Owners of a farm dog in Ghana feared that their beloved pet had gotten lost or injured when he didn't return home at the end of the day, so they organized a search party to look for him. They wound up looking for the pooch for a better part of the night -- and got the shock of their lives when they finally located him, because he wasn't alone. Lying next to him was an abandoned newborn baby who'd been "disposed of" sometime shortly after his birth. (How could any parent do such a thing?)
The poor infant still had his umbilical cord attached, which had gotten infected while he was left in the woods to die. And he very likely would've had a tragic ending to his story if this amazing dog hadn't cuddled up next to him all night to keep him warm.
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And it turns out the newborn is the whole reason the dog didn't come home in the first place -- because he was found with the baby under a bridge very close to his house. He wasn't lost at all. He could've easily left the baby and gone home, but he must've somehow instinctively known that he couldn't leave the little guy outside all night alone, so he chose to remain with him until help arrived.
Police are investigating why the baby was abandoned, but suspect that he was born to teenage parents who couldn't care for him. (Doesn't that break your heart?)
This story is amazing no matter how you look at it, but the fact that the dog is a male makes it even more astonishing. Usually females are the ones with the maternal instincts, but this heroic pooch definitely makes us wonder if all dogs have an innate sense of when a little one needs to be cared for.
Hopefully the owners of the dog fed him some extra scraps from the table and gave him a few well deserved belly rubs when he finally got home. And wouldn't it be something if whoever winds up adopting the baby comes back to introduce him to the dog who saved his life someday?
Are your dogs protective of your kids?
Image via Trostle/Flickr
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Comments 86
I dont have any children yet but I do raise rabbits. Sometimes baby rabbits can climb through the cage wire and fall to the floor (dont worry, doesnt hurt them - its usually not a great height). Ive had a corgi/rott mix (high prey-drive animal) that if he saw one on the floor he would nudge it with his nose until I could pick it up myself. He would always sit and "prey-stare" at the adult rabbits, but any baby outside of its cage he was protective of it till I could get it.
Another one of my dogs watches the bunnies play - some of the rabbits will come and lay down with the dog as well like they are just one giant rabbit
My dogs are very protective of my kids. I have three dogs, and my Collie especially is extreamly devoted and has even injured the other dogs for stepping on my four year old's feet. She sleeps under my infant daughter's crib and stays right beside them when we are out. When my red bone hound was about two months old and my daughter was only 2, she wondered out of my barn and into the woods and was lost for about 20 minutes. While I was looking for her, the hound wandered away from me and, after several minutes, began to howl. I followed her and found her curled up under a bush with my daughter, who had just been playing hide in seek. Also, when we had a recent house fire, all three of my dogs got my attention and, when I jumped out of the shower to see what was wrong, they were already dragging my oldest daughter and my baby sister out of bed and towards the door.
This is an amazing story. It truly is. However, why highlight that the parents were teenagers like that? No teenager should be having a baby. I agree with that, but the way it's highlighted makes it seem that the author feels that only teenage parents would do this. Smh...
The dog deserves a medal though!
My dog, Red, was my "baby monitor" when my DD was a baby. I lived with my parents during my last trimester (I was in college, supposed to be living in the dorms, but was told by OBGYN that she wanted me here in case of early labor...I had medical issues to deal with) and for four months after DD was born, and Red would sleep with me during that time. After DD was born, he'd lay in my room while she'd sleep. When she'd start stirring he'd come get my mom and me. When she would be on her tummy for a bit, he'd lay on her blanket with her. When she started reaching out, he moved back to where she couldn't reach him, but he'd still watch her. When she started scooting, he moved back more. When she started walking, he'd let her use him to pull up on, and then walk with her holding on. When she got really mobile, he started hiding LOL. He still lives with my parents, but when my family go see them, he's always so excited to see DD and now my SKs...they're not allowed outside without him.
Now that is just the sweetest thing i have ever heard!!! If that was my dog, he would be having his own personally steak dinner a few times a week!! :D That is just awesome!!! I think that dog deserves a medal of honor!! and a picture of the two together for a lifelong memory!!! That child is going to be a dog lover, i just have a feeling!