Hachiko 2.0: Russian dog sits beside frozen river for days waiting for dead owner's return

Dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by humans more than 30,000 years ago. Since then, Canines have been hailed as "man's best friend", having proved their loyalty several times even in the most challenging situations.

Belka, a Russian dog has a similar story of unwavering devotion towards her human companion even after his death which has captured the hearts of people online.

According to a video posted by RT on social media, the 59-year-old owner of the dog was riding his bicycle close to a frozen river in the Ufa region of Russia when the tragic event occurred. He was thrown into the freezing waters when the brittle ice gave way. Despite a brave attempt by a bystander to save him, the river's tremendous currents were too strong. After a thorough multi-day search, rescue crews were able to locate the man's body in the Ufa River downstream.

While even the toughest of people would get overwhelmed in such a situation, Belka's faithfulness towards her owner knew no boundaries. The dog sat at the riverbanks for four days waiting for the return of her owner. Even after the man's family took Belka to their home, the canine kept coming to the same spot where she lost her owner.

This touching tale of loyalty and companionship between humans and the tail wagging creatures has left netizens rooting for Belka.

"A dogs loyalty is like no other..," said a user on X (formerly Twitter).

"Beautiful soul. We don’t deserve dogs," commented another.

Some users also shared personal accounts of pets and their way of showing affection. "We don't give animals enough credit for their loyalty. When my mom was dying from cancer, none of her normally boisterous cats would leave her side. They huddled up against her and purred with all their might, willing her to heal. Their hearts are pure and good," recalled a user.

Netizens were also reminded of Hachiko, a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death.