog Refused to Leave
Touched by his devotion, villagers tried for months to offer him shelter. They brought food every day and even set up a doghouse for him near the stop. But instead of using it, he preferred to curl up on a bed of straw that retirees had laid out for him.
In the brutal cold, food would often freeze solid before he could eat it. Still, he stayed — watching every passing vehicle, hoping against hope that one day his person would return.
A Rescue Just in Time
As winter deepened and the temperatures became life-threatening, a team of animal rescue volunteers read about the dog’s plight online. Fearing his loyalty would cost him his life, they drove 250 miles to save him.
“It was already getting colder, ice was everywhere, but he was still here, waiting,” said Baysagurov.
The rescue was not easy. The dog, wary of strangers, resisted their attempts to get close.
“He didn’t trust us and didn’t want to approach,” recalled volunteer Alexey. “We tried different ways. Finally, during a game of ‘catch me if you can,’ my colleague Irina managed to wrap a blanket around him. That’s how we finally got him into the car.”
Once warmed and safe, the dog’s demeanor softened, and he began to show a friendlier side.
A Christmas Miracle
Irina, one of the rescuers, was so moved by the dog’s story and his unwavering faithfulness that she decided to adopt him herself.
“I simply admired his loyalty,” Irina said. “He deserved a real family.”
Just in time for Christmas, “Hachiko” arrived at his new home, where he now lives with Irina and two other dogs. She says he is adjusting well and seems truly happy at last.
After six months of lonely waiting in the freezing cold, this brave and loyal dog finally has what he always longed for — a family who will never abandon him again.