A loyal pet dog was branded a real-life Hachiko as she refused to leave her dead owner's favourite spot.

The devoted canine named Moo Dang used to sit outside the local corner shop with her master every night at the Yamo Market in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Moo Dang would even nap there with her devoted owner, a homeless man who would wander the market. He would walk the streets asking for alms or selling items as Moo Dang followed him around.

However, the owner fell seriously ill before passing away in November 2024. Moo Dang has since been staying at the steps of the convenience store awaiting her master's return.

Video and pictures show the faithful pooch in a red shirt sleeping near the entrance of the 7-Eleven shop as customers go in and out of the store.

Her steadfast loyalty and heart-wrenching story has earned her the nickname the 'Hachiko of Korat'. Korat is another name for Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Kind shop staff are currently taking care of Moo Dang, sheltering her and paying for her trips to the vet. They have also put up signs urging customers to refrain from overfeeding moo Dang.

Street food vendor Somneuk Wisetnok, who sells banana fritters, said he always saw Moo Dang walking with her master at the market.

He said: 'For four years, I always saw Moo Dang with the homeless man until late last year when the owner passed away. But Moo Dang refused to leave and slept in front of the convenience store all the time as if she was waiting for her owner.

'Moo Dang is docile and friendly. She is loved and adored by the vendors in the market, who always bring her snacks, rice, and water. The owner of the convenience store and the staff also take good care of her and even take her to the vet.'

Hachiko was an Akita dog in Japan known for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo.

Even after Ueno's death in 1925, Hachiko continued to wait for him daily at Shibuya Station for nearly ten years, becoming a symbol of enduring devotion.