Hachi, Grief, and An Unlikely Friendship

Who says animals don’t express emotion? Pup Bella and Beavis were best buddies.

Before Beavis passed away, he and Bella were inseparable. They ate together, played together and even shared living quarters. Beavis passed away in 2012, but the pair’s story resurfaced after a video that the owner shot of the two appeared on Reddit.

This video of Bella and Beavis has been viewed on YouTube over a million times. And no one can dispute the grief expressed by this pup. As Bella realizes that her friend is not coming to life, she whimpers, nuzzles, and licks Beavis as if to say goodbye.

Dogs Express Emotions in So Many Ways

Not knowing that his owner had died, in the film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, an Akita waits ten years at a train station. Based on a true-life story of Hachiko, we see life through a dog’s eyes. And, we experience the deep emotions that bind a dog with his human best friend.

My dog Hachi had a “crush” on my parents elderly cat named Misty. For years, Hachi would try to approach Misty — only to be rebuffed by a loud hiss and a fierce stare. When Misty died, she was buried in the backyard with a simple ceremony.

After the burial, Hachi began whimpering. He frantically dug at the soil. For days, he wouldn’t leave the site. Unlike Bella and her beaver friend, Hachi never got the chance to show his devotion to Misty — until the end.

Just like Hachi did for Misty, and Bella did for Beavis — it’s pretty clear that our pups are emotional beings!

Our furry friends express emotions more we even realize. Do you have a cute story of your dog expressing strong feelings?