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Dog stays by fatally struck canine friend on busy California road

Animal officials are now looking for a new home for the black Labrador named Grace

A dog may be man's best friend, but one black Labrador is also extremely loyal to her canine companion.

A good Samaritan saw two dogs in traffic in La Puenta, California, just outside of Los Angeles. One had just been fatally hit by a motorist and the other dog, now named Grace, wouldn't leave the downed dog's side. As seen in the online video, Grace braved oncoming traffic to stand by her pal.

According to the YouTube page, the person who shot the video, put up traffic cones to prevent any other motorist from hitting the downed dog or taking out Grace. They then called for help and shot the video. The person who hit the other dog drove off.

"(Grace was) laying on the street next to another dog, which was motionless and had suffered obvious head trauma," reads a statement by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, on a San Gabriel Valley Tribune article.

When animal control officials responded they determined the other dog, a golden retriever, had died after suffering extensive head trauma and they took the unharmed Grace to a shelter. She had no microchip or implant to identify an owner.

"They have the same sort of compassion that people have," said Christina Fuentes of the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, to ABC 7 News. "The loyalty that they have for one another is the same kind of loyalty that people have for each other."

If this sounds familiar, it is a similar scene to what played out at a memorial service for a Navy SEAL in Iowa in August. Jon Tumilson's Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, walked up to the front of the service when one of Tumilson's friends was about to speak. Hawkeye lay down next to the casket and didn't move.

And a dog in Japan also stood by after another dog who was seriously wounded after the devastating earthquake a little more than a year ago.

As for Grace, animal control officials are seeking out the owner or possibly a new home for her. The incident happened on April 11, so officials plan to spay her and adopt her out Monday.

According to ABC 7 News, many people have expressed interest in Grace. Animal care attendant Isha Willits told the outlet Monday morning, "Hopefully she'll spend tonight in a wonderful, warm home."