Kasauli, a popular little hill station in Himachal Pradesh, is filled with scenic views all around. The small market on the slopes of its hill is also a major attraction. However, there’s this one quaint shop outside which there’s a dog statue. 

It will catch the eye of any dog lover visiting the hill station, often making them wonder about the story behind this statue. According to kasuali.org, a local Facebook group which guides people about the various tourist attractions in and around the hill station, the dog statue outside of Kalyan hotel has a unique story behind it which depicts the courageous act of the “man’s best friend”. 

Years ago, Kalyan Hotel was named ‘B Kalicharan & Sons’ which was run by chemists and druggists. Seth ji, that is B Kalicharan was the richest landowner in Kasauli. It so happened that on one night some night raiders thought they would decamp with all imported goodies and English wines, liquor and cash that they could find from the shop. In those days druggists were the ex-officio wine shop licensees. The dog saw the burglary in progress and attacked the robbers who ran out with whatever they could steal leaving the rest behind. The little hero wasn't done with his job, he went and woke up his masters and led them to the burglar's den where these hapless creatures were caught dividing everything that they had stolen.

This little furry friend had become a hero overnight. An English patron of the shop, evidently a dog person, sent the dog’s picture to a bronze foundry in North Devon England where a wax reproduction of the sculpture was created with a ceramic shell. The wax was replaced with molten bronze and an enduring sculpture was born. The sculpture was shipped back and installed presumably as a memorial to the hero dog - ‘man’s best friend’.

This would certainly go down as a story of unconditional love, loyalty, protection and companionship our furry friends provide us that has earned them the title "man's best friend" for over a century now. Dogs rarely disappoint us which is apparent by the countless stories we hear about their acts of heroism, this being one of the many. 

So if you happen to be in and around Kasauli, make sure to stop by Kalyan hotel and check out the dog statue, and pay a tribute to the undying heroic tale.