A mother’s cuddle is essential for a newborn baby. But what happens if a baby is abandoned the moment it is born? As horrific as it sounds, such cases are not at all rare across the world. However, this story is not sad. This story is a happy one where a newborn baby got the cuddle it needed to stay alive, just not from the species one would expect.
The Life-Saving Cuddle
As per reports by News.com.au, in India, a newborn baby was discovered abandoned in the middle of a field. The incident took place in Chhattisgarh, a state in India. There, in Lormi city’s Saristal village, the local villagers received a surprise when they were ‘heading out for their daily chores‘. They could hear a baby crying. [1]
They quickly went about searching for the source. Lo and behold, they stumbled upon a newborn bawling its eyes out. The baby was completely naked. In fact, she still had the umbilical cord attached to her, according to the report.
The villagers figured that the baby had been left out there in the open for the entire night, at least. So how did it survive? The nights can be quite chilly during that period. There were also wild animals around, for whom the baby would be easy prey.
Right beside the baby, they also saw a mother dog along with its litter. The dog and the baby were cuddled together. The locals believe that baby still lived to see the light of day because of this.
According to Unilad, one of the villagers explained[2]:
“It’s possibly the warmth from puppies and their mother itself who had kept this newborn alive. Usually, the temperature dips at night and it’s already December. I must say, it’s her sheer luck.”
Read: The Heartwarming Video of a Baby with Down Syndrome has Taken the Internet by Storm
More Caring Than Humans?
Babies and dogs having strong bonds aren’t rare. But that usually happens between pets and the children of their owners. According to Shelby Semel, an animal trainer, dogs tend to form tight bonds “with their human pack”. As such, they can often think of a newborn as the newest member of their personal den of animals.
She continues to explain that dogs adhere to the pack’s hierarchy strictly. As such, the dogs instinctively look after the weaker, who are often the younger, members as well. A baby fits perfectly in that category that triggers their protective nature. [3]
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As for the baby being cuddled by the dog, her name is Akanksha. The locals immediately reported the incident to the local health department, who then took the baby to the nearest hospital. Childline Project, an Indian NGO that looks after such children, took responsibility for her, later on.
The police, meanwhile, are searching for the baby’s parents. Apparently, they had abandoned her because she was a girl. Premnath, a local, reportedly called her parents criminals for being able to do this[4].
It really was a cruel act, and it pains us to know that such incidents still occur in today’s world. However, at least for this story, there is a silver lining: the cuddle of the dog that saved the child. The sense of motherhood seemingly does not care for the boundaries of species.
Keep Reading: Gorilla Spends Her Final Moments Hugging The Man Who Saved Her As A Baby
Sources:
- “Abandoned Newborn Reportedly Found Cuddling With Puppies in a Field.” Newsweek. Sara Santora. December 22, 2021.
- “Abandoned Baby Survives After Puppies Cuddle Up To Her.” Unilad. Shola Lee. December 22, 2021.
- “Here’s Why Your Pup Is So Protective Of The Littlest Member Of Your Family.” Romper. Alice Emory. March 11, 2019.
