A dog went without food for seven days just to stay beside its trapped friend while waiting for someone to come rescue them. Their loyal friendship left everyone who heard the story deeply emotional.
The dog went without food for seven days to stay with its friend trapped in the well until they were both rescued. Hunger, cold, fear, and selfishness could not overcome love.
If someone thinks that animals live by the “law of the jungle,” prioritizing their own interests and needs for survival, that’s incorrect; at least not in the story below about the loyal friendship between two dogs, Tillie and Phoebe.
Tillie and Phoebe, two best friends, lived together on Vashon Island, USA. One day, while out for a walk, the two dogs wandered outside the house; and to their dismay, Phoebe fell into a dry well a few miles from their home.
Although the well wasn’t deep enough to endanger Phoebe’s life, she couldn’t get out either. Meanwhile, Tillie had no other way to help her friend; the only thing she could do was stay by Phoebe’s side and search for rescue for… seven consecutive days.
The owners’ family became worried when the two dogs didn’t return home in the evening, so they contacted the Vashon Island Pet Protection Association. Volunteers searched the island for several days; but they found no trace of the two dogs.
After about a week of searching, they finally got a clue. Amy Carey, a rescuer with the Animal Welfare Association, said the rescue team received information that a local farmer had noticed a reddish-brown dog on his land. He said the dog had quietly approached him, and when he noticed it and paid attention to it, it turned and went towards a nearby ravine.
Amy decided to go check things out. And that’s when she discovered something truly touching:
“When I got there and looked down into the ravine, Tillie saw me, but it didn’t run up. It just stayed near the edge of the well, then pressed its head down very close to the mouth of the well. Clearly, that was a signal that I had to come closer so I could see something; and surprisingly, it turned out to be its friend.”
Not long after, Amy discovered Phoebe the dog trapped at the bottom of the well; she understood everything. Amy continued, “When I saw what was happening, tears immediately welled up in my eyes. It was so touching!”
Amy witnessed the kindness and devotion of friendship in a dog. For a whole week, with nothing to eat but a little rainwater to drink, Tillie persevered by her friend’s side and tried to find help from humans.
The dog realized that the fate of its poor friend rested in its hands; and if it left its friend to return home, the chances of finding Phoebe were almost certain.
After a week living in the wild, the two dogs went without food for seven consecutive days, yet they remained remarkably healthy. Despite eating almost nothing, they were able to survive while waiting for help.
Amy recounted the reunion of the two dogs with the family:
“When they were rescued, they were overjoyed. Tillie, in particular, was very relieved. When they heard their owner’s voice from afar, you could see their happiness. It was touching, but it didn’t surprise us because what we’ve always known about dogs is their incredible loyalty. We’re so happy they were rescued safely.”
