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Today I came upon a mother dog lingering by the side of a quiet road while I was driving down another. Her eyes riveted on passing cars, she seemed nervous.
She drew me in with her begging eyes as I walked to my car. She then pointed my eyes in an unexpected direction: a drain close by, where her newborn pups lay.
After running errands, it was just another afternoon as I headed to my car. The parking lot was empty, and I was lost in thought fumbling with my keys. I was startled back to reality by a light prod against my leg. Looking down, I saw a pair of soulful brown eyes peering up at me framed by the soft fur of an apparently stray dog. Her tail wagging gently as though she wasn’t quite sure of my reaction, she gazed at me with a mix of optimism and tiredness.
I thought originally she was seeking assistance. Her coat was a little dusty, and she appeared to be rather undernourished, suggesting she had been drifting for some time. My heart opened to her right away. I knelt down and reached out a hand letting her sniff it. She answered with another soft prod, this one against my hand, as though to be verifying my friendliness. I asked her whether she had any identification or a collar.
She sat calmly, her eyes never leaving my face while I looked over her for a tag. Neither a collar nor any indication of an owner. I could not just walk away from her. When I unlocked my car door, she sprang in without thinking twice and settled on the passenger seat as if she had done this a hundred times already. Her cool head suggested she was accustomed to car travels, which begged me questions about her background.
I asked her where she had come from and discussed my day with her while I drove. She paid great attention, sometimes staring out the window but largely fixed on me. Given her subdued demeanour, I chose to call her Bella—a name that felt appropriate.
Bella arrived home and quietly curiously investigated her new environment. She graciously accepted the food and water I offered her, but she did not seem starving. She seems to have waited patiently for help knowing she would find it. Hoping to discover her proper owner, I started to consider what next to publish on social media and call nearby shelters.
Bella went to the veterinarian the next day to get a microchip checked. Bella sat coolly at my side, her head resting on my knee, as we waited. As the vet examined her, my heart raced waiting for the findings. Bella had clearly been on her own for some while; no chip was discovered. I decided to bring her back home to see if anyone reacted to the internet postings I had put up.
Bella settled in during the following few days as though she had always been a member of the family. She picked up the home schedule fast and displayed a great intelligence. She was obviously well-trained and had formerly belonged to someone who had looked after her very closely. Not even with my greatest efforts did anyone come forward to claim her.
Bella pushed my leg once more one evening as I watched TV. She looked in her eyes differently this time—a determined expression. She plainly wanted me to follow, trotted to the door and turned back at me. Intrigued, I picked my keys and trailed her out. She guided me towards a little park, around a corner, down the street. Under a tree there were some youngsters playing.
Bella raced towards them, her tail whirling fiercely, barking wildly. The kids called out her name—”Bella! Bella!” right away, recognising her. Bella answered with a frenzy of kisses and happy barks as they hurried to her and tightly hugged her. It dawned on me then Bella had found her way to me because she was guiding me to her actual family, not because she was lost. Her entire purpose was different: she wanted to see people she loved. Knowing I had just helped Bella return to where she really belonged, my heart filled with delight as I watched their reunion.
The situation was serious as rain seemed certain. Rescue from the approaching cold and moisture relied mostly on time.
We finally managed to get the whole family back and to safety after what felt like an eternity.
Now, curled under cover, Maria, the mother I have named, takes relentless care of her offspring.
After 25 days fast forward, the previously delicate puppies have grown into energetic two-month-olds ready for their vaccines. Meet Leonardo, Donatello, and Rafael – rising daily like their tenacious mother, Maria.