Last year, that’s just over a month ago – I took a break from writing fully and decided to watch some movies.
I searched Bookmyshow for the stream movies I can rent and watch – and I found a movie called Hachiko- A Dog’s Tale. As I saw the trailer – it looked like the sort of movie I can watch – nothing glamorous and it’s based on a true story – about a Dog’s deep bond with a person.
That’s why – the movie is named Hachi – A Dog’s tale because that’s what it is. Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale Tailer –
The original Dog Hachiko on whom the movie is based on – lived in Japan with Hidesaburō Ueno, who was a professor in University of Tokyo during the time period 1923 to 1934.
In the movie – Dog Hachi becomes the pet of Music teacher - Parker Wilson played by Richard Gere.
At the onset, the story of Hachi begins with 11-year-old, Ronnie Wilson beginning to proudly narrate the story about his hero – who was Hachi, his grandfather Wilson’s Dog.
The entire class erupts with laughter – ridiculing the odd choice of Ronnie’s hero.
However, after Ronnie finished his story, these same classmates were engrossed in silence, many with tears in their eyes and the class erupted with applause – heartfully acknowledging that Hachi is really a hero.
Now let’s dive into the summary of this incredible story.
One night as Wilson Parker was heading home from the station returning from a tour – he found a puppy wandering by itself – lost.
Wilson takes him and makes efforts to find him a home – he first asks Bedridge’s station ticket clerk, Carl, played by Jason Alexander to keep him temporarily in his work room. Carl said he can house the Pup in the work room for the night but by morning he would have to give him to the Pound.
So, having no choice Wilson goes home with Puppy Hachi, bracing up to face his wife Cate Wilson (played by Joan Allen) as she’s against keeping of any pet in the house since the death of their earlier pet Luke.
The first part of the film goes in Wilson settling down puppy Hachi, trying to find him a home with Cate sternly reminding him that the Puppy is only under foster care at home.
In this process – audience get acquainted with Wilson’s social circle – people he meets and chats in the morning while heading to the Bedridge railway station – from where he catches his train to head to work at the Music Academy. Wilson works as a piano and ballet teacher there.
These friends of Wilson are - Hot Dog seller – Andy from whom Wilson buys coffee before heading to catch the train, Carl who issues train tickets, and Myra who works as a librarian nearby and often hangs out in the Hot Dog stand. They all are part of Wilson’s and Hachi’s World outside his home.
Wilson has a close academician friend, Ken Fujiyoshi with whom he loves to talk about Dog Hachi. Ken’s insightful on Hachi – with knowledge on his breed, his nature and temperament, personality.
It turns out, that Cate – finally sees how deeply Wilson’s bonded with little Hachi, that she lets Hachi settle down in the house and merging becoming part of the family. Their daughter Andy Wilson had a hand in convincing Cate as well to keep dog Hachi in.
The film is already warm – starting with Wilson securing an innocent lost Pup and caring for him. It is sweet and lively where Hachi’s adorable puppy essence is showcased – tiny, cute, naughty, but tame and very trusting of Wilson. He already liked Wilson’s company – and would search around to be with him, refusing to stay put in one place.
In reality too those who find lost dogs on streets and foster them – can connect with how hard it is to truly find a suitable home for a dog. Wilson, was unwilling to resort to the default option of giving Pup Hachi to the Pound – as he would be euthanized as per procedure if he cannot find adopters within 14 days in the movie.
This is true in reality as well – shelters cannot house animals being filled to the brim and being short of resources to cater for more. So, those who help secure a homeless dog – end up with the responsibility of searching homes for them.
This involves lot of efforts with it being a big responsibility to find a safe and loving home for the dog. Yet people do it because they feel it’s worth taking those extra efforts to brighten the life of a promising dog.
The second part of the movie – has a fully grown tall handsome Hachi – blooming with his energised friendly charm towards Wilson – being Wilson’s ever-willing playful companion.
As a grown dog – he continues to maintain his stubbornness of not staying put at home as he always desired to be where ever Wilson is. Hachi wins his way – to be left free to accompany Wilson to the train station every morning and receive him back in the evenings (:
This way Hachi got acquainted with Wilson’s social circle - Andy, Carl, Myra who were amazed witnessing Hachi’s genuine fondness for Wilson – as he enthusiastically accompanied Wilson to the Station and received him by himself.
His sweet natured essence charmed the local Butcher shop staff to give him a free piece of meat as well.
Hachi was a wonderful companion for Wilson – who expressed in its innocent but determined way that Wilson was his favourite companion. Onlookers, were touched by Hachi’s heart felt fondness for Wilson.
Pet dogs generally are dependent on owners for their needs including outings that they get from walks. Hachi had comfort, food, playtime, toys, walks and a secure social life with family presence at home. Yet beyond all these pleasures the dog was most fond of Wilson. His joy and enthusiasm bloomed with Wilson’s company – a void that nothing can fill.
This aspect of Hachi was humbling – and his unwavering loyalty to Wilson was admirable. This way Hachi won the respect of people. They found him remarkably disciplined as well – able to stay put waiting for Wilson in one spot without causing inconvenience.
This was why Hachi story gets featured in a news article in the film as well! He was in his way special for his loyalty to Wilson.
A beauty about this movie is also that it honours the real Hachi – it informs us in the end that the spot where Hachiko waited for Hidesaburō Ueno in Japan’s Shibuya Station has a statue of Hachi. This way the legacy of Hachi is honoured – showing us the innocent love of a Dog for his companion – it humbles us and stirs up the compassionate spirit within us.
My choice of watching this film was influenced by a real-life episode of Dog Angel playing out in my complex.
One morning on Dec 6, a friendly white gold shaded Labrador came to our flat front gate – and began greeting passing people. Fortunately, our complex had residents who volunteer for the upkeep of street community dogs.
These dogs are feed, neutered, vaccinated – which is why our area has free roaming happy dogs friendly to us people in the area.
This dog was checked up and it turned out that she was not merely a lost dog – she was a heavily pregnant canine asking for help as she had no-where else to go.
Understanding her dilemma, a group of residents arranged to shelter her at the security’s cabin taking permission from our flat’s Management Association.
Our flat Management Committee was in no obligation to permit sheltering Angel – however, the volunteer group of residents stood up for Angel. They convinced the Management Committee to allow sheltering her temporarily as her condition deemed it necessary. Angel’s charm being an amiable, sweet-tempered dog worked in invoking general sympathies towards her as well.
The very next day – she gave birth to a Black Puppy.
Funds were collected from donations received from the community for her upkeep – vet visits, medicines, puppy vaccination. Great care was provided as I saw superior branded Royal Canin milk powder brought for the growing Puppy later on.
I saw Angel and her Puppy Sterling only after 20 days.
Before this, I used to hear about them in my resident WhatsApp Group where her caregiver volunteers kept the resident community updated on Angel.
Here Donation appeals were sent – where interested residents could donate for the upkeep of Angel and Sterling. Adoption ads were sent so we can circulate them – and help the group in their attempts to search a home for her and Sterling.
There was permission to shelter Angel and Sterling only temporarily at the security cabin.
A volunteer group for Angel and Sterling were set up – where volunteers took turns in walking, feeding her. They also took these dogs for vet checkups.
Rightly, Angel did require the shelter space she got – for her recovery post-birth and for a safe space to nurture her new born Sterling. She needed to feed him milk and he used to stick close to her in the initial days for her warmth and comfort.
However, after this delicate period passes – they needed to be vacated.
As all this happened – Angel and Sterling became star attractions in our complex for residents. These residents admired them both – and adored many cute movements they witnessed seeing baby Sterling cared by Angel.
After I saw these two – I began visiting them daily in the mornings after my exercise routine spending time petting and interacting with them.
Sterling was a real delight – with his innocent charm. He never yet began barking and used to express himself making those puppy noises.
In the First few days, I used to tease him – as he would want to wander out of the security cabin door and I used to block him from coming out with my palm against his head like a traffic policeman.
Initially, when I petted Sterling, he used to nibble my fingers, he had such tiny teeth then .Later he used to run out of the cabin and I tried to entertain him – with him catching my shoes and biting.
Understanding this growing tendency of the Puppy to nibble – residents provided the little dog a lot of soft toys to bite. I gave him an orange hen soft toy kept for my cats.
These dogs were overseen by the security – they will be very conscious when the cars are passing off the exit gate – whenever Sterling was out of the cabin, so he is not run over by vehicles. They also saw Sterling was safe – as stray dogs by mistake can enter the gates, and if Sterling was outside the Cabin, without supervision, it may prove risky for him.
I have seen a security person feed Angel medicine, pouring syrup into her mouth. The girl was very obedient.
The security personnel already sacrificed their comfort for Angel – by giving their cabin for her stay. This meant they had to sit out bearing the cold during nights.
Angel was easy to handle and cooperative. When she used to come out of the cabin – I would tie her – she used to sit quietly with the security. This made me free to interact with little Sterling who was soft and cute, providing me a silent joy inside that I could explain.
It was only later, I appreciated Angel’s sweetness as well, because eventually, she regarded me – wagging her tail seeing me. She once came to me and gave me her leash, expecting me to walk her but I was only a visitor not a care taken.
Sometimes, I chatted with the main person from the volunteer group – who comes in to feed her and then walk her in the mornings.
I got to know – Angel’s been an unexpected episode for them – pregnancy, birth, arranging shelter and lot of things went on fast, dynamically changing. It was only days later everything settled.
Angel looks to have had a caring home earlier because she was very clean in person, and is used to sitting on scooter enjoying scooter rides.
Here as children and people kept visiting her and Sterling, she got lots of extra walks, beyond what the group’s volunteers give her.
She and Sterling won a lot of fans from the resident community as she’s one of the dogs no one was scared of, as she was devoid of aggressiveness.
The main person – was searching for someone who can adopt both dogs together. This was not happening quick enough with there being only limited days the dogs can further be housed here.
As expected, – there were lots of people willing to take a Black Labrador Puppy but not Angel.
Also, Angel should be given to someone responsible – she should never be on the streets again. The thought that she was abandoned now when she was pregnant was painful.
Funds were arranged for neutering Angel – so she won’t be used for breeding baby labrador dogs.
There was news that someone in our flat was willing to take Sterling, but a home had to be found for Angel.
Then all of a sudden, developments happened and news came that both dogs were adopted by a well-known person – who will keep them well.
Thus, a happy ending.
Yet – the next day as I went down for my exercise routine – I felt something amiss – as there would be no more lively meeting sessions with the dogs. I felt a little sad inside.
I meet a lady who volunteered in the care for the dogs – I was appreciating her for doing a good deed this year by caring for Dog Angel, that ended up in two dogs finding a good secure home. She replied – she was just helping the main person at times taking Angel for walks, so Angel’s successful care story was a result of a combined group effort. Then she left, appearing in a hurry to leave.
Next day, when I saw her, she explained that she could talk animatedly yesterday as she was feeling dull missing the dogs.
There it was – many people who spent with time these dogs were a little sad inside as they missed them. Here, I brightened because she connected a chord with me.
Both Hachi’s and Angel’s story show that good will exists in the world – where there are souls who care for lost Dogs, Puppies and go that extra mile to secure them. This is warmth.
Deeper – there is love – with people who connected with Angel and Sterling – missing them. And in the movie Hachi missing his human companion.
There is compassion – just like how Angel and Sterling were cared for –with money for their care donated by the larger community, Hachi too got care too from Andy, free treat from local butcher shop etc.
These incidents kindle warmth in a world where we are often occupied with our own needs. They show how compassionate people pause and go the extra mile, offering care to a helpless dog and securing its life in a dignified way. Such stories remind us that beautiful lives do play out in this world — when care is given, and kindness is shown.
Image and Photo credits -:
Banner created in Canva
Photos are all taken by me.
