One Piece Chapter 12, page 11-12: Chapter 12: DOG

Boodle shares Chouchou's history, explaining, 'A good friend of mine owned this store. About ten years ago......he and Chouchou opened this little shop. They've got a lot of memories here. And so do I...' A flashback shows the original owner, an older man with a mustache and a dark knit cap, smiling warmly as he pats Chouchou. The owner tells the dog, 'Chouchou! You're in charge while I'm gone. Don't eat up all the merchandise, y'hear!?' to which Chouchou barks, 'Ruff!' Back in the present, Nami asks, 'Is he at the refugee shelter with the others?' Boodle looks at Chouchou's scars and says, 'See those wounds... He's been fighting the pirates... protecting his store...' Nami remarks sadly, 'I'm sure this shop means a lot to his master, but this is just cruel.

Boodle reveals the sad truth: 'No, he's not... He got sick and passed on.' Luffy looks surprised. Boodle continues, 'He went to the hospital three months ago.' A flashback shows the owner, an older man with a mustache and a dark knit cap, leaving for the hospital, waving back and saying, 'Awright, Chouchou... You're in charge of the shop while I'm in the hospital.' Chouchou barks, 'Ruff!' in response. Nami, deeply moved, says, 'The poor thing... You mean he's been waiting for his master this whole time?' Boodle replies, 'That's what everybody says, but that's not what I think.