Loyal dog waits at a Wuhan hospital for three months after his owner dies from covid-19

• Seven-year-old dog Xiao Bao waited patiently for his owner at Wuhan hospital
• Staff at Wuhan Taikang Hospital in Central China's Hubei Province fed Xiao Bao 
• Xiao's owner died five days after being admitted, the dog waited three months
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

A deceased covid-19 victim's loyal dog who waited for his owner inside the lobby of a Wuhan hospital for over three months has been given to a dog shelter.  

The seven-year-old male mongrel - given the name Xiao Bao (Little Treasure) - arrived at Wuhan Taikang Hospital in Central China's Hubei Province with his elderly owner at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in February.

Sadly the pensioner succumbed to the virus after just five days, but Xiao Bao refused to leave according to hospital cleaner Zhu Youzhen, 65. The dog's owner was one of 3,869 killed by the deadly disease in the city.

Unaware that his owner would not be returning, Xiao Bao, waited in the lobby of Taikang Hospital for more than three months, during which time he was fed by staff.

On 13th April, after Wuhan lifted its lockdown restrictions and the hospital supermarket reopened, he was cared for by shopkeeper Wu Cuifen.

Ms Wu said: 'I first noticed the little dog when I returned to work in the middle of April. I called him 'Xiao Bao'. That's the name I gave him.

'They told me Xiao Bao's owner, a pensioner, was admitted with the coronavirus. Then he passed away, but Xiao Bao didn't know and just stayed in the hospital looking for him.

'It never left the hospital. It was incredibly touching, and so loyal.

'I grew familiar with the dog and later brought him into the shop.

'Every morning when I opened up, Xiao Bao would be there waiting for me. He saw me off at the end of each day.'

Ms Wu said Xiao Bao refused to leave. Even when they deliberately dropped him off somewhere far away, he would make his way back to Taikang Hospital and patiently wait for his owner to return.

On 20th May, as Taikang Hospital filled with regular patients, staff received complaints and concerns about Xiao Bao roaming the corridors.

Nurses contacted the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, whose members took Xiao Bao in.

Xiao Bao was treated by vets and has also been sterilised as he prepares to be rehomed.

The shelter is now vetting animal lovers who have offered to foster Xiao Bao, the association's director Du Fan said yesterday.