Julia was just three years old when she wandered aware from her home.
She lived in a village in Poland, and made her way into the forest nearby.
Nobody knew what happened to Julia. Suddenly, she just went missing.
Many people began to search for the little girl. The night was cold, and they want to return her safely to her warm bed. They knew a small child wouldn’t last long out in the frigid cold with little to protect her.
But they didn’t know that she did have a protector.
Julia’s best friend, and fluffiest companion, managed to save her life.
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Julia had befriended a neighborhood dog. The dog wasn’t part of her family; it was a stray that she somehow developed a bond with. This bond would keep her warm throughout the night.
When Julia’s family discovered that she was missing, they called for help.
Hundreds of people showed up to find the girl—about 250. Rescue workers, police, firefighters, and volunteers searched frantically for the girl. They also elicited the aid of six search dogs, and a helicopter with technology to look for Julia in the dark.
Eventually, they found Julia.
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In an unlikely outcome, the girl survived thanks to the help of the neighborhood dog. The girl relied on the dog, and the dog kept her safe.
The dog kept her warm throughout the cold night.
When they found her, they found the dog, close to her side, protecting her from the elements. Julia’s grandmother recognized the dog as the same stray that the girl was bonded with.
Without the dog, she might not have survived.
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The miraculous work of the stray dog and all of the rescue workers brought Julia back home safely to her family.
The power of friendship between humans and animals should never be underestimated. When we show them loyalty and love, they show it back. They provide us with comfort, and emotional and physical support.
I hope that Julia and her best friend are still as close as ever. I’m sure they have a bond deeper than most.