'Till death did them apart': 15-year-old emotional bond between man and his pet dog ends with a final goodbye after companion dies hours after master’s death

For 15 years, Duggu, a pet Pomeranian from Madhya Pradesh’s Betul, shared an inseparable bond with his owner Pradeep Jain. The dog was not just a pet but a beloved companion who remained by Jain’s side through every moment of their life together.

After Jain’s death following an illness, Duggu also passed away just hours later, leaving the family and neighbours emotional.

Duggu Waited for His Owner’s Return

Pradeep Jain, a 67-year-old resident of Betul, had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhopal after battling illness for eight days. Like every other day, Duggu waited at home hoping his owner would return.


However, Jain never came back. When his mortal remains arrived at the family’s Civil Lines residence on Sunday evening, Duggu sat quietly beside his master’s body and refused to move away.

Dog Joins Owner’s Final Journey

As the family prepared for Jain’s funeral, they moved Duggu to another room to prevent him from becoming distressed. But the elderly pet spent the night restless and kept whining, appearing to search for his owner.

When the funeral procession began the next day, Duggu was allowed to come out. He quietly followed the mourners for a short distance before collapsing. Despite attempts to revive him, the 15-year-old dog died there.

Family Performs Final Rites for Both Owner and Pet

The emotional incident became even more heartbreaking as the family arranged a separate bier for Duggu. Both Jain and his loyal companion began their final journey from the same home where they had spent 15 years together.

Jain was cremated according to Hindu rituals at Ganj Mokshdham, while Duggu was buried within the cremation ground premises in the presence of family members.

Sharing the emotional bond between Jain and Duggu, Jain’s nephew Yogesh Jain told TOI: “He was more than just a pet. He was a part of our family.”

He added that Jain had brought Duggu home as a puppy and raised him with love. “Every time he returned home from work, Duggu would run to greet him. Whenever he fell ill, Duggu stopped eating and also fell sick. Even after his death, he refused to leave his master’s side.”

The family also plans to hold a separate post-death ceremony for Duggu, similar to Jain’s rituals, as a tribute to the loyal companion who stayed with his owner until the very end.

[With TOI inputs]