Abandoned After 15 Years: The Heartbreaking Story of Donguri, The Loyal Dog

In a small neighborhood, residents witnessed a sight that broke their hearts: an old dog, Donguri, left behind after 15 years of loyalty to his family. As his owner moved to a new, more spacious house, Donguri was callously abandoned, still chained outside his former home without even the freedom to roam in his final days.

Neighbors reported seeing Donguri lying listlessly by his chain, his face exhausted and full of sorrow. Despite his desperate state, his family had left without ensuring his well-being. Concerned locals offered him food and water and urgently requested animal rescuers to take him in.

When the rescue team arrived, they found Donguri alone, lying forlorn in his old wooden kennel. Questions lingered in the air: how many years had this loyal canine been chained outside? Why would a family leave behind a beloved pet who had given them so much companionship?

Neighbors recalled that the owners had even boasted about their new house to others in the area, but when efforts were made to contact them, they refused to answer calls and appeared to have washed their hands of their aging pet.

Before departing for the animal hospital, rescuers gave Donguri food and plenty of water. It was obvious he was extremely thirsty and hungry. Despite his obvious sadness, Donguri seemed curious about the world outside his home—a world he had perhaps not seen for years. For the first time, it was as if he was experiencing life beyond the end of his chain.

The journey to the vet was the beginning of a different story for Donguri—one filled with hope, but also sorrow. At the clinic, he underwent various medical tests, including ultrasounds and X-rays. Sadly, results showed the seriousness of his condition: Donguri was diagnosed with stage two heartworm disease, and even more gravely, a tumor in his lung. Further scans showed that nearly a third of his lung tissue was gone, making surgery all but impossible.

His health deteriorated; he suffered from severe difficulty breathing, prompting veterinarians to design an oxygen collar to ease his distress. For the first time in a long while, Donguri could sleep peacefully, though his future was uncertain.

Authorities were notified of his abandonment, and rescuers encouraged Donguri to eat and strengthen himself for what lay ahead. Despite minor improvements in his condition, doctors delivered sad news: Donguri had advanced lung cancer, his time was limited, and his family had reportedly known about his illness yet deliberately left him behind.

During his days at the clinic, Donguri revealed his gentle, affectionate nature. He tried to eat, savoring the smell of flowers in the clinic garden, and seemed determined to enjoy life’s remaining moments. Still, as the illness progressed, his fever worsened and breathing became more labored. In his final days, he could only sip water and struggled to eat his favorite treats.

Five days after being rescued, Donguri passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by those who cared for him in his last moments. His story is a powerful reminder of the responsibilities pet owners carry and the love and loyalty animals give us.

Donguri will be remembered as a symbol of unwavering devotion—and a call to show compassion for all living beings, especially those who have given us their trust.