Venice Dog Names

President Abraham Lincoln named his beloved yellow-mixed breed dog 'Fido.' However, this was not the start of the classic dog name. Ancient Romans regularly named their dogs Fido which is Latin for, "I am faithful." 

Carlo Soriani was an Italian factory worker who was on his way when he came across a sick puppy on the side of the road. He immediately felt sorry for the frail animal and decided to take him home. Once home, Carlo and his wife decided to name the small puppy Fido. 

As time passed, a deep bond formed between Fido and Carlo. Every day the dog would follow him to the bus stop in the morning and then wait for him to return home from work in the afternoon. Fido would spend his day in the park avoiding people, laying around, and sniffing the air until he heard the rumble of the bus's engine. Then the canine would run over and excitedly wait for his beloved owner to disembark from the auto so they could walk home together. The routine went on for two years. Everyone in the small town became used to seeing Carlo and his canine companion.

On December 30, 1943, allied forces bombed the area, and the factory where Carlo worked was hit. He was killed in the attack. That evening, Fido waited for Carlo to disembark the bus at their regular bus stop, but he never arrived. Fido went home after waiting for hours. Every day, for the next fourteen years, Fido would continue to remain at the bus stop every evening for Carlo 

Numerous Italian magazines such as Gente and Grand Hotel published Fido's story. Even the United States' famous Time Magazine featured a story about Fido. The reporters figured out that Fido had waited 5,000 times at the bus station during his lifetime. Upon reading the story of Fido and his loyal behavior, the mayor Borgo San Lorenzo awarded the faithful dog with a gold medal. Carl's widow was present for the award's ceremony. 

In 1957, a giant ceramic statue that depicted the famous Italian dog was erected at the site of the bus stop. Unfortunately, the figure was destroyed by vandals, so the city commissioned Salvatore Cipolla to create a bronze statue of the dog. It still stands at the location of the bus stop. In 1958, Fido died of natural causes. The loyal dog was buried outside the cemetery where his beloved owner Carlo rests.