Fans of Buboy, the dog who went viral for his Hachiko-like loyalty, can now visit his remains when they go to a pet cemetery in Capas, Tarlac province.
The Animal Kingdom Foundation, the organization who manages the cemetery, announced in a Facebook post yesterday that Buboy’s remains were transferred to their lot with permission from his owner.
“The sanctuary will be his final resting place. Our volunteers prepared a simple yet decent shrine for this very special mutt,” the Facebook post reads.
https://www.facebook.com/AKFanimalrescue/photos/a.618549024986448/1254196824754995/?type=3&theater
Buboy died on Wednesday after he was run over by a vehicle while crossing a highway. The dog was following the security guard of a school he frequented.
The white and brown spotted mixed-breed dog first went viral last month after photos of him waiting by the door of a faculty room at the Mabalacat City College in Pampanga province were posted online. The faculty room was where the pup would regularly meet the late teacher Carmelito Marcelo who he formed a close bond with. He was also taken to see Marcelo at his wake on May 21 and was photographed sitting by the coffin. Buboy reportedly didn’t want to leave the teacher’s side.
Many netizens expressed sadness for Buboy’s passing this week. Some even said that a monument should be created in his honor, just like the one for the loyal Hachiko, a Japanese Akita dog whose story is similar to Buboy’s. There is a Hachiko statue in Tokyo’s Shibuya station.
According to the Animal Kingdom Foundation, they are open to creating a monument for Buboy but said in its Facebook post that they would need help to fund and construct it.
“We have also been getting suggestions from netizens of immortalizing #Buboy through a statue similar to that of Hachiko. We welcome this proposal, however, we might need help on its funding and construction. Get in touch with us if you want to make this happen,” the organization said.
In the meantime, it said that those who want to visit Buboy can go to their rescue center in Barangay (Village) Cubcub in Capas any day of the week from 9am to 5pm. Directions can be found in their Facebook post.
Entrance is free but they requested visitors to bring treats for their rescue animals if they can. They also encouraged them to bond with the animals in the shelter.
“Like Buboy when he was still alive, these dogs are also in dire need of pats, belly rubs, and some good hooman lovin’.”