It’s not uncommon to see dog owners pushing pet strollers in the streets or inside establishments while their dogs rest comfortably inside them. However, in a small Chinese village of Magou, a human and dog tandem had it the other way around. And it’s not for leisure purposes or abuse, thankfully, but for a good reason.
The owner, called Manao, is a 59-year old with an illness that affected his quality of living: He contracted polio as a child that ultimately affected his ability to walk. An improvised two-wheel cart that Manao made for himself is his only way to move around and perform his daily tasks.
Due to poverty, he couldn’t afford a wheelchair of his own, and the makeshift cart didn’t provide much comfort, either. However, his trusted friend, a two-year-old dog whom Manao raised as a puppy, was his companion and personal assistant.
The dog didn’t have a real name; Manao would call him using ‘Hey’, and the mutt would automatically come to him. The locals gave him the nickname Big Yellow Dog because of the color of his fur.
Every morning, Big Yellow Dog would join Manao and travel a kilometer from their home to the fair where Manao sets up his small stall to sell his goods. Big Yellow Dog would help him push the cart wherever they go, especially when they have to pass by a road with a slope, and that was their daily routine. Neither of them complained about it.
Manao, though he never gave his four-legged friend and assistant a name, clearly loved him in his little way. For him, Big Yellow Dog is not just a pet, but a teammate and a trusted partner. A man once offered to sell his dog for 500 yuan – probably enough to help him get a new wheelchair. But Manao refused, saying that you don’t sell something or someone you love in exchange for money.
Watch their story below to learn more:
Source: Mural AnimalBlog via YouTube
