My heart thumping, I ran back to the bush. Max, my dog, has never behaved in such a manner. Yes, he was obstinate, but this was something else. He had refused to move, so he wasn’t only trapped. I now felt as though I had overlooked something significant.
Throughout his life, Max had been a wandering dog that would sniff at everything, chase squirrels, and growl at anything that moved. Tonight, however, was different. It seemed as if he was being pulled by something I couldn’t see or comprehend. His body was stiff as he stood by the bush, staring at something in the darkness. He refused to move when I called him.
I initially assumed it was just his typical stubbornness. But I had a tense feeling in my chest as I stood there and watched him. There was a problem. Max had always been protective, but never to this extent; he knew that something was concealed in that bush.
I knelt down when I got to the bush and pushed the twisted branches away. The streetlamp’s faint light hardly made it to the ground before I noticed it: a tiny, trembling object that hardly made any noise.
A kitten.
Its small body shook as it got stuck between the roots. Its small paws were smeared in filth, and its fur was matted. It was obvious that the kitten had been there for some time, and now it was scared, weak, and defenseless. Max had sensed the kitten’s distress, just as he could sense an impending storm or sense my distress, so it’s little wonder he had refused to leave. Max wasn’t merely being obstinate; he had a message for me.
I reached in and gently picked up the small creature. It weighted very little. Its little, delicate body was a wonderful fit for my hands. With a feeble mew, the kitten pressed into my palm for warmth, its little eyes wide with fatigue and anxiety. My heart tightened. It had been here for how long? Was it lost in some way, or had it been abandoned?
With his tail wagging slightly as though to say, “See?,” Max sat at my feet and watched closely. I informed you.
I scratched his head and muttered, “I’m sorry, buddy.” “I didn’t listen when you tried to help.”
Max had been trying to warn me, and I knew it. I suddenly regretted not having trusted him sooner since his protective instincts had been more acute than mine. Dogs possess a sixth sense that is often overlooked that allows them to perceive things that humans cannot see or comprehend.
With Max walking obediently beside me, I hurried home after gently wrapping the kitten in my scarf and nestling it close to my bosom to keep it warm. I got a tiny shoebox and lined it with an old towel before carefully placing the kitten inside. In the hopes that it would give the poor animal some strength again, I poured a little bowl with warm milk. The kitten curled up in the box after quietly gulping up the milk as if it understood. Its eyes flitted shut as fatigue took hold.
Max remained by its side. He sat next to the box, his nose laying softly next to the kitten, keeping a silent but attentive eye on it. I could see how pleased he was of himself for locating and saving this small creature, and how much he cared for it. He was protecting it as if it were his own, and he had done his share.
I became aware of something that evening while I was sitting on the couch and observing Max snuggle up close to the shoebox. Dogs feel with their emotions in addition to their sight. Max had not discovered the kitten by accident. Since he understood it needed assistance, he had refused to go even though he had felt it and sensed it differently than I had. Without saying a word, he had saved a life.
I took the kitten to the veterinarian the following morning. She was healthy save for being dehydrated. We discussed the idea of finding her a home if no one stepped forward to claim her, and the veterinarian gave me some suggestions on how to take care of her. In the hopes that someone would identify her and come get her, I created a few posters and put them up throughout the area. However, no one ever did as the days passed.
Ultimately, I decided to keep the kitten. She was instantly bonded to Max, who had already welcomed her into the family. Max had transformed from the house dog to the most proud big brother in history. She would cuddle up next to him, sharing the warmth and comfort that only a sibling can provide, and he would keep an eye on her as she developed.
Whether it’s a dog, a child, or a gut instinct, sometimes we need to listen to people around us because they may know something we don’t. Max had taught me something valuable that night: sometimes the best things in life happen when we least expect them.
With the addition of a new small family member, life continued as usual. The kitten, now known as Luna, and Max, the protector, grew to be best friends. Max made me realize that there are things in this world that we cannot see but that our hearts and instincts can sense, and I will always remember that night and the way he refused to mince words. Additionally, their instincts can occasionally save a life.