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Defensive Instincts

The park was quiet as I walked, my shoes squelching on damp earth.

Beneath a tree’s roots, I saw them—a mother dog and her puppies, huddled for warmth.

Her wary eyes met mine as she stepped forward, shielding them. They had no shelter. I couldn’t walk away.

As I stepped closer, the mother dog tensed, her thin body quivering.

She stood in front of her litter, wary eyes fixed on me. Despite her fear, she refused to back down. Rain dripped from her matted fur, but she didn’t waver.

Feeding the Mother Dog

I draped plastic over the box to keep out the rain.

The mother dog watched, tense.

Keeping my voice gentle, I said, ‘It’s okay, I won’t hurt you,’ staying alert in case she saw me as a threat.

I set the food down and stepped back. The mother dog lunged, swallowing a sausage whole. Her ribs showed through wet fur, yet she stayed alert, watching me while guarding her puppies.

Mother’s Warning

As I approached with the box, the mother dog barked, her eyes wary.

She stood, shielding her puppies.

I placed the box nearby, moving slowly to avoid startling her. I didn’t touch the puppies—I had to earn her trust first.

She was protecting her puppies, not trying to hurt me.

Her barks rang as I crouched, moving slowly. I set the box beside the shivering bodies, keeping my distance.

The mother’s wary eyes never left me. I wanted to comfort her but knew better.

The Shivering Puppies

As I walked away, the puppies remained curled in the cold mud, trembling with each drop of rain. I could only hope their mother would trust the shelter I left. Would she lead them inside or leave them exposed?

I had offered food and warmth, but the choice was hers—shelter or the cold, wet ground?

Checking Again

As evening fell, I worried about the mother dog and her puppies.

Had she moved them into the shelter?

Unable to shake my concern, I grabbed food and returned to the park.

I approached cautiously, scanning the dim park. To be safe, I left more food nearby, hoping to earn her trust.

Seeing the Puppies Again

The puppies nursed close to their mother. The shelter I made sat empty. I had hoped she would move them inside, away from the cold rain, but they remained exposed, shivering. However, the mother seemed less afraid of me.

The mother dog trembled less this time.

She remained tense, watching over her puppies, but her gaze held more recognition than fear. As I stepped forward, she observed warily without barking or lunging. It wasn’t trust yet, but a start.

Strange Behavior

I set the food down and stepped back, avoiding startling her.

She sniffed the sausages, glancing at me. I hoped for a little trust.

As soon as she finished eating, the mother dog barked again.

Unsure why, I tossed another sausage to calm her. Stepping back, I saw two puppies crawling into the shelter.

New Arrivals

The mother dog’s barking startled me, making my hands tremble.

I tossed the sausages toward her, hoping to calm her.

As she ate, two puppies crawled toward the shelter. Maybe they would find warmth inside.

Two puppies wriggled toward the box, shivering in the cold rain but drawn by instinct.

They cautiously crawled inside, paws sinking into the cardboard. The mother barked in warning, still wary of me. Would the others follow?

Mother Dog’s Warning

The rain persisted, and the cold air clung to everything.

If the puppies found no shelter, they might fall ill.

I watched as tiny paws hesitated at the box’s edge.

The mother dog barked sharply, her body tense. She watched me warily, standing protectively by her puppies. As I stepped back, the rain drummed against the ground. She couldn’t know I meant no harm—only that she had to keep them safe.

Nighttime Shelter

Three puppies crawled into the box for warmth. Four remained in the mud, hesitant. The rain pattered against the shelter. I had to leave.

‘Stay safe,’ I murmured. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow.’

Rain soaked through my jacket as I watched the little family huddle. Three puppies found shelter, but four remained exposed. The mother eyed me warily.

‘I’ll check on you tomorrow,’ I murmured. Then, I turned home, hoping they’d be safe.