Loyal Dog Spends 2 Years Guarding Owner’s Grave Until Rescued
In Jiangxi Province, China, the heartbreaking story of a loyal dog who stayed by his late owner’s grave for two years has touched the hearts of thousands online.
The dog was recently rescued by a kindhearted animal welfare advocate, known on social media as @ganpojiege, who runs a rescue center for stray cats and dogs. He shared a video of the dog at the gravesite, which quickly went viral, drawing countless comments of sympathy and admiration.
Local villagers said the dog began keeping vigil at the grave after his owner passed away in 2022. Despite multiple attempts by families to adopt him, the devoted pup always returned to the burial site, as if he had accepted it as his home. He survived only by occasionally venturing into the village for scraps of food.
When the rescuer finally found him, the dog was in poor health — suffering from a broken leg and severe skin disease. To gain his trust, he used sausages to gently lure him in. To his surprise, the dog ate happily, then curled up affectionately in his lap, as if relieved to finally find comfort.
He named the dog Zhongbao, meaning “loyal treasure”. Before leaving the grave, he promised the late owner’s spirit that Zhongbao would be cared for and brought back for visits.
Zhongbao was taken to an animal rescue center for treatment, and later to a larger hospital in Shanghai to manage recurring skin problems. Today, after months of dedicated care, he is thriving with a shiny, healthy coat and now lives alongside hundreds of other rescued animals.
True to his word, the rescuer continues to bring Zhongbao back to his old home to “visit” his late owner.
The touching story has melted hearts across China. Viewers wrote:
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“I cried because of Zhongbao’s loyalty. Dogs really are man’s best friend.”
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“How wonderful that he found someone kind to give him a second chance.”
With China’s booming pet market — which reached a record 10.6 million households and $37 billion in value in 2023 — stories like Zhongbao’s remind people of the deep emotional bond between humans and their beloved companions.