Recently, a search and rescue operation for a human victim dwindled to a search and recovery operation. Sadly, over time, even a search and recovery effort drops off to a cold case.
The subject of this column was suggested by a reader who wanted me to research how long a dog (and by default cats, too) might stay with a deceased owner. There are two ways to look at this question. The first is, how long would a pet hang around if the owner died and the pet could move on freely. The other is grimmer and involves a pet that may be locked in a confined space with a deceased human.
On Oct. 30, a hunter found a deceased person in Archuleta County, Colo. Sheriff’s Office personnel identified the body the next day as a missing Colorado hiker named Rich Moore of Pagosa Springs, Colo. Curiously, Moore’s female Jack Russell terrier named Finney was also found alive and waiting quietly by the body. Moore, 71, had been missing since Aug. 19.
Finney was recovered by helicopter right along with the body. The body temporarily went to the county coroner with no suspicion of foul play. Such is the way most jurisdictions process unattended deaths.
Finney went to a veterinarian. Despite being thinner than expected, the dog was no worse for wear and was later reunited with Moore’s family.
So how long will a pooch stay with a deceased owner? One source cites a Japanese Akita dog named Hachiko. that lived from 1923 to 1935, that stayed waiting for his owner to return for nine years. The owner was Hidesaburo Ueno, a well-known Japanese agricultural scientist.
The “wait,” in this case involved the dog making its way to the local train station each day at the right time to meet Ueno returning from work. Hachiko is buried beside Ueno in Aoyama Cemetery, in Tokyo.
A bronze statue commemorating the dog was set up in front of the Shibuya Station in 1934. Sources cite the story being the subject of numerous books and films. The bronze involves Ueno returning to meet Hachiko at the University of Tokyo. The piece depicts an excited Hachiko jumping up to greet his owner. Ueno is dressed in a hat, suit, and trench coat with his briefcase on the ground.
There are several other stories in the literature citing similar examples of a dog that was trained to wait at a certain time and place for an owner to return only to continue to do so after the owner died.
Of course, a dog or cat knows if an owner is dead. While they may not grasp the metaphysical aspects of a death, they can sure smell and taste differences. There are documented cases where dogs have seemingly wailed at a funeral. Some have refused to leave the cemetery. And it is a little more common for a dog allowed to roam freely to make its way back to the gravesite at varying times after burial.
Following a death, a pet dog or cat may display social withdrawal, have seemingly decreased energy, and appear to have lost interest in their favorite activities.
For dogs or cats trapped in a room with a deceased person or for those running at large after human disasters, it has not been uncommon to find them consuming parts of human victims or other animals. There were numerous reports after Hurricane Katrina of dogs and other animals eating human victims.
In many such cases, it is common for searchers that come upon such sites to shoo the animals away or even shoot them on sight.
Powell is the retired public information officer for Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. This column reflects his thoughts and no longer represents WSU. For questions or concerns about animals you’d like to read about, email charliepowell74@gmail.com.
