A Sad Story About A Dog

Because no one does depressing stories quite like the Welsh.

'Gelert' by Charles Burton Barber (1845–1894) 

"Gelert is the name of a legendary dog associated with the village of Beddgelert (whose name means 'Gelert's Grave') in Gwynedd, northwest Wales. The dog is alleged to have belonged to Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd, and to have been a gift from King John of England.

"In this legend, Llywelyn returns from hunting to find his baby's cradle overturned, the baby missing and the dog with blood around its mouth. Imagining that it has savaged the child, Llywelyn draws his sword and kills the dog, which lets out a final dying yelp. He then hears the cries of the baby and finds it unharmed under the cradle, along with a dead wolf which had attacked the child and been killed by Gelert. Llywelyn is then overcome with remorse and he buries the dog with great ceremony, yet can still hear the dying yelp.

"After that day Llywelyn never smiles again."

I'll say.

- via A Polar Bear's Tale