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Lovesick dog walks 10k to see Naples sweetheart

They say love knows no distance, but when hearts are yearning, sometimes the only option is to bridge the gap: that’s exactly what Toto, a Dachshund, or sausage dog, did when he dodged traffic to cross two Campania provinces in search of his love.

Published: 30 November 2015 17:47 CET
Lovesick dog walks 10k to see Naples sweetheart
The Dachshund travelled 10km to be with his love. Photo: Scott Beale

Toto who lives in the town of Scafati, in Salerno, met Lilly, a fellow Dachshund, this summer when their respective owners struck up a friendship while on holiday.

When the dogs clapped eyes on eachother, it was love at first sight and they became inseparable, with Toto spending some time at Lilly’s home in the Naples town of Casola, Metropolisweb.it reported.

But Toto soon had to return home, plunging him into the depths of despair.

“His eyes became sad, he could no longer see his sweetheart,” the news website said.

Driven by melancholy, the Dachshund masterminded a way to be reunited with the love of his life, and so set off on the 10km journey between the two towns, avoiding cars along the way.

His anxious owners launched a search for their pet, and had given up hope of finding him when they received a call from their friends in Casola.

As a hunting dog, the Dachshund – a breed whose average height is 8-9 inches at the shoulder – was no doubt guided by his great sense of smell, as well as his strong bond with Lilly, of course.

So much so, Toto managed to track her down at her home, where Lilly's owners were alerted to his barking outside.

Toto was soon back with his relieved owners, but only after they made a pledge with Lilly’s owners – that the pair would spend as much time as possible together so that they can live their love story. 

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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