Maria Margherita Lochi was known in her town of San Donaci, Italy for her kindness in looking after and adopting stray dogs and cats. One of her adopted dogs, a 12-year-old German Shepherd mix named Ciccio, was found in a soccer field near her home and is now carrying on his own vigil for Maria since she passed away two months ago. Is Ciccio Italy’s own Hachikō?
Ciccio used to attend Mass services with Maria for years on a regular basis at the church of Santa Maria Assunta, and according to the parish priest he has always been welcome in the church and would sit quietly at Maria’s feet. On the day of her funeral, Ciccio followed her casket into the church and each day since when the bell rings to begin Mass he arrives and sits at the altar.
According to the Daily Mail, Father Donato Panna said: “He’s there every time I celebrate Mass and is very well behaved—he doesn’t make a sound, I’ve not heard one bark from him in all the time he has been coming in.”
“He’s still coming to Mass even after Maria’s funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn’t have the heart to throw him out—I’ve just recently lost my own dog so I leave him there until Mass finishes and then I let him out.”
People in the village are providing food and water for Ciccio, and for now he sleeps in a covered area near the church. The priest is hoping to find a home for him soon…but I’m hoping he adopts him and allows Ciccio to remain a parishioner at the church of Santa Maria Assunta. In any case, thanks to massive publicity and a Facebook fan page created by Maria’s son, it appears that there have been many offers across Italy to give Ciccio a warm, safe home very soon.
Also: Ciccio seems to have another name, which is “Tommy”, and news reports use both. Details from the Daily Mail, and Sud Italia News. Photos from Ciccio’s Facebook fan page.
UPDATE February 11, 2013: I follow the story of Ciccio, or Tommy, on Facebook and it appears that Maria’s son Sebastian now has custody of him. Sadly, Tommy is very ill right now at a vet clinic and it is feared that he may not survive. I’m not sure what the cause is, but they are saying that because he is now around 13 years old combined with the heartbreak of losing Maria, the sadness has taken its toll. I will post an update here if I get any further news.
Dogs Make Everything Better 
Oh how that image breaks my heart! What a good boy he is, to the end and beyond! I hope he finds a new home soon! He sure seems to have a lot of love left to give!
Of course I would take him…
One of the nicest blogs I have read. I’m for dogs
Thank you for sharing such a lovely story
Thank you very much, and thank you for reading!
I think the priest should adopt him and still allow him to come to Mass everyday if he wants.
That really would be the perfect solution, and I’m sure that Ciccio would be the happiest with that.
I hope you will take him, is to sad to seem there by him self imploring to any of those lady to please “take me with you”…
I also hope that Ciccio can be adopted by the priest, I think that he really needs to hope that Maria will come back one day,,,,,I guess is right make him believe that
Ciccio died today.
Thank you for letting me know, so sad. I posted yesterday that he had died, but when I returned to Facebook I saw that it was false. It’s been difficult to know what exactly is happening there.