Losing someone you care about is one of the most painful experiences. Despite our egos, grief isn’t a human emotion. It can be experienced by a variety of creatures in a myriad of ways— and this story demonstrates that perfectly.
Last March, a dog named Thor, from South Brazil, went viral when a local veterinarian decided to share the canine’s heartbreaking story.
Thor is a loving dog who spent many years living with his owner Claudio Cantarelli. Each day, Claudio would bring Thor for a walk around the town, doing his daily errands and speaking with the locals. Their route never deviated, and townspeople could set their clock to the two’s daily jaunt.
Sadly, in December of 2015, Claudio passed away at the age of 58.
Thor was taken in by Claudio’s family, but they were often too busy to bring the dog out on walks and to play. As a result, the grieving canine grew increasingly isolated and depressed. Neighbor Saionara Freitas told Metro UK:
“Thor stopped eating when Claudio died. He would lie in the courtyard of his house without moving for days on end.”
As an animal lover, Freitas couldn’t stand to see Thor so depressed. Realizing the family didn’t have the proper time to devote to him, she volunteered to take him under her wing.
The topic of animal grief is debated in the animal world. We haven’t figured out the neurological dynamics of human grief yet, so animals are still a bit of a mystery. However, despite the uncertainty of whether animals understand death, stories about dogs wailing at funerals, tracking down a deceased owner’s grave, and/or experiencing lethargy and loss of appetite after the loss of a furry friend seem to support this view.
“It was obvious he [Thor] was depressed and missing his lifelong friend,” Freitas recalled.
“I was so upset to see how sad he was I asked Claudio’s family if I could look after him.” After she adopted Thor, Freitas allowed him to go on daily walks around the town. Soon, after observing his adventures, she started to notice a pattern.
Every single day, when Thor left the house, he would walk the exact same path he had walked with Claudio for so many years before.
“I have followed him many times to see where he goes and to see if he takes a different road, but he never changes it,” Freitas said. “His journey always takes him past the vet’s clinic, the lottery, along the high street and past the diner where Claudio used to have his lunch.”
“I have watched as he lies down outside the clinic where Claudio would stop and chat, and sits and waits outside the lottery.”
“He looks like he’s hoping Claudio will turn up, and I swear I have seen tears in his eyes.”
Freitas isn’t the only one who has noticed the pattern, however. Airton Oliveira, a hairdresser and former friend of Claudio’s, also confirmed the dog seems to be carrying on his owner’s tradition. “He [Claudio] went for a walk every day,” Oliveira said. “Now Thor walks along the same route. I notice he always stops in the same places. It’s impressive.”
“It’s like he is trying to overcome his longing or waiting for his master to return,” said Freitas.
Thor’s story became popular amongst the locals, and he became a bit of a small-town celebrity. People often stop to take selfies with the dog, later posting his photos online. Soon, international media caught wind of Thor’s story and shared it across the world.
Although Thor hasn’t completely recovered from Claudio’s death, Freitas says the walks seem to be helping him grieve.
“Since he started his daily journeys on his own, Thor has gotten better and he isn’t as sad as before,” she said. However, despite the dog’s steady improvement, she is quick to note:
“While I care for him every day, his heart still belongs to Claudio.”
Watch the heartbreaking story below.
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