The Capitán of loyalty

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The Capitán of loyalty

 

 

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Every evening at 6 p.m. since his master’s death German shepherd mix Capitán keeps a lonely graveside vigil. “I think he’s going to be there until he dies, too," says son. "He’s looking after my dad.”

 

 

As tales of heroic and loyal dogs go, the story of Capitán – ‘Captain’ in English – is enough to warm even the chilliest of human hearts. In the small central Argentinian city of Villa Carlos Paz, population 56,000, a German shepherd mix named Capitán arrived in the Guzman household in mid-2005, a surprise gift from father Miguel to his son Damian. Although Miguel’s wife Veronica was not impressed since she thought the dog would add more work to the household, according to the local newspaper La Voz.

 

Miguel and the dog bonded over the following months, but tragically, less than a year later on March 24, 2006, Miguel died suddenly. Days passed and no one noticed the absence of the family dog. Capitán had run away from home after Miguel’s funeral and the family began to think he had died or perhaps been adopted by another family.

 

“The following Sunday we went to the cemetery and Damian recognized his pet,” widow Veronica Guzman told La Voz. “Capitán came up to us, barking and wailing, as if he were crying. We had never taken him to the cemetery so it is a mystery how he managed to find the place.”

 

When it came time to leave and they called his name, Capitán would not follow them. He stood in the cemetery and stayed by Miguel’s graveside.

 

“We went back the next Sunday, and he was there again,” said Veronica. “This time, he followed us home and spent a bit of time with us, but then went back to the cemetery before it started getting dark. I don't think he wanted to leave Miguel on his own at night.”

 

Hector Baccega, director of the municipal cemetery confirmed every detail of the story. “That’s not all. The dog turned up here one day, all on his own, and started wandering all around the cemetery until he eventually found the tomb of his master. During the day he sometimes takes a walk around the cemetery, but always rushes back to the grave. And every day, at six o’clock sharp, he lies down on top of the grave stays there all night.” Baccega added that the cemetery staff feed and care for Capitán, which is evident in a YouTube video.

 

While the family has attempted to bring the dog home, Capitán will not stay. “I’ve tried to bring Capitán home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery,” said Damian Guzman. “I think he’s going to be there until he dies, too. He’s looking after my dad.”

 

Readers may recall a similar story of dog loyalty from a Japanese Akita dog that waited each day for nine years at a Tokyo train station for his master to return, even though the man had died at his workplace in May 1925. The heartwarming tale was made into a movie starring Richard Gere: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale was released in 2009.

 

Some online reader comments have stated that it’s up to the family to take care of Capitán and keep him safe at home. What do you think? Should Capitán be allowed to live at the cemetery instead the family home? There’s no doubt that the story is touching, but leaving a dog to fend for itself may not be the best course of action. If he was your dog, what would you do?

 

Credit photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net