Image: LaVoz – This story was first published on January 14, 2013
Outline
Circulating social media messages tell the story of a German Shepherd named Capitán who slept by the grave of his owner Miguel Guzmán for years after the man died in 2006.
Brief Analysis
The story of Capitán is true and well documented. Sadly, Capitán (pictured above) has now reportedly died. While the story itself is true, the picture that travels with one long-running version of the message does not show Capitán or his owner’s grave, but rather another dog in another cemetery.
Example
For the past 6 years, a German shepherd called Capitán has slept next to the grave of his owner every night at 6pm. His owner, Miguel Guzmán died in 2006. Capitán, the dog, disappeared while the family attended the funeral services. A week later relatives of Guzmán were visiting the cemetery when they were astounded to find the dog next to the owner’s grave. The cemetery director says that the dog comes around each night at 6pm, and has done so for the past 6 years.
Detailed Analysis
This message, which has circulated via social media posts and email since 2013, tells the story of Capitán, a German Shepherd who slept by his owner’s grave every night for years after the man died in 2006.
According to the message, Capitán disappeared from his home after his owner died but was later discovered by family members at the cemetery beside his owner’s grave. The message includes a photograph of a dog sleeping on a grave.
The story of Capitán is true, although the picture with the message does not depict Capitán, but rather another dog in another cemetery.
A report about Capitán on the Dogheirs website notes:
For six years, a dog named Capitán has stayed by his owner’s graveside in Villa Carlos Paz Cordoba, Argentina. Every day at 6pm, he lays by Miguel Guzmán’s headstone, on faithful vigil. The dog’s remarkable story of loyalty began on March 24, 2006, when Miguel, who was Capitán’s owner, passed away. As soon as Capitán realized Miguel was no longer at home, he left to search for him and miraculously managed to find Miguel’s grave in the nearby cemetery. Since then, the dog has stayed by his deceased owner’s side and refuses to return home.
Capitán was reportedly looked after by staff at the cemetery. Although he sometimes returned to his previous home for visits, he always came back to the cemetery to sleep by the grave of his owner.
Later reports indicate that Capitán died in February, 2018 at the same cemetery where his master lay. A February 2018 report in IBTimes notes:
Capitan guarded the grave for almost 12 years. Cemetery florist Maria Clot told local media: “I never saw such loyalty.”
The canine was found dead this week in a bathroom at the cemetery after a period of struggle with his health, including poor vision. Clot, who was in charge of giving him medication towards the end of his life, said: “He used to sleep in his master’s grave, but at the end he almost did not go up because of the problem with his hip, he was very weak.”
This is certainly a remarkable story. But, what of the dog in the above picture? This dog is clearly not a German Shepherd and bears no resemblance to pictures of Capitán included in various news reports about him. And the cemetery shown in the news report photographs does not appear to be the same cemetery as the one shown in the above image. The origins of the photograph remain unclear.
Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/dog-capitan-sleeps-at-owners-grave/