Ciccio, a 12-year-old German shepherd, waits in vain in front of the altar of
the Santa Maria Assunta church in the village of San Donaci in the southern
region of Puglia.
He heads to the church as soon as the bells begin to ring each afternoon, just
as he did for years when his owner was alive.
The woman, who was known in local dialect as "Maria tu lu campu" - "Maria
of the fields" – died suddenly in November.
Ciccio attended the funeral, following his mistress's coffin as it was carried
into the church.
The dog's devotion has so impressed villagers that they have adopted him as
their own, giving him food and water and letting him sleep in a covered area
outside the church.
The local priest, Donato Panna, allows him to sit in front of the altar during Masses, baptisms and other services.
He is now hoping to find a new home for the faithful hound.
His behaviour is reminiscent of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier who became famous in Edinburgh for spending years guarding the grave of his owner.
A
German Shepherd Dog who was adopted by a woman as a stray, has been
attending the church they visited together every day since she died. The
loyal dog named Ciccio was rescued by 57-year-old Maria Margherita
Lochi after she found him abandoned in a field near her home in San
Donaci near Brindisi, Italy.
The 7-year-old dog was her faithful companion. Locals said that Maria spent her life adopting stray animals but she was particularly close to Ciccio who would walk with her to church every day. The priest allowed Ciccio to sit and wait by Maria's feet during service.
So when she died two months ago, Ciccio joined mourners at her funeral service. He followed after Maria's coffin as it was carried into the Santa Maria Assunta church. Since then he appears at the same church, arriving when the bell rings out to mark the beginning of services, as he did for years with Maria.
Read more at http://www.dogheirs.com/larne/posts/2618-loyal-dog-attends-church-of-his-deceased-owner-every-day#j7UMAzLtqKoWik2e.99
The 7-year-old dog was her faithful companion. Locals said that Maria spent her life adopting stray animals but she was particularly close to Ciccio who would walk with her to church every day. The priest allowed Ciccio to sit and wait by Maria's feet during service.
So when she died two months ago, Ciccio joined mourners at her funeral service. He followed after Maria's coffin as it was carried into the Santa Maria Assunta church. Since then he appears at the same church, arriving when the bell rings out to mark the beginning of services, as he did for years with Maria.
Read more at http://www.dogheirs.com/larne/posts/2618-loyal-dog-attends-church-of-his-deceased-owner-every-day#j7UMAzLtqKoWik2e.99
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