For Nearly 3 Years, a Loyal Dog Refuses to Leave His Little Master’s Grave
On the day the family finished building little Kiet’s grave, their dog, Muc, suddenly left the house and stayed by the boy’s grave day and night. Since then, for nearly three years, the dog has clung to the gravesite, lying on it with sorrowful eyes.
Sitting in front of her house gently rocking her 11-month-old grandson, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ut (58 years old, from Tan Thanh commune, Tan Thanh district, Long An province) keeps glancing toward the cemetery behind the house, worried that Muc is again lying under the scorching sun by the grave.
In recent days, Muc has gained attention across social media for his extraordinary loyalty to his deceased young master. “Ever since my grandson passed away, Muc hasn’t wanted to stay in the house. He just goes and lies by the grave. It’s been almost three years now,” Ms. Ut shared.
According to her, the dog was adopted into the family when her grandson Kiet was two years old. The little boy and Muc quickly formed a strong bond. Half a year later, Kiet tragically died in an accident. From that moment, Muc stopped playing, became withdrawn, and started lying quietly in a corner.
When the family held the funeral and built the grave, Muc quietly followed them. He lay by the edge of the rice field, staring toward the grave. After the grave was completed, Muc began staying there all day and sometimes through the night, only returning home briefly during the midday heat.
Strangely, Muc always lies in the same position—head facing the tombstone, never changing his spot. He’s lain there so much that the granite surface of the grave bears the mark of his body.
Mrs. Ut tried calling Muc home many times, but he wouldn’t leave. He’d wag his tail, glance back, then lower his head again onto the grave. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “On hot days, his fur started falling out from the heat of the granite. I put up a small canopy with coconut leaves so he could have shade, and he stayed there.”
“We Will Bury Him Next to My Son”
Sitting near his mother, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ro (Ms. Ut’s son and Kiet’s father), wiped away tears as he recalled memories of his son playing with Muc. He admitted he was surprised at how deep the bond was between the boy and the dog.
“At first, I didn’t believe it. But after seeing the dog lie by my son’s grave for nearly three years, I had to accept it. They really had a special connection,” he said.
Kiet and Muc were like siblings, raised side-by-side. The boy would hug and pet Muc constantly. Seeing their closeness, Ms. Ut eventually warmed to the dog and began caring for it as well.
Kiet even used to sleep with Muc. Now, Muc lies at the grave as if still sleeping beside his little friend.
“Muc lies there from morning till night,” Mr. Ro said. “On rainy days, if there’s no shelter, he comes back to the house. But when you look into his eyes, they’re full of sorrow.”
Gently stroking the dog lying atop her grandson’s grave, Ms. Ut said her eyes have grown dim from years of crying over the loss.
“Kiet’s passing brought sorrow to all of us—and even to Muc. But my grandson hasn’t been alone. Muc has kept him company day and night for three years. When the dog dies, we’ll bury him right next to Kiet,” she whispered.