Dżok the Dog Monument

Kraków is a city full of legends, and this one may be one of the most touching ones. The dog, Dżok, was the loyal pet of a Cracovia who suddenly perished on the street. For an entire year, from 1990–1991, Dżok was seen visiting the Rondo Grunwaldzkie roundabout where his owner had died, awaiting his return. Locals took a heart to Dżok, feeding him over the course of the year until eventually one of them adopted him. Dżok lived with his new owner for seven years until she, too, passed away.

Notable residents and animal organizations in the city petitioned to commemorate Dżok’s loyalty. Their efforts were achieved in 2001, when a statue created by Polish artist Bronisław Chromy was erected near the banks of the Vistula River. A German Shepard named Kety officially unveiled the statue. An inscription on the base on the statue reads, “The most faithful canine friend ever, epitomizing a dog’s boundless devotion to his master.”

Today the memorial is a favorite site to visit and consider the strength of the bond between human and animal.