Since last Sunday, the casualty entrance of Hospital General de Elda (Alicante) has had a ‘lodger’ in the form of a very faithful dog called Maya.

The dog’s owner, 22-year-old Sandra Iniesta, had just returned from her summer holidays in Granada and was suffering from abdominal pains, which turned out to be appendicitis. She had an emergency operation to remove the problem on Sunday the 28th.

Her dog, an Akita Inu breed called Maya, stationed itself at the said entrance and has stayed there, day and night, ever since.

Patients and hospital staff have been moved by the dog’s behavior and have all been petting and feeding the ‘concerned’ 2-year-old animal. Maya has not been short of a pat, scratch, a bowl of water or a nibble since she took up station at the door, waiting for Sandra to finally emerge.

Sandra, in the meantime is recovering well and should be released from hospital before the week is out, much to Maya’s joy, no doubt.

(News: Elda, Alicante, Valencia)