Businessman burdened with financial woes was about to give up on life—until his dog's astonishing act changed everything
Trigger Warning: This story contains themes of suicide that may be distressing to some readers.
When life feels bleak and dry and there’s no hope left, even existing becomes challenging. At such times, even a little effort by someone to add light to our lives leaves a significant impact. Hirotaka Saito, a businessman in Japan, was starting to feel the brunt of life when his business was going down, as reported by My Modern Met. When financial woes struck him, he felt that ending his life was the only option at hand. While he was ready to take the drastic step, his dog came into the picture and helped him hold on. To repay this act, Saito came up with a gesture that would be life-changing for many.
Saito was initially doing well in life. He had a Ferrari to go to work and that spoke volumes about his stability. Unfortunately, due to financial woes, things took a turn for the worse and Saito was crumbling under the pressure. He thought giving up was the best solution at the time and reached the point where he was leaving his home for the last time, never to return. Moments before he could leave, his dog stood at the door and looked intently at him. It’s almost as if the canine knew Saito was distressed. His unusual behavior pushed the man to wonder and eventually realize that the canine was trying to save his life.
There aren’t many details of what unfolded that day, except for the fact that the man is alive today because of his dog. That’s when he decided he wanted to do something grand to reward the gentle and thoughtful hearts of canines. He started “Wansfree,” a dog shelter for thousands of furry pals who are neglected and pushed away from the world, left to die on their own. Catering mainly to dogs involved in biting incidents and trauma, Saito laid out a poignant perspective. He noted that these animals, though seemingly aggressive, have love buried within. It takes patient care to bring it out.
In a video shared on Instagram, he revealed that dogs involved in such incidents are either euthanized or abandoned to cruel fates. Saito wanted to bring a change in this and took in the canines to help them through a rehab. “I want to help them live. They didn’t choose this life — they are victims of human neglect and cruelty,” he noted. The shelter is a huge space where dogs can roam carefree 24/7. They get freedom and love while learning how to be gentle. “Training should never involve violence because compassion works better,” Saito noted.
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The dog parent patiently sits with the furry pup, wearing gloves and other protective gear to ensure he is not harmed in case they bite. He gently tends to the aggression of the canines, showing them that their trauma no longer exists and they can let down their guard. “It's important to make them feel loved. Just believe in them. They'll stop biting one day. Even if they bite me, my attitude and feelings toward them won't change. If you keep conveying these feelings, I think they'll stop biting,” he explained to Sippo. Wansfree is 15 years old and the goal is to expand in the years to come. “A dog saved me. Now it’s my turn to devote my life to them,” Saito said.
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You can follow (@wansfree) on Instagram to stay updated on the journey.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)