A deceased covid-19 victim's loyal dog who waited for his owner inside the lobby of a Wuhan hospital for over three months has been given to a dog shelter.
The seven-year-old male mongrel - given the name Xiao Bao (Little Treasure) - received Wuhan Taikang Hospital in Central China's Hubei Province as well as his elderly owner at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in February.
Sadly, the pensioner contracted the virus only five days later, but Xiaobao refused to leave, consistent with the 65-year-old hospital cleaner Zhu Youzhen. The dog's owner was one among 3,869 killed by the deadly disease in the city. Oblivious that his owner wouldn't be returning, Xiao Bao, waited in the lobby of Taikang Hospital for quite three months, during which era he was fed by staff. On April 13th, Wuhan lifted its lockdown and the hospital supermarket reopened and was taken care of by the owner Wu Cuifen. Ms Wu said: 'I first noticed the small dog once I returned to figure in the middle of April. I called him 'Xiao Bao.'Bao'. That is the name I gave him.
'They told me Xiao Bao's owner, a pensioner, was admitted with the coronavirus. Then, he gave up the ghost, but Xiao Bao didn't know and just stayed in the hospital trying to find him 'It never left the hospital. It had been incredibly touching, then loyal. 'I grew conversant in the dog and later brought him into the shop. 'As soon as it is opened every morning, Xiaobao will be there waiting for me. He saw me off at the top of every day.'
Ms. Wu said that Xiaobao would not leave.away. EvenOnce they deliberately dropped him off somewhere distant, he would make his way back to Taikang Hospital and patiently await his owner to return. On 20th May, as Taikang Hospital crammed with regular patients, staff received complaints and concerns about Xiao Bao roaming the corridors. Nurses contacted the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, whose members took Xiao Bao in.
Xiao Bao was treated by vets and has also been sterilized as he prepares to be rehomed. The shelter is now vetting animal lovers who have offered to foster Xiao Bao, the association's director Du Fan said yesterday.