This is the heartbreaking moment a stray puppy cried over the dead body of its friend, refusing to leave its side.
The video – seen over five million times online – shows the puppy standing over its dead companion, who had been hit by a car in the county of Daying, Suining City in south-western China’s Sichuan Province.
A pedestrian named Mr Xiong came over to help the puppy and was stunned by its refusal to leave its dead friend.
The small dog appears to be staring into the camera and pleading for help with high-pitched, mournful cries.
Mr Xiong said: ‘One was already dead, and the other was weak and dying.
‘Its cries sounded really devastated.’
The footage taken on October 25 and shows the dead dog lying prone while the injured pooch stands over its companion.
Mr Xiong had to leave the dead dog behind but picked up the one that was still alive.
The dog looked devastated and cried mournfully next to its dead friend, refusing to leave its side
Onlooker Mr Xiong wrapped the still alive puppy in a piece of clothing, but it still seemed devastated at the death of its friend
He said: ‘I wrapped it in a piece of clothing and took it back.’
Mr Xiong took the surviving stray to his workplace, where his colleagues fed the extremely weak pup.
He was unable to keep the dog himself, so he and his coworkers put the dog in a cardboard box and delivered it to a local animal shelter.
Mr Xiong said: ‘I hope some kind-hearted person will adopt it.’
Mr Xiong had to leave the dead dog behind in the road but picked up the one that was still alive
Mr Xiong took the surviving stray to his workplace, where his colleagues fed the extremely weak pup