Statue unveiled to dog that loyally guarded his home in the treacherous 2013 floods

A bronze sculpture to the hero dog was unveiled on the embankment of the  Amur River in Blagoveshchensk. The real dog was present with his owners to receive the applause for his act of bravery and loyalty two years ago when severe floods deluged the region.

He became a symbol of the region's fight back against the natural disaster, the worst flooding in 120 years which almost as large as Texas and California combined. 

Druzhok - his name means 'Little Friend' - was evacuated with owners Yelena and Vladimir Andreev when their village of Vladimirovka suddenly and dramatically turned into a sea.

The family members went to stay in a flat with relatives, and the dog was left outside guarding their car. But after three days, he vanished, to be found later back on the doorstep up to his neck in water trying to hold back the tide from sinking their home. 

Holding back tears, Yelena said: 'We sailed into the yard and saw him. He was standing there and trembling, but wouldn't move away from his place. But when he saw us he was so happy'. 

The dog - then four years old - even forbade rescuers entering the house to check no-one was left there, and also declined their offer of a ride to safety, even though he was cold and hungry. 

At this week's ceremony to unveil the statue the guard dog appeared overwhelmed by the thunderous applause.  But he was happy to let adults and children be photographed with him.

'We were worried how he will behave in such a gathering of people,' said Yelena. 'But it was as if he'd been a star for a lifetime.' She added: 'We are pleased that in our city will be such a beautiful place and a monument not only to our dog, but generally all locals. 

'Druzhok is living well. After the flood we built new doghouse for him.

'Dogs in general are wonderful, loyal and reliable. We did not expect from our pet such an act, but there he was - he stood up to his neck in water guarding our house, although he had the opportunity to sit on a dry patch near the car, where he had food.'