Qiu, is accompanied by his wife, his daughter and his in-laws as well as his small dog, cross, resembling a Yorkshire, named Doudou. When they returned from their holidays, on September 26, 2020, the family took a break in a motorway rest area halfway to their home; but no one cares if the dog got out of the stationary car or not and Doudou ends up being forgotten.
But where did Doudou go?
To the Qianjiang Evening News which interviewed him, Qiu said that he was so worried about watching his little girl at the Tonglu rest area so that nothing happened to her, that he didn't paid no attention to his dog; when they got back in the car, he did not check whether Doudou was there either.
The family only realizes his disappearance once they get home. As soon as they arrived, they plan to take the opposite route to get to the rest area but, given the fatigue and the long journey to be made, it is only the next day that the whole family sets out again by car in search of by Doudou. Alas, time passes and Doudou remains untraceable. Qiu and his wife persist and return a few days later, with no more success. "We were hoping he hadn't gone too far, and was wandering around the rest area."
We have to face the facts, the family is starting to accept the idea that they will probably never see their pet again. "I was just hoping he was still alive and that he met a nice person who would adopt him," Qiu told the Chinese newspaper.
The unexpected return of Doudou
Doudou is still a dynamic dog for his 7 years of age and it is without counting on his perseverance in finding his masters that Doudou arrives one fine morning, after 65 km of walking and 26 days of absence: hard test for this little animal who has traveled the equivalent of one and a half times the marathon! And under what conditions ?!? No one knows.But what was their surprise, this October 22, when they saw a stray dog, in poor he alth, stop in front of their door and wait for it to be opened. The family finds it hard to believe: Doudou is back. Qiu, at his work, is warned but he remains perplexed and does not want to rejoice too quickly, he waits to be back home, to see it with his own eyes, to verify that it is indeed his animal of company. According to him, “Doudou was dirty, neglected and emaciated, but he always waggled his tail. He was very lucky not to have been injured.”
Obviously, Doudou alone managed to find the direction of the house, what means did he use? that of smell? marking its territory? This remains a mystery for Qiu, who rather saw his dog "as a timid and weak animal, a bit stupid" . Qiu now sees him in a new light: “Now I really admire what he has done. »
All's well that ends well: “Doudou has now recovered from his long journey, and has regained all his energy. and moreover, the esteem of his master.