Dog retrieves buried body of his best friend: the family cat.
Reader TJ today sent me a very touching story that ran in The Times, the daily newspaper in Manchester, England.
A couple said their young dog, Oscar, so missed their deceased cat, Arthur, that the pup dug the cat’s body out of its grave and brought it back to his bed.
The family said Oscar had licked Arthur’s body clean and was sleeping next to him when they found the pair. Although the story ran back in January, definitely is worth reading.
And I’m curious: Have any of you had a pet that clearly mourned the death of another animal in your household?
Our Dolan is so much older than his "little sister", Franny, I’ve always assumed that some day, she’ll be an “only cat.” Most days, the two seem to barely tolerate each other. But I wonder if she would be lonely without him.
The other day, I came home early and found them sleeping on our bed – together, within about a foot of each other. While they weren’t exactly curled up like kittens in a basket, it was astonishing to see them even in the same sleeping area. They usually are very territorial about this sort of thing. Dolan will stake out a certain corner of the couch and that will be his for a while. But then Franny will muscle in and start sleeping there – and he’ll go find somewhere else.
Here's the original story about Oscar and Arthur.
DOG RETRIEVES HIS BEST FRIEND: A CAT BURIED IN THE GARDEN
By Russell Jenkins
From The Times: Manchester, UK
A pet dog missed the family’s dead cat so much that he dug up his grave and brought the body back into the house.
When Oscar’s owners woke up the next morning they discovered the dog curled up beside Arthur, the late cat, in his basket.
His owners, Robert Bell, 73, and his wife, Mavis, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, believe that the dog had licked the cat clean before falling asleep.
Mr Bell said that the two pets were constant companions. Arthur, who was a large cat, used to help Oscar to climb on to the sofa.
Oscar, an 18-month-old Lancashire Heeler, had watched Mr Bell dig a grave in the garden and then lower the cat into the hole.
Mr Bell said: “He had managed to climb out through the cat flap in the night, obviously with the intent to get Arthur back. Bearing in mind that Arthur was a huge cat, Oscar must have used all the strength he could muster."
“Then he pulled him into the basket and went to sleep next to him," Mr. Bell said. "Arthur’s coat was gleaming white. Oscar had obviously licked him clean. It must have taken him nearly all night.”
Arthur is now reburied in a secure grave. And Oscar has a new playmate, a kitten called Limpet.
ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
Comments
This article brought me to tears. My cat and dog are inseparable - and given that Mr Kitty is fifteen and Loco is twelve, this story really touched my heart. God bless Oscar and Arthur's owners for adopting a new kitten.
Posted by: Jill | July 11, 2008 8:34 AM