And as we celebrate the Year of the Dog, let's go to the French city of Montargis, where a statue of a fight between dog and man pays homage to canines' unwavering loyalty to their owners.

Images of a dog are abundant in Montargis on mugs, postcards and souvenirs, even ones that look a bit questionable. This legendary dog is somewhat of a celebrity in this north-central French city. But why? Well, the legend dates back to the 14th century.

Legend of Montargis: 14th Century legend highlights dogs' unwavering loyalty. The story goes that a close friend of King Charles V, a knight, Aubry de Montdidier, was murdered in 1371 by a rival in the forest. De Montdidier's dog was the only one to have witnessed the murder and amazingly managed to bring suspicion on murderer Robert Macaire. The animosity of Aubry's dog toward Macaire was so great that the king ordered a trial by combat between the dog and Macaire. The canine won the fight.

PROFESSOR JEAN LOUIS RIZZO "It's quite interesting that this story has spread all over the world. People created plays and novels based on this story."

A movie entitled the Dog of Montargis was also made. And with this 14th-century legend, people in Montargis see dogs as a loyal and friendly animal. There's even a statue in memory of the loyal dog showing that dogs are so much more than just pets.