(CNN) – A dog is said to be a man’s best friend – and this was certainly the case with a patient at a hospital in northeastern Turkey, whose loyal pet waited at the entrance for six days until he was discharged.
When Cemal Senturk was transferred by ambulance to Trabzon Medical Park Hospital on January 14, his dog, Boncuk, escaped from their apartment and followed him to the unit, where he waited patiently every day.
Hospital staff informed Senturk’s family of his canine friend’s whereabouts.
But after Boncuk was brought home, she managed to escape again – and returned to the hospital every day, Murat Ercan, director of the hospital’s international patient center, told CNN.
The hospital said Senturk’s apartment was nearby and the family was not sure how the dog continued to escape.
“His dog ‘Boncuk’ followed him to the hospital gate and refused to leave for six days until its owner was discharged,” Ercan said in a statement.
“Even if the family [took] Boncuk back home managed to escape every day to wait at the hospital gate. “
To try to reassure and comfort her, Senturk communicated with Boncuk through the window during his stay in the unit.
But his dedicated four-legged friend refused to leave until Senturk left.
During its development, the dog gained the affection of the hospital staff, who fed and cared for him, Ercan added.
“Cemal Senturk has been with Boncuk for nine years and said he missed her very much during his hospital stay,” he said.
“After he was allowed to go outside, he met his dog at the hospital gate. Boncuk behaved very sweetly during the six days and managed to capture the love and affection of the entire staff.”