Do dogs feel sad? Perhaps. But pet experts say that dogs experience grief just like humans do. They may feel sad emotions when their human and close canine companions pass on.
Some dogs may even exhibit human-like behaviors when dealing with grief, such as staying by their dead friends’ side. This is what a three-legged dog in Mineral Bluff, Georgia exactly has done after his friends have passed away.
Tricycle, the name of the three-legged Golden Retriever, may not be able to verbalize his grief and sad emotions. But he can very well show it, knowing he can also experience a sense of loss.
It started four years ago
Tricycle lives in a place called the Horse Creek Stable Rescue Sanctuary. He lives together with a lot of animals, such as horses, goats, llamas, and alpacas. Just like in humans, friends also come and go in the animal world. And Tricycle has witnessed a lot of his pals leave.
Sanctuary owners Lester and Diane said that the Golden Retriever was known to mourn the passing of his friends. It started four years ago when Lester buried a dog named Major.
When they buried Major, Tricycle was present. The very next day, Lester saw Tricycle lying on his friend’s grave.
Until another animal also passed away. This time, it was Trixie, a 21-year-old alpaca who was also Tricycle’s friend. Once again, the Golden Retriever was spotted mourning.
The couple noted that Tricycle would mourn over the loss for three days. Lester said that Tricycle would spend lying on the gravesite and will only come home at night.
The sanctuary’s cemetery
The sanctuary where Tricycle lives is a foster home for many other animal rescue groups that have special needs animals. It is no wonder Tricycle has made a lot of friends.
Lester says that every animal who passes away is buried on their farm. The gravesites of smaller animals like cats and dogs are marked with stones. While the gravesites of larger animals are marked with fruit-bearing trees.
Image Source: Horse Creek Stable Rescue Sanctuary via Facebook