I'm sure you've heard many stories about the devoted dog Hachiko and other stories like it. However, a recent story about a dog and its owner in Chicago illustrated the bonding relationship between humans and dogs that transcends reality. Despite the melancholy, it is enough to make people feel a warm current termed "love" even if it is not as direct as the devoted dog Hachiko.
Roman is the name of the male owner, and Toby is the name of the dog he raises. This article will use the male owner and Toby as pronouns for the sake of consistency.
But how can a dog argue with humans? Toby, who waits for his master at the window every day after he gets off work, gradually changes his master's prejudice. Not only did the male owner readily accept the role of the family's third kid, but he also became Toby's "dog licker," praising everyone he encountered for how sensible and lovely his dog was. Although the man and his wife's relationship is strained, Toby's presence ensures that the family atmosphere remains intact.
It's only that the dog's power is limited after all. The male owner and his wife ultimately signed a divorce agreement due to their irreconcilable differences. Although the male protagonist has been mentally preparing for this day for a long time, there is one item he cannot let go of. That is, Toby was purchased by his ex-wife, and if the property is divided after divorce, Toby will legally belong to his ex-wife.
The male owner was concerned. After numerous failed conversations with his ex-wife, he decided to give up the house and move out on his own in exchange for custody of Toby. The male owner had no idea that the tiny fellow who had made him a bit disgusted in the beginning would make him give up everything just to keep it by his side.
Whether it was because of the male host's genuineness or the desire to exchange chips, the ex-wife accepted to this "deal." Despite being forced out of the house, the man was content with Toby's companionship.
As a result, over the next 11 years, Toby grew to be the male protagonist's most important relative. They quarrel, play, and sleep together. To a significant extent, the male protagonist appears to be happier now that he is single again. And Toby will be just as before, waiting for his master to return home from work every day. Toby will be waiting at the window for his master to return, whether he is on a business trip or working extra. Nothing has changed in 11 years.
Until Toby turned 16 years old...
A dog's typical lifespan is 14 years, as we all know. You can image what kind of state 16-year-old Toby is in. Although the male protagonist visited big hospitals and many doctors, Toby, who had trouble moving due to his age, was unable to escape the disease's misery in his later years. Finally, Toby, who was suffering from kidney disease, left his beloved owner in his sleep and returned to his rightful place.
This male protagonist is undeniably fortunate. Although his marriage was unhappy, it provided him with more precious relatives and close friends. Toby, who lives longer than most dogs, has done his best to give his owner two more years of enjoyment, according to veterinarians.
Of course, Toby is also fortunate in that, unlike the loyal dog Hachiko, he has an owner who loves him equally and receives a great result every time he waits. He would not be like Hachiko, who only saw the master for whom he had waited for several years at the last moment before he died, and was finally reunited and went to that place painlessly.
The man still looks at the place where Toby was waiting for him every day when he gets home from work. Although he never saw Toby again, we assume he was keeping an eye on him. Take a look at him.