After Brazil flooding, loyalty to the dead
January 17th, 2011
06:10 PM ET

After Brazil flooding, loyalty to the dead

As the death toll from devastating flooding in Brazil continues to rise, a single picture drives home the sense of loss.

Leao, a medium-sized brown mutt,  lies next to the grave of her owner, Cristina Maria Cesario Santana, who died in the catastrophic landslides caused by heavy rain.  This AFP/Getty picture was taken on Saturday, the second consecutive day that the dog refused to leave the woman's grave at the cemetery in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janiero.

Brazilians are bracing for more rain, fearing more landslides after waves of muddy water swallowed towns in the country's worst flood disaster on record.

At least 655 deaths were reported in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, northeast of the city of Rio.

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Filed under: Animals • Brazil • Weather
soundoff (563 Responses)
  1. Cory

    lock your wife and your dog in a room for 3 days and see who's happier to see you

    January 17, 2011 at 11:20 pm | Report abuse |
    • mikki

      or even better...your dog and your husband.

      January 18, 2011 at 8:17 am | Report abuse |
  2. jennifer cherney

    How can I adopt this wonderful creature?

    January 17, 2011 at 11:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • guest_in_cupertino

      i love this comment, that guy definitely deserves a home

      January 17, 2011 at 11:37 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Justin

    Oh god, I haven't cried this bad in months.

    January 17, 2011 at 11:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • Vitali

      Justin:
      really? you're crying about it?
      Absolutely it is sad, and even touching.
      But dude, you're crying?

      January 18, 2011 at 12:04 am | Report abuse |
    • sad4brazil

      =( I thought I was just going thru postpartum depression....I haven't cried this much in sooooooo long! I have 4 dogs how can I get her? My dogs have such a wonderful life wish she could be part of us!

      January 18, 2011 at 1:43 am | Report abuse |
    • Good for you Justin

      Vitali, Justin is a real man. Real men have emotions and are not afraid of them. Men who refuse to ever cry or feel in any way are just sad really, and your relationships suffer because of it. It's too bad that you are so insecure and fearful that you cannot allow yourself to express human emotions.

      Justin, way to man up. You, sir, are what a true man is.....strong enough to not let others dictate to him how he should feel. It takes an incredibly strong person to do that.

      January 18, 2011 at 7:00 am | Report abuse |
    • kanon

      Good For You, you could not be a bigger tool.

      January 18, 2011 at 8:25 am | Report abuse |
  4. GraceintheHills

    Heartbreaking. Hopefully, Leoa will find a good and loving home soon.

    January 17, 2011 at 11:35 pm | Report abuse |
  5. sallen

    LOL Cory....that was tooooo funny

    January 17, 2011 at 11:35 pm | Report abuse |
  6. nayomie

    This is sad but true all animal sence when people are hurt or dead so my prayer goes out to the family

    January 17, 2011 at 11:36 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Hope111

    This picture makes tears come to my eyes! It shows how in a tragedy all suffer! This precious animal... I can't put it in words! I love animals so much, more and more. And the more I see how people are, the more I get to love animals!

    January 17, 2011 at 11:42 pm | Report abuse |
  8. WakeUp

    People like Sallen are part of the large group of peoplel we can thankfully say are making their way out of this world.

    January 17, 2011 at 11:44 pm | Report abuse |
  9. garyd

    The name "Leao" in Portuguese means Lion in English.The dog is as loving noble and loyal as his name.He may be just a dog but he has the heart of the King of the Jungle.Such an act from a humble animal shows us we have much to learn by Leao's example.

    January 17, 2011 at 11:48 pm | Report abuse |
  10. V Saxena

    That is so sad. I was mad at my dog about something, but I'm about to give her a big ol' hug.

    January 17, 2011 at 11:49 pm | Report abuse |
  11. DeArery

    Man you would have thought that mother earth has grown tired of us...

    January 17, 2011 at 11:52 pm | Report abuse |
  12. PhillFoss

    Poor baby my heart breaks for her, I wish there was someway to help her hurt...

    January 17, 2011 at 11:53 pm | Report abuse |
  13. erib baumen

    cats are ok but i hate the whole litter box thing wish they would go outside i love my dog ill be devistated when big doobers dies ill have him stuffed jk

    January 17, 2011 at 11:54 pm | Report abuse |
  14. erib baumen

    i like cats but hate the litter box wish they would go outside i love my dog big doobers aka bear bear ill be crushed when he goes ill prolly get him stuffed

    January 17, 2011 at 11:58 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Erock

    Someone should watch over him or adopt him. That is so sad.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:00 am | Report abuse |
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