Laura - you might like this.

The Akita is renowned for its loyalty. A Professor who taught at the University in Tokyo and lived within walking distance of the train station owned the most famous Akita in the history of the breed, Hachi-Ko, born in 1923. Every morning, he took his dog with him to the station where he caught the train to his work. In the afternoon, Hachi-Ko was always waiting for the professor when he returned. When Hachi-Ko was two, the Professor suffered a fatal stroke at the University and never returned home. Relatives took the dog, but he persisted in returning to his original home, going from there to the train station where he continued to wait for his beloved master. The professor’s former gardener who was the manager of the train station loved the dog and watched over him. For the remainder of his life, until he died at the age of 12, Hachi-Ko continued to meet the trains. There is a famous monument to Hachi-Ko in that train station as well as several other locations in Japan.

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Oh , that's both wonderful and heart-breaking at the same time

It's making me cry. Dad wouldn't let me watch Greyfriars Bobby on the TV this afternoon, because he says it would upset me.
Aren't dogs wonderful ?
Here's a photo of one of the statues :-
<img src ="http://www.harrykolb.ch/japan/Hotels_Tokyo/s05_9.jpg">

 

Slightly less sentimental is the version I heard

...when Ivisited the statuein Tokyo - that actually the dog kept returning to the same place because he was being well-fed by a local cafe' owner.

 

We almost got an Akita

There was one in the kennel next to Sable. But I'm more than happy with our big, soft, soppy puppy!! (L)
<img src ="http://www.dogtraining-atoz.com/images/akita1.jpg">

 

RE: Slightly less sentimental is the version I heard

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The way I've always read it is that people tried to take the dog in but he kept escaping to meet the trains.</p>

 

I heard it went under one of t'trains nt

 

Oh I hope not

You'll set me off crying again

 

Reminds me of an episode of Futurama...