Singapore’s Hachiko (Please watch!)
I have previously blogged about a dog named Hachiko. The golden-brown Akita (a breed of dog) was made famous because of his extraordinary loyalty towards his owner. In 1924, both Hachiko and his owner (a professor at the University of Tokyo) would greet each other at the train station. This happened everyday for a year until one day the professor died of cerebral hemorrhage and did not return. Hachiko waited for the next 9 years outside the train station until he died, aged 11.
I then blogged about Spot, the American Hachiko who waited by the side of the road after his owner got killed in a car accident.
In 2003, a dog named Mimi was separated from her owner in Singapore. It is uncertain how Mimi’s owners couldn’t find her one day. Although they loved her, the family decided to move away… and so unable to find her family, Mimi ended up outside the house… living on the streets.
In the video below, H.O.P.E.* describes Mimi’s life as: “From a pet, to a lost dog, to a lost and abused dog”. For 8 years, Mimi laid on the grass bed by the roadside waiting for her owner’s return. Rain or shine, Mimi never moved and continued to wait there. She survived on food scraps given to her by kind passersby.
In June 2011, someone called SPCA… and they found Mimi’s owner. The family went back to the area and found her on the same grass bed… where she had been waiting for 8 years.
After 8 years, she had forgotten her name – but both Mimi and her family were reunited!
After 8 years, her suffering did not end. Her owner had to leave the country for work, and Mimi was diagnosed with cancer.
Watch the video to see what else happened to her. Would you wait for your loved ones for 8 years?
Tsem Rinpoche
*H.O.P.E. stands for Homeless & Orphan Pets Exist. They are a non-profit organization that was established in April 2008. I admire them as they have a strong NO-KILL policy. Based in Johor Bahru, their mission is to improve the welfare of stray and abandoned dogs in Malaysia. They rescue animals, re-home them, sterilize them and educate the public about animal welfare.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/A-Story-of-A-Dog-Singapore-Hachiko.mp4
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Heartfelt watching this video again, what a royal dog named Mimi was. Could imagined waited on the same spot for her owner who had left her for 8 years. Looks like the owner had intended to leave her there, when shifting house. Its only when the SPCA found Mimi’s owner she was taken back yet not for too long she was left alone again. Sad tale indeed when any one decide to own a dog think twice. A dog is a man best friend yet please don’t leave them at least gave to someone to care . Poor Mimi such a royal dog , sufferings from being left out, abused as stray dog and suffered through all the surgeries because of cancer. SPCA did a good job , thank you for taking care of Mimi.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing of the story of Singapore’s Hachiko named Mimi.
Dogs are man’s best friend ,after watching these video almost ending,felt sad in way how Mimi suffered so much being loyal to his owner. Could not imagine such a loyal and faithful dog waiting for his owner to pick him up.
For 8 years long years……waiting at the same spot.Well do not think so any dog will be so loyal.Mimi was such a loyal dog.From a pet, to a lost dog, to a lost and abused dog.
SPCA done a good job taking care of Mimi till the end.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such a touching story of Mimi.
It’s the owner fault. She should return every week or month
to the same location until Hachiko is found. Buddha Bless You All.
Such loyal dog but very unfortunate life he had, 8 years is a very very long period of time, she waited for years until she forgot her name but still remembered her owner. No animal should deserve this, can you imagine what she has been through? Please take good care of your pets.
i love dogs that are loyal and it is sad how mimi had to wait so long and i love animals. i am so happy that mimi is reunited with her family! animals are smart and they care for you, i love animals. thank you for sharing Rinpoche
这就是我为什么那么喜欢狗狗，因为他们真的很忠诚。我记得小时候我爸狠狠的打了我们家母狗一顿，然后还把它丢去一处。（当然我在当时很反对）但是是小孩做不了什么，结果一星期后回去找它，发现它还在原处等我爸回去接她。从此以后我爸再也不再对狗狗发脾气了。
Very touching story, i thought this story only appear in drama not in real life. From a pet, then to be a stray dog, finally suffering for cancer before leaving this world. Mimi awaiting for her owner 8 years at the same place, never run away because afraid her owner cannot found her. Please love your pets as your kids, they are not a toy and don’t leave them when you feel bored with your pets.
Thank you for the sharing, dogs are the best companion and our best friend for my opinion. They are true, loyal and always by your side anytime. I hope to have a good rebirth and her story to inspire many and instill good values to everyone.
This is very definite proof that animals can be more loyal than humans. Humans would not wait for their parents if their parents left them behind. Humans would resent their parents if they did that. This dog is really a saint. I wish more humans could be like that.
Oh my god, this is cool 🙂 im glad that after a such a long time, mimi is back together with her loving family. She is so loyal to have waited for 8 years. Dogs are amazing, you can never find another animal that will show this much loyalty towards the owner, dogs are truly special and different animals. Be kind to them, and give them love.
This proves that animals do have feelings. Its very nice to see such heartwarming story. Mimi is a wonderful dog. Its so sad that she ended up with cancer.
Nowadays, its so hard to find humans with this fabulous quality..
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
wow mimi is such a wonderful dog. but the sad thing is : mimi is quite unfortunate to be left alone for years waiting, but mimi’s loyalty was too strong so mimi would not leave, i am just glad that she was reunited with her family in the end
I simply love animals…. i took in a stray years back and me and my wife treated her as our own child… as we do not have any children of our own. When she passed away suddenly it broke both our hearts as it was not a natural death she jumped out of our kitchen. Till this day i think about my beloved Snoopy a cross bread silky terrier and after watching this video of Mimi i culd not hold back my emotions. I try my best to help and feed stray dogs and cats, so all i can say to everyone is pls pls pls be kind to animals.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this real story of Mimi.
Mimi is indeed a great true story that touches everyone’s heart. Mimi has shown us with his great loyalty to his master , May Mimi be blessed with a good rebirth and never to suffer again.Please be kind to animal,dun’t hurt them!dun’t abandon them!
Truly a sad case for a dog to be left behind. I am sorry to say this, if the owner really love Mimi, I am sure after all these years, she could’ve gone back to check whether Mimi is still there. How can we say love someone and then just move away? And the saddest part is that Mimi was at the same place for so many years. And the people who just walked past and didn’t care much. May Mimi have good rebirths always.
Being kind is not hard as it is our true nature inherent in all of us otherwise Buddhahood would not be possible.~Tsem Rinpoche
Watching movies or reading stories like this never fails to bring tears to my eyes. And truly, I can never understand why some people can leave their pets just like that.
In this case, the family left Mimi twice and Mimi stayed loyal to her owners no matter what.
Mimi’s eight years of waiting, rain or shine, is still not enough for her owner. They are really very heartless.
I wish very much that Mimi can take rebirth in a good condition in her next life.
Dear Rinpoche
This is the kind of story that makes me appreciate my dog more. He is often the only one that waited for me when I got home very late from work, played with me when I wake up at night, accompany me when I am sad and lonely, and share my food at times.
I could not bear if something bad happen to him. I would rather only have one dog and take care of it well, rather than having many and neglect them with some lame excuse.
Valentina
Beautiful story!!
I am so sad and can’t control my tears from falling down. Pray that Mimi will have happy days at rainbow bridge!
Animals were not made to be our companions, food, abused and etc. Animals were once humans like us too, and could have even been our mothers once. This story shows animals are capable for higher emotions and instincts.
Many animals do have the wish to inspire and fulfil their special bonds with human beings through love, devotion, loyalty and companionship. True heartwarming stories of animals solidifying the fact that animals-human bond is so unique, particularly like these bogs of “Hachiko” related by our guru, have often been told to enhance such facts relating to other animals, like that of cats, horses, monkeys, dolphins – and many others too. There was also a story that I have read about a cannine named “Champ”. He, himself has survived two attacks by coyotes and managed to survive himself. Champ was accredited with saving of his owner, known as Betty Owens of North Alabama, of breast cancer and second time of cheek cancer, by persistently sniffying at the infected parts of her body, forcing her to check with her family’s doctor to find out why. Yes, Champ has made the correct diagnosis in both the occassions – and Betty had both her cancerous growths removed, and today she is cancer free. “Champ” is a real fitting name for this cannine, and may he live long to continue saving more sentient beings, and be blessed with a good human rebirth!!! OM mani Padme Hum.