Dutiful dog refuses to give up hospital vigil as owner recovers from surgery

A dog called Maya is achieving celebrity status in Spain as she waits for her owner outside the doors of a hospital in Alicante, a vigil which has already lasted for six days. Despite the efforts of her owner’s father, Maya refuses to be led away or distracted from her duty, honouring the tradition of her Akita Inu breed, reputed to be among the most loyal dogs in the world. Last Sunday Maya’s own