I apologize for going all OT about a movie character but any movie or story that depicts true animal neglect by misguided people and an animal left to suffer alone for years because it has some issues is awful to me. The writer of that movie script preferred to idealize the dog's sad, sad plight rather than showing anyone truly stepping up to help a dog in need in today's world and that kind of blarney keeps some of the public thinking dogs sometimes need to just be left to their own devices in certain situations. If you ever see a dog left out alone who rebuffs simple attempts to catch him or help, please try to see that he gets some real help from a breed or other rescue organization and don't think he's just another Hachi being noble in his aloofness. He needs rescue and a forever home with an involved doglover who will help transition him with gentle guidance. Hachi the movie tells a true but sad tale that shouldn't be repeated by a community in this day and time.

Agreed.

Personally, I had a similar situation when I got Tatiana. She was three years old when I got her. She grew up with her breeder (and her parents, plus several other yorkies) her whole life. I was worried Tatiana would miss her original owner and her past life. Dogs could be so loyal.

I worked hard to give Tatiana a new, positive life. She was family, and treated that way. She was included in ALL aspects of our life, even vacations and social events. Also, I spared no effort (nor expense) for her wants, comforts, and needs.

I love Tatiana, and she loves me back. I am so grateful for this.

It's saddening that no one made that effort with Hatchi. :(

Oh, I'm so glad you foun Tatiana and she found you! Wonderful story, wonderful outcome.

Yes, Hachi the movie sends a bad message about what to do with shut down dogs. The movie character Hachi seemed pretty shut down already throughout the movie, without much of a life for a working dog and seeming to prefer to be outside alone in the yard than in with his humans. You could see he was a dog who didn't really trust people that much so he mostly avoided much interaction with them. His owner and the family never did really try to correct that much or give him a job as I recall until he made one for himself, escorting daddy to and from the train station. That gave him responsiblity, something to do and he couldn't let it go even when it was all over. He kept waiting for the job to resume as he did seem to love his "work", his purpose in life, got depressed, aged fast. And when he proved resistant to change, he was just given up on after a while rather than patiently & persistently being given new work to do, insisting on having him nearby to talk to throughout the day and interact with as chores were done, actively involved in daily activities of the new family life.

If brought along right, that dog could have learned to like being around and interacting with people, learned to trust and love again. He could have had another life. So it's a sad movie in that the message sent to the viewer is misguided on how to deal with an apparently depressed, shut down dog that's given up on life.

Agreed.

Also, thank you for your kind words about Tatiana. Incidentally, it took a while for her to bond with me. Did you know it took a year for her to wag her tail at me? While she trusted me early on (and was affectionate), she didn't get attached to me until about a year. I thought she was a rare dog that didn't wag its tail (until she did it a year later). I was shocked (and thrilled) when it happened.

Oh, that is such a good, good story of how you stuck with Tatiana, brought her along when she clearly couldn't trust you much at first. But with patience and loving persistence on your part, she's found her new owner is a wonderful person and is now learning to be a dog again!!! You've given her a new reason to live. You are both blessed so much. Cant help smiling about that wagging tail. That alone says so much.

Thank you. You are very kind.

Yorkietalkjilly, you're going to laugh. But I truly thought Tatiana was unable to wag her tail because she had her tail docked. I thought perhaps there was possible nerve damage. Imagine my shock when a year later, that stump wagged like a propeller. She did it when I was picking her up. I screamed for my husband. :)

I love dog movies but REALLY want a happy ending. Still I cry every year when we bake cookies and watch Old Yeller, and Where the Red Fern Grows , when we have our Disney marthon night, two weeks before Christmas,

Oh, gosh, those are sad, too. But at least OY had his puppies and that relief. Can't recall much about "Red Fern..." but remember it was sad, too. Got to watch that again. Even if the pet dies in the end, if he's loved and with a family and cared for, it's more natural and acceptable somehow than what poor old Hachi went through in real life and in that sad sad movie. I turned over there for a second last night and saw that beautiful dog actor playing Hachi. He was magnificent looking. What a beauty!

I had read the story line of that movie and did not watch it. I get too emotional about these things. I agree that the very idea of turning one's back on a dog in trouble is repulsive to me. Someone warmed me about in advance about the Marlea and Me movie and I stayed away. There is enough hurt and disappointment in life without paying to watch some more. I have had to say good bye to some wonderful pets and don't especially want to relive it through someone else's experience. I guess movie makers feel they have done their job well if they can rip the heart out of you by the time they are done. Not for me. I don't watch many movies anymore.

I'm with you 100%. The movie actually made me mad. I wanted to yell at his family, reach through the screen and smack them or shake them or something. Even realizing that times were different then, it's still frustrating that these animals were neglected, and left lost and confused waiting for that loved one that never came home to them.

That is funny but you didn't know! My Tibbe isn't much of a happy-tail wagger, he wags his tail when he is chasing something or "getting" one of his toys, really biting and attacking it!

You, too? Such a terrible thing to do to a big old wonerful, loyal guy - just leave him out there waiting, wondering, sad and alone for years until he dies when he was too shut down to try to trust again on his own without. He needed some emotional rehab showing him how to love and live again. Even in a movie it was awful to me to send that message this day and time. :(

I cried for two days over this movie. I can\'t watch it ever again!!