DAVANAGERE: A
stray dog
whom a 21-year-old biker tried dodging and fell to his death in Karnataka’s Davanagere last week walked to his home several kilometres away, stayed there fighting other mongrels and stuck around in an unusual act of apparent mourning to be eventually adopted by the
bereaved family
.
Tippesh died of severe head injuries in Bhadravathi taluk, Shivamogga, after the accident in which he skidded off the road.
Tippesh’s family says the dog arrived at his home and reached out to his mother, Yashodamma.
Videos of Yashodamma and the dog have gone viral after the tragedy, seen as a striking example of empathy and
remorse
, attributes not usually associated with strays who are often regarded as a nuisance and whose menace has even top courts worried.
“The dog tried to approach our house after the funeral, but other strays in the area fought with it. It finally entered the house after a few days and rested its head on my hand. We felt the dog was trying to convey grief over Tippesh’s death. It is now living with us,” Yashodamma said.
According to other family members, Tippesh, a resident of Kyasanakere in Davanagere’s Honnalli area, was returning home after dropping his sister at a nearby bus stop when he met with the accident on November 16.
“The dog kept following the vehicle that carried Tippesh’s body, all the way home, about 8km away from the accident site. The canine was around even during the funeral near the house. Three days later, the dog entered the house and cosied up to Tippesh’s mother,” said Sandeep HS, a relative of Tippesh.
Other relatives, too, appeared to have taken note of the dog’s deeds. “It was an accident and we unfortunately lost our brother,” said Chandana, Tippesh’s sister.
