Trigger Warning: This article contains discussions of death and survival in extreme circumstances. The content may be distressing to some readers, especially pet owners and those sensitive to topics of loss and mortality. Reader discretion is advised.
What sounds like a nightmare became a tragic reality for a young woman in Romania.
When her family hadn’t heard from her in days, they alerted the authorities. However, nothing could have prepared the police for the horror awaiting them in her apartment.
A shocking discovery
Adriana Neagoe, also known as Anda Sasha, lived in Târgu Jiu, northwest of Bucharest. When she failed to respond to calls or messages for five days, worried relatives contacted the police.
Firefighters forced open her apartment door, only to find a grim scene: Anda lay lifeless on the floor, and her two beloved Pugs, Anda and Sasha, had started eating her remains.
Paramedics confirmed Adriana’s death, with no signs of foul play. The advanced state of decomposition indicated she had died several days earlier. Experts believe the Pugs, left without food or assistance, acted out of sheer necessity to survive.
Desperate dogs
While such cases are rare, they do occur. According to National Geographic, dogs sometimes bite or nibble their deceased owners out of panic, attempting to wake them. The taste of blood can trigger a feeding response, even if food is available.
More anxious or insecure dogs are more prone to this behaviour, regardless of breed or size.
Authorities took the traumatised pugs to a nearby animal shelter where it's hoped that will eventually be rehomed.
