Some people have a hard time saying goodbye. It was really tough on Cesur when his owner died.
He just couldn’t let his best friend go.
Mehmet Ilhan had been ill for many years. The 79-year-old’s condition actually left him paralyzed. He eventually passed away at a hospital near his home in Bursa, Turkey.
But Mehmet was lucky to have Cesur as his companion during his last two years on Earth. These two relied on each other greatly.
They loved each other very much.
“Because of my father’s paralysis, they had a different kind of connection,”Mehmet’s son Ali told The Dodo. “When my father was in the hospital during his last days, Cesur stopped eating.”
Source: Ali Ilhan
When Mehmet’s body was returned to his home before his burial, Cesur refused to leave his side.
Cesur even lead the funeral procession that carried Mehmet’s coffin to the local mosque.
Poor Cesur just hung his head low as he sat by the coffin during the funeral. He stayed this way during the entire ceremony.
Source: Ali Ilhan
Even though Cesur watched Mehmet be laid to rest, he still couldn’t say goodbye.
Cesur stayed with Ali following Mehmet’s death but has been running away every day since Mehmet was laid to rest. Every time Ali would head off to work, Cesur would run out of the door as fast as he could.
Source: Ali Ilhan
He’d eventually return, but Ali had no idea where he was running off too.
Ali decided to follow Cesur on the fifth day. He followed Cesur to his dad’s grave site.
“The people who work in the cemetery say the first thing he does in the morning is visit the grave of my father,” said Ali.
Source: Ali Ilhan
Ali was so impressed by Cesur’s loyalty. He and Cesur both paid their respects to Mehmet that day.
“Cesur has always been a noble animal,” said Ali. “He will live with me from now on.”
Ali wasn’t sure if Cesur would continue to visit Mehmet’s grave or if he will ever get over the loss but it’s been nice to know that he doesn’t have to face this loss alone.
Source: Ali Ilhan
He’s now just as close to Cesur as his dad was.
It’s not uncommon at for dogs to grieve when their owners die.
“When an owner passes away before her pet, it can be a confusing, sad, and difficult period, even if arrangements have been made for the animal to be taken care of by someone else,” certified behaviorist and dog trainer Russell Hartstein tells the American Kennel Club.
Source: Ali Ilhan
Dogs might show grief in different ways like panting, whining, barking, pacing, fidgeting, loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, listlessness, being clingy, loss of interest in physical activity.
“Dogs are highly intuitive and sensitive, more than people give them credit for,” Jme Thomas, the executive director at Motley Zoo Animal Rescue said.
It’s important to make sure you keep a close eye on your dogs routine, comfort them by spending extra time together, give them extra affection, and play games with them that will increase their exercise.
Source: Ali Ilhan
“I have no doubt that dogs miss us as much as we miss them, and like us, they need time to heal from a deep emotional loss,” holistic physical therapist for animals and humans Sally Morgan says.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
